Planning row over woodland turned into garden
GoogleA row over the use of a protected woodland as a private garden is being taken to the government's Planning Inspectorate.
Cumberland Council had issued an enforcement notice to resident Martin Bragg requiring him to restore the area at Mirebank Wood in Wetheral, near Carlisle, to its previous condition, including planting two trees to replace a beech and oak tree removed without permission.
Mr Bragg, who lives on Elm Garth next to the woodland, has appealed the council's order through the planning inspector.
He denied the breach and claimed the enforcement notice was issued too late for the requested action to be taken.
Appeal documents showed Mr Bragg was believed to have used the woodland to store soil and materials from building work at his home, as well as installing fence posts and laurel hedging.
Trees in the woodland were protected by a tree preservation order, meaning they could not be felled nor damaged, the council said.
'Excessive demands'
The council said the woodland had been available for public access since 1958 and it believed the changes by Mr Bragg to have happened in the last 10 years.
The documents said: "The development has an unacceptable impact on the woodland's biodiversity, geodiversity and natural regeneration."
They added two trees had already been lost and that the use of the woodland might have the potential to cause harm to the remaining trees.
Appeal papers show Mr Bragg believed "the steps required to comply with the requirements of the notice are excessive".
The planning inspector is expected to make a decision in due course.