A fine isn’t enough of a punishment for developers who cut down protected trees in Brucehill, protestors have said.
Residents came together over the weekend to renew their calls for West Dunbartonshire Council to revoke planning permission, after the trees were felled earlier this month.
The land at the former Notre Dame Convent is owned by former Rangers director Sandy Easdale’s Slate Island Developments Ltd company, with planning permission granted for 81 homes on the site earlier this year - subject to a Tree Preservation Order (TPO).
It followed more than 200 objections from locals.
However residents were forced to intervene and halt works, after more than 20 protected trees were felled.
A spokeswoman for Slate Island Developments said they regretted the incident and that it was “unintentional”.
The apology isn’t enough for furious residents however, who say they feel insulted by the actions of the developers.
One Brucehill local, who asked to remain anonymous, said: “As a former pupil of St Michael’s Primary school, my emotional attachment with these trees spans more than 50 years.”
“The hard-won conditions recently agreed meant at least that the pollution of building works and extra traffic would be somewhat balanced by keeping nearly all of the larger trees onsite.
“Last year, more than 200 residents and locals waded through the original plans and formally objected to the earliest version of the application.
“Due to the destruction of these trees I now have very grave concerns for our area. There needs to be both meaningful consequences and a full restoration of all that has been lost, no matter the cost to those responsible.
“I would urge West Dunbartonshire Council to show that they are serious about protecting our trees by prohibiting any further works and withholding all planning permission, until a full investigation has been carried out into the destruction.”
Another Dumbarton resident, Mrs Edwards, an ecologist, added: “The woodland bird nesting season was already well under way when these trees were felled.
“I feel there needs to be not just replanting, but replanting in the same areas - both the damaged TPO area and the lost boundary trees must be restored with the largest possible specimens of appropriate tree plus buffer planting to protect them.
“If the houses are still to be built, there needs to be stringent external monitoring and control of all works, at no expense to the taxpayer.”
West Dunbartonshire Council say it is “extremely disappointed” and is considering its next steps.
