Council issues STOP notice on unauthorised works at Scorey’s Copse, Horton Heath
The Council, has issued a stop notice on any further development works at Scorey’s Copse, Horton Heath. The stop notice means that all development work on the site is prohibited for the next 28 days. There is no right of appeal against this notice.
On Saturday 10 April the Council was made aware of unauthorised site clearance works at Scorey’s Copse on Botley Road, Horton Heath that included the removal of a number of trees protected by a Tree Preservation Order, number 839. Officers visited the site, cautioned the owner and asked that works cease. However, the owner chose to continue work. The unauthorised work on the trees is therefore a criminal offence.
An abatement notice has also been served, to prohibit any burning of material on the site that would cause smoke. This notice lasts indefinitely.
We are also pursuing a tree replacement notice. The notice will require trees to be re-planted at the owner's cost. The exact number and make-up of those trees is being determined by the council's tree specialist.
A Council spokesperson said, "The Council’s Enforcement, Environmental and Legal teams are now working together on additional action over the next few weeks. We will simply will not tolerate this sort of flagrant and illegal destruction of our natural environment."