Ford dealership apologises for cutting down mature trees without permission

By Tara O’Connor, local democracy reporter

“Save our trees” read the signs held by angry locals gathered outside a car dealership in Wimbledon yesterday after it cut down 11 mature trees without permission.

TrustFord has since apologised for the “mistake” which saw mainly ash and acer trees felled on Saturday morning (May 15).

But the apology and promise to plant more shrubs and trees wasn’t enough for a group of residents who took their protest to the Plough Lane dealership holding signs including one saying “we need trees to breathe and clean”.

Local councillor David Dean found out about the trees being cut down at the site on Saturday morning when he was inundated with calls and texts from his constituents asking what was going on.

Cllr Dean said: “There were 11 mature trees, probably about 30 years old, they cut them down and now they’ve dug up the grass.

“It’s in the Wandle Valley conservation area. A number of locals have spoken to Ford, they said it is due to health and safety which is utter nonsense.

“They were more than 30 feet high, they looked very healthy and they certainly have never been in the way of Ford before.”

The site was previously a Ford dealership but known as Dees Ford for more than 20 years but was recently taken over by TrustFord.

The new company was forced to apologise for cutting down the trees saying it was done for health and safety reasons and there were no tree protection orders in place.

But Merton Council’s cabinet member responsible for planning, Martin Whelton, said he was “appalled” to see the “serious breach of planning rules”.

Falling within the conservation area means TrustFord should have sought permission from the council.

He said: “We have insisted that Ford replace each of the felled trees with new semi-mature trees, plant additional trees along the nearby riverside, work with our schools on environmental projects, and give a significant financial contribution to local community allotments.

“In the interest of value for the taxpayer, we do not want to resort to legal action, so we’re pleased that Ford is swiftly making good on the destruction it has caused, but we do not rule out further action.

“Environmental damage like this will not be tolerated.

“Our message to any local business or resident who is considering a breach of planning rules is that they will find there is a very high price to pay.”

TrustFord issued an apology online and said they cut down the trees as there were no preservation orders on them.

The company says it will plant new trees and shrubs around the site, donate £5,000.

The company added: “It was never our intention to cause so much upset, we genuinely care about the environment and we will do what we can to fix our mistake.”