§ Lady HermonTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what effect the designation of conservation area status has upon the protection of trees within its boundaries. [170033]
§ Angela SmithThe effect of conservation area status is to prohibit the cutting down, topping, lopping, uprooting, wilful damage or wilful destruction of those trees in the conservation area that are not already protected by a Tree Preservation Order. Anyone carrying out such works is guilty of an offence and liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding £30,000, or on conviction on indictment, to a fine.
A person may, however, serve notice upon the Department of the intended works and may carry out such works, either with the consent of the Department or after a period of six weeks from the date of the notice but before the expiry of a period of two years from that date. The Department may also decide, however, to protect the tree or trees in question by applying a Tree Preservation Order before the expiry of the six-week period.