Homeowner Told to Pay £116,000 More Than a Decade After Removing Tree Near Property, Council Discovers Infraction

Woman Faces £116,000 Penalty for Tree Cutting Dating Back over a Decade

, and Administrator

2025 September 5 . 11:40 AM

2 min read

Homeowner compelled to pay £116,000 a decade later for cutting down a tree in her front yard, as... — Homeowner compelled to pay £116,000 a decade later for cutting down a tree in her front yard, as council discovers the overlooked violation

Homeowner Told to Pay £116,000 More Than a Decade After Removing Tree Near Property, Council Discovers Infraction

Woman Fined £116,000 for Chopping Down Protected Lime Tree in Newport, Wales

Claire Rands, a resident of Newport, Wales, has been fined an astonishing £116,000 and ordered to pay £100,000 in prosecution costs after she chopped down a 100-year-old lime tree in 2012. The tree, which was protected by a tree preservation order (TPO), was located behind houses in a cul-de-sac and had caught alight during a series of deliberate grass fires that summer.

Rands, who had instructed a tree surgeon to remove the tree due to fire hazard concerns, had filed a planning application to enable the tree's removal, but the applications were not approved. Despite this, she went ahead with the chopping down of the tree, an act that has led to severe consequences.

The council noticed the tree was no longer there and sent the couple a letter about prosecution for causing or permitting the destruction of a tree protected by a TPO. Rands' lawyers argued she should be convicted of a lesser offence, as she didn't personally chop down the tree. However, Judge Celia Hughes convicted her of the more serious offence.

The dispute over the TPO's wording centred around whether the crime is written into law in England or Wales. The removal of the tree required explicit consent from the local planning authority, even on private land. The council estimated their property value had increased by at least £50,000 by removing the tree, and several neighbours were also impacted by the fires.

Rands lost her appeal and was sentenced. Despite the hefty fine, she did plant another tree in its place. However, the name of the lawyer representing Newport City Council in the case against Rands remains undisclosed.

This case serves as a stark reminder of the importance of respecting nature and adhering to the laws that protect our environment. It is crucial for property owners to understand the implications of removing protected trees and the potential consequences that may arise.