Man who chopped down trees could face court

Jan 23 2009 By Russell Butt

Philip Gray could face prosecution

A farrier who faces prosecution for illegally felling trees on six-acres of Green Belt woodland has pleaded ignorance for his actions.

Philip Gray, 37, has cleared the expanse of wood alongside his home in Bridge Lane, Virginia Water, without applying for planning permission, but claims he didn't know he needed to.

He intends to create a horse riding centre with a public footpath on the site even though Runnymede Council slapped a High Court Injunction on him, preventing further work, that he has subsequently breached.

"I took advice from a tree surgeon and we considered most the trees to be dead, diseased or dangerous," he said. "Unfortunately there were some trees thar were healthy, but were obstructing ditches and water courses on the site."

Mr Gray, who owns stud farms in Chobham and Pirbright, bought the land in September 2007, which backs onto Fernbank Farm, where he has lived for three years.

He said: "The land was getting an enormous amount of interest from gipsies and I was concerned they would try and build a camp there so I bought it. Even since, they have made me offers for it.

He began work in November, felling the self-seeded silver birch, alder and oak trees, before the council took action with the injunction later that month.

Mr Gray, hopes to appease the council by offering a public footpath through his land, giving residents from Lyne and Longcross a ‘safe and scenic’ route to Virginia Water station and by replanting the site with more trees than were felled.

He said: "I don't believe I have breached their notice. I feel with a planning application imminent, maybe they will see fit to view it before any action is taken."

A nearby resident said she had no objection to the plan but added: "It's very naughty he has just gone and chopped so many trees down. You just can't do it without permission."

A Runnymede Council spokesman said it was monitoring the site and still actively considering prosecution for Mr Gray's failure to comply with the injunction.

Now, Mr Gray says he would change his course of action in the future and added: "If I was to do it again, I would apply for a tree felling licence and seek the advise of the Forestry Commission.

"I wasn't knowledgeable enough or aware of the required procedures or laws on felling trees."