POLICE were called to Salterforth when a row erupted between a landowner and local residents.

As reported last week, residents of the "Klondyke" area, on the edge of Salterforth, fear landowner Carl Britton intends to seek planning permission to develop sites on either side of Earby Road, close to Spen Head Farm. That could mean the loss of several mature trees around the perimeter of the sites.

One of the residents living closest to the sites is Salterforth tree warden and parish councillor Nick Livsey, who is determined to protect the trees.

When he first heard they could be under threat, he contacted Pendle Council to set in motion the procedures for implementing an emergency tree preservation order (TPO) covering all the trees on the site. Anyone who fells or damages trees covered by a TPO could face a fine of up to £20,000 per tree.

The land in Salterforth is outside the village's settlement boundary and unlikely to receive planning permission in the foreseeable future. But removing trees on the land would still take away an obstacle to any future plans for development.

Trouble flared last Saturday, at around 12.45pm, when Mr Britton and another man arrived on the site and began cutting down three small trees planted along the edge of one of the fields around 10 years ago.

Neighbours remonstrated with them, and Coun Livsey advised them to leave the trees alone as the TPO procedure had been set in motion. But his advice was ignored as Mr Britton's companion cut down a young sycamore - one of the trees identified by the TPO. It was planted 16 years ago by a resident of Alpha Street and was over 18 feet tall.

With tempers beginning to fray, the police were called to the scene by Earby Ward councillor Doris Haigh. Also called out were Pendle Council's planning manager and solicitor.

The police officer asked Mr Britton to leave the site in order to prevent any further disturbance, and he and his helper obliged.

In fact, the TPO came fully into force two days later, on Monday, and all the mature trees are now protected. Coun Livsey said he would do everything in his power to make sure the remaining trees were protected, and that anyone who contravened the TPO was prosecuted.

Coun Haigh was concerned that it took a week for Pendle Council to bring the supposedly streamlined emergency TPO into force.

"I am furious if there was any delay in implementing this which might have pulled the rug out from under us the following Saturday," she said.

"As it happened, it did not, but maybe this was due largely to the determination of those of us on site that day.

"One tree growing to maturity and planted by local residents 16 years ago was felled, unfortu-nately, before Mr Livsey was able to intervene. But I feel sure that many more of this important stand of mature tall trees were saved."

The Craven Herald has so far been unable to contact Mr Britton for a comment.

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