DAMAGING Lake District trees has cost the owners of White Bay Leisure park at Windermere £27,250.

South Lakeland Caravans Ltd, based at Yealand Redmayne, near Carnforth, pleaded guilty to nine counts of causing wilful damage to trees protected by Tree Preservation Orders (TPOs) at the caravan park on the northern shore of Windermere.

Lake District National Park Authority prosecutor Satnan Choong told magistrates in Kendal that, having acquired the White Cross Bay Leisure Centre, in 2000, the company wanted to carry out work at the site to allow for more caravans. The LNDPA made it clear that the nothing could be done which would damage the sites of many protected trees.

However, Mr Choong told the court that during a visit by LDNPA officers early in 2002 it became clear that: "Despite having been warned, the company pressed ahead and carried out extensive work. As a consequence, a large area and a significant number of trees were damaged."

A report by an LDNPA expert showed that works, such as laying hard-standing, had damaged the root systems of protected trees in three areas of the site - Mawmire Wood, North Lodge and Park Hall Wood.

A total of 29 charges were laid against the South Lakeland Caravans for harming mature oak, ash, sycamore and yew trees but, after the company agreed to plead guilty to nine charges, the remainder were dropped.

Urging magistrates to impose the stiffest penalty, Mr Choong said the firm had flouted TPOs for commercial gain and, having made more than £1 million profit last year, could easily afford to pay the maximum fine of £2,500 per tree.

The company's profit motive, he said, made the matter a "reckless breach of the law rather than a careless one".

In mitigation, Giles Cannock told the court the company was of previous good character and "takes nature conservation very seriously" even winning a David Bellamy Conservation Award for work at another site. He also said the firm had entered a legally binding agreement with the LDNPA to make sure nothing like it could happen again.

Magistrates fined South Lakeland Caravans Ltd £2,250 for each of the nine admitted offences and ordered it to pay legal costs of £7,000.

Managing director John Morphet said his firm regretted any damage it had caused to the environment, and added: "In response to the incident we have appointed a full-time conservation officer to review and monitor our working activities to ensure the highest standards are maintained at all times."

LDNPA solicitor Peter Urwin said: "We are very pleased with the result. We take this issue extremely seriously, it is the duty of the authority to protect the environment of the park." He said he hoped the judgement and its punishment would deter others from flouting TPOs.

May 15, 2003 13:00