Environmentalist wins 18-month battle to keep his 85ft beech trees

An environmentalist has won a battle to keep 85ft trees in his garden after government officials ruled they did not form a hedge.

Howard Stark was the sole objector to beech trees being axed after his neighbours complained they left their home in darkness.

Angus and June Clark argued the trees left their ground-floor property in Paisley, Renfrewshire, with no natural light and took their fight to council bosses.

They were delighted when a high hedge notice was issued by Renfrewshire Council ordering the trees to be cut to ground level.

But Mr Stark, whose flat overlooks the communal garden where the trees sit, appealed to the Scottish Government who have now quashed the ruling and said they are not a hedge.

A source said: 'This has been a lengthy dispute stretching over 18 months and the Clarks really thought they had got the decision that they wanted with the council ruling.

'Mr Stark is the only person in that block to have objected to getting them cut down.

'They were then left devastated when the decision was appealed to the government and they ruled the trees could stay.

'The trees tower over the house and there is very little light getting in because of them.

'The decision seems crazy and against all logic.'

Mr Stark pleaded for the trees to stay and argued they would have fallen victim to 'capitalism' if lopped.

He told government officials: 'These beech trees are an established feature and part of a conservation area.

'They have little impact on the sunlight to a converted church, marginally blocking the light to one velux window that is part of a recent conversion.

'These trees have environmental and aesthetic value and have only become an issue since the change of function from a church to luxury flats.

'I am appealing against the destruction of these trees as their environmental benefits totally outweigh any minor annoyance they may cause.