THE Citizen, June 6, carried an article relating to the prosecution of Mr and Mrs Mason for the illegal pruning of trees at Harlyn Court, Altham.

Mr Mason was quoted as saying he had no idea it was illegal to touch the trees, and that he wished Hyndburn Council had told him they were protected.

When a Conservation Area is created, a standard notification is issued to all properties within it. Details are also recorded on searches for any subsequent house purchase to make new property owners aware.

In 1993, the council also issued leaflets to all properties in all Conservation Areas in Hyndburn which included a paragraph dealing specifically with the legal protection of trees. The council therefore went beyond its statutory duty in making people aware of the situation.

In Mr Mason's case, it was his responsibility to check whether or not the trees at Harlyn Court were protected before undertaking work on them.

The contact number for protected trees is prominently displayed in the telephone directory, and for the information of your readers, the number is 388111, extension 2178.

If people are unsure whether their trees are protected, an immediate answer can be obtained by ringing this number.

P V Barwood

Head of Planning

Hyndburn Council

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