Neighbours call police to stop felling
THE Forestry Commission has stopped a farmer felling trees on his land in Harriet- sham after residents complained he did not have permission to carry out the work. Police were called to the property in Fair- bourne Lane when neighbours confronted farm workers in an attempt to save the trees. Matt Clisby’s land borders Bell Farm, where the felling took place. The 42-year- old carpenter said: “One of the trees fell on my land – there was no exclusion zone in place and no risk assessment carried out. I could have been walking under the tree when it fell. “Itisalsothe wrongtimeofyeartocut
down trees because birds and otherwildlife are breeding. We have rare water voles liv- ing here.” Mr Clisby believed the farmer had felled
about 200 trees over a two-week period, mainly alders and oaks. Neighbours told him the farmer was clearing trees to make
Coppice felling JOHN and Deborah Holmes have been given permission to fell a pro- tected sweet chestnut coppice within eight acres of woodland on the corner of Chegworth Road and Lenham Road, Harrietsham. Maidstone Council gave the go- ahead, but added a condition: “Ex- cept for dead or dying stumps, there shall be no grubbing or extraction of coppice stools of any species and no herbicide or chemical treatment shall be applied to prevent the re- growth of coppice stools.”
is unbelievable. It looks like the Somme.” A police spokesman confirmed officers
space for wheat and complained they could hear and see the nearby M20 motorway more now the trees had gone. Bell Farm is owned by the Cyster family,
who did not respond to Downs Mail’s re- quest for a comment. Ron Bishop, also of Fairbourne Lane, be- lieved the trees were protected.He added: “It
were called to the farm on the morning of June 18 and again in the evening. They said no arrests were made. Roger Adley, spokesman for Maidstone Council, said: “The works, which should have had a felling licence, were stopped fol- lowing a visit by the Forestry Commission. The council is now liaising with the Forestry Commission on the best course of action.” A Forestry Commission spokesman added: “The Forestry Commission attended the site on June 19 and the felling has been halted while an investigation under the Forestry Act takes place. We can’t go into more detail while the investigation is taking place.” To report illegal felling, go to
www.forestry.gov.uk/forestry/INFD- 93ZEAH
Extension is ‘unacceptable’ ARETROSPECTIVE proposal to erect porches and an infill ex- tension in Harrietsham was refused by borough councillors. Maidstone Council’s planning committee turned down Gor-
don Harrold’s application for FairbourneManor in Fairbourne Lane on heritage grounds. The conservation officer had objected due to the works caus-
ing “substantial harm” to the Grade II Listed building. An officer recommendation to the committee said: “The
porch to the east elevation is of unfortunate proportions and features an inappropriate false-pitched roof with a flat top … and the loss of openness of the loggia is unacceptable in prin- ciple with the use of crude plate glass windows significantly altering the character.” The committee voted unanimously to refuse the scheme.
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