Wealthy locals 'poisoning trees' - 13/01/10

Well-off homeowners in an expensive seaside town are suspected of killing trees that block their sea views, a council has revealed.

The streets around Sandbanks and Poole harbour in Dorset, last year saw around 15 attacks on preservation-protected trees - with people killing them by cutting their trunks and letting them bleed to death, or setting about them with chainsaws.

Poole Council shunned the idea that unruly kids may be responsible, instead pointing the finger at homeowners and developers who would rather face a £20,000 fine than miss out on the high value to be gained from a sea view.

Last year, a local man in his fifties was fined £7,500 for trying to kill a pine tree with cleaning fluid. Michael Shaw wanted to remove the tree from his mother's garden on Panorama Road to boost opportunities for future development.

Andy Dearing, Poole Council's planning enforcement team leader, said: "It's not kids doing it, it's quite simply people who have control of their own land and are seeking to maximise the development or view potential."

Wealthy locals 'poisoning trees' - 13/01/10

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