Tree felling at Pony Field in Aviemore was approved
The company building 110 homes on Aviemore’s Pony Field site by the retail park has permission to remove trees which social media observers believe are being felled illegally.
A flurry of accusations were made earlier this week from many who were convinced the affected area was covered by tree preservation orders and wanted the felling by Tulloch Homes stopped.
The issue was raised with Aviemore Community Council on Thursday and after the meeting secretary Elspeth Byrne told the Strathy that clarification was being sought from both local planning authorities – Highland Council and the Cairngorms National Park Authority (CNPA).
Local Highland councillor Bill Lobban said his in-box had filled up with enquiries over some of the trees being felled and he in turn raised the issue with council officers.
But a CNPA spokesperson confirmed yesterday to the Strathy that the developer had permission for the felling.
She stated “As Tullochs have been looking at the detail of the drawings to get on site and worked through the Road Construction Consent process, they realised there was conflict with some trees at the edge of the Tree Preservation Order and edge of the developed area.
“We discussed this with Tullochs and agreed to refinements that minimised the tree loss – in total 17 trees are now authorised to be removed.”
Councillor Lobban later posted: “Quite a number of people have contacted me about the Tulloch Home’s development at the Horses (Pony) Field in respect of them cutting down trees which are covered by a Tree Preservation Order.
“The original application and the TPO was approved by Highland Council in 2002 but further applications were approved by the park authority in 2005 and a non-material variation in October, of this year, which takes precedence over the Highland Council TPO.
“So the upshot of this is that Tullochs have received permission from the CNPA to remove the trees.”
The variation approval to the planning consent was granted by the Cairngorms National Park authority on October 20.
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