PROTECTED trees felled at an historic hall and a Hyndburn school have not been replaced.

And councillors will consider taking formal action to secure replacement planting of the trees at Owl Hall near Accrington and Heathland school in Sandy Lane, Accrington.

Owl Hall was derelict for many years before planning permission was granted for the redevelopment of the hall for residential development in 2009 at appeal.

The trees in the grounds of Owl Hall are protected under a tree preservation order.

In July 2016, the council granted consent for the felling of eight trees at Owl Hall on the condition that there should be replacement planting to compensate for the loss.

Although the council usually ask for trees to be replaced at ratio of three new trees to one lost tree, due to the size of the site it was considered necessary to plant replacements on a one for one

basis.

A second application was submitted in 2017 to fell a further eight trees on the same site on the basis that they were in poor condition and needed to be removed.

This was approved, again subject to a condition requiring replacement with eight new trees.

A third application was submitted by another owner to fell four trees on the site and approval was granted subject to 12 new trees being planted.

But none of the felled trees have been replaced despite the council’s trees and woodlands officer writing to the land owner in September 2017 reminding him of the need to plant the replacement trees no later than January 31 last year.

At Heathland, consent was granted to fell a beech tree in July 2017 subject to a requirement to plant three replacement trees.

The replacement trees were to be of a standard size and to be beech, birch and alder but this has not been done.

Similarly, consent was granted in September for the felling of four trees at the school and although replacement planting was required, this has not been undertaken.

Hyndburn Council's trees sub committee will meet next week and decide whether to approve taking formal action.

Arboricultural and conservation officer Katy Morley said: "The replacement trees have not been planted as required. The council has sought to secure the replacement planting through agreement but this has not been forthcoming.

"To secure the planting it is therefore necessary to serve a tree replacement notice.

"Whilst there is a risk of costs being awarded against the local authority if it acts unreasonably, in this instance these risks are considered to be low.

"The council has tried to work with the land owners to secure the planting of the trees but no action has been taken.

"In the first instance it is hoped that the owners will comply with the notices and plant the trees.

"However, if the trees are not planted by the owners the council is entitled to plant the trees and recover the costs incurred in doing this."