Groveside Homes Ltd v Elmbridge BC
Groveside Homes Ltd v Elmbridge BC
- 1987
- Estates Gazette 284(6360) 14 November 1987, 940(1) .
QBD 10 July 1987 Appeal against a conviction under Town and Country Planning Act 1971 s 102 (1) for uprooting a tree which was subject to a tree preservation order . The tree was on land owned by the appellant company which was being developed by a contractor. Despite being warned of the existence of the preservation order and told not to touch or damage the tree, the contractor uprooted the tree. The appellants were prosecuted,convicted and fined. They submitted to the magistrates that they were not liable as the offence had been committed by an independent contractor. On appeal the respondent council accepted that this submission was correct. QBD held that in these circumstances, where an independent contractor had been expressly told not to touch the tree, no other conclusion was possible. Appeal allowed and the conviction quashed.
LIABILITY
QBD 10 July 1987 Appeal against a conviction under Town and Country Planning Act 1971 s 102 (1) for uprooting a tree which was subject to a tree preservation order . The tree was on land owned by the appellant company which was being developed by a contractor. Despite being warned of the existence of the preservation order and told not to touch or damage the tree, the contractor uprooted the tree. The appellants were prosecuted,convicted and fined. They submitted to the magistrates that they were not liable as the offence had been committed by an independent contractor. On appeal the respondent council accepted that this submission was correct. QBD held that in these circumstances, where an independent contractor had been expressly told not to touch the tree, no other conclusion was possible. Appeal allowed and the conviction quashed.
LIABILITY