A swanky golf club which counts football manager Harry Redknapp as one of its members has avoided prosecution after felling 36 protected trees due to a Forestry Commission (FC) blunder.
Parkstone Golf Club at Sandbanks, Poole, Dorset, which has £1,725 a year membership fees, was incorrectly given a felling licence from the FC last year so it could chop down the trees.
The government agency failed to realise the trees were protected by Tree Preservation Orders (TPOs).
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The view from Peter Norrie's garden of the trees before and after they were felled by the golf club
Swanky Parkstone Golf Club at Sandbanks, Poole, Dorset counts Harry Rednapp as one of its members
The view of the trees from Peter Norrie's garden before they were felled by the golf club
Well-heeled residents whose multi-million pounds homes had been screened by the clump of 70ft trees, were furious about the decision.
But it has emerged no legal action can be taken against the golf club as the felling licence trumps a TPO.
Homeowners say the removal of the trees has led to a loss of privacy as golfers playing the first hole can now look into their homes.
Peter Norrie, a 61-year-old retired banker, said he will now take advice on mounting a private prosecution.
He said: 'We need to ascertain why the local authority has decided not to prosecute.
'Is the council confirming to all parties and individuals that the rules surrounding tree felling and maintenance have now changed and that there is no longer any requirement to seek local authority approval to carry these activities out?
'Frankly, I'm astonished that protected trees can be felled over a two day period and there is no recourse.
'In a nation where the onus is to protect trees, where is the confidence in the legal process?'
One of the multi-millionaire neighbours of the club Peter Norrie (pictured) said he will now take advice on mounting a private prosecution
Adrian Riley, 53, a renewable energy entrepreneur, said: 'We as residents go through a nightmare to get permission if we want to even prune our trees yet the golf club have been able to just chop them down.
'They created a lovely barrier, now golfers can look into our house
