Man fined for felling of 100-year-old trees

A man has been fined after six protected trees were felled in an affluent neighbourhood.

The 100-year-old oaks in the Nab Wood area of Shipley had an estimated value of £250,000 to the local environment, Bradford and Keighley Magistrates' Court heard.

On 10 October, Khalil Hussain pleaded guilty to a charge of contravening a tree preservation order.

Hussain, 67, of Coniston Grove in Heaton, was fined £1,666 and ordered to pay £3,000 in costs.

The court heard that between 21 July 2021 and 3 March 2023, the oaks, which were subject to tree preservation orders, had been removed from the grounds of 11 Staveley Road - a street known for its large Edwardian properties and mature trees.

According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, Hussain claimed he had not known that the tree orders were in place.

Joanne Gleeson, prosecuting on behalf of Bradford Council, said: "All six trees had been in good condition, all over 100 years old. They had a life expectancy of at least another 40 years.

"Bradford Council had not approved any work to these trees."

She added the trees had "significant value, individually and collectively" to the character of the neighbourhood.

The defendant had bought the house for his son shortly before the first tree was felled.

Jabran Hussain, defending, said five of the trees had been felled before Hussain was informed about the tree preservation order when he was visited by a council officer.

The sixth tree was felled after it became partially uprooted by Storm Otto and needed to be cut down.

Mr Hussain said his client had suffered "sleepless nights" due to the court case.

He added: "My client is 67 years old, and it is right to say he has an unblemished record – this will be his first conviction.

"He never thought he would appear in court at this stage of his life."

No financial benefit came from the trees being felled, the defence argued, and it was not the defendant who arranged the felling, but he accepted responsibility as the owner.

There were still 15 mature trees in the garden of the property and a further 31 had been planted.

Hussain would also be required to plant six replacement oak trees.

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