Firm handed ‘record’ illegal tree felling fine

Motor Fuel Ltd, located at the intersection of Ashby Road and Snells Nook Lane in Loughborough, has been fined a record £268,751 for illegally cutting down trees in Leicestershire. The company pleaded guilty to not following an enforcement notice served at Leicester Magistrates’ Court, leading to the penalty. The sum includes a £266,666 fine, £85 in prosecution costs, and a £2,000 surcharge.

Tree replanting and maintenance order

As part of the ruling, the firm is required to replant and care for 176 trees on the site for a decade. The Forestry Commission, which led the investigation, highlighted that this fine is the highest ever imposed for illegal tree felling by a court in England. The details of the sentencing, which occurred on 28 January, were shared by the Forestry Commission on Thursday.

The trees were cut down in 2019 near a petrol station as part of a pre-emptive measure for a proposed expansion of the premises. Richard Pearce, the Forestry Commission’s area director for the East and East Midlands, remarked:

“Felling trees without a licence or ignoring an enforcement notice is unacceptable. This case shows how seriously the Forestry Commission and courts view the protection of trees, woodlands, and forests, and the damage caused by illegal cutting to the environment and climate.”

The fine must be settled within 28 days of the sentencing hearing. The Forestry Commission emphasized the significance of the case, underscoring the legal consequences of failing to adhere to tree protection regulations. For more updates, listeners can tune into BBC Radio Leicester or follow BBC Leicester on social media platforms. Story ideas can be submitted via email at eastmidsnews@bbc.co.uk or through WhatsApp at 0808 100 2210.