The decision had to be taken for a second time after “an administrative error” meant not everyone was notified by Dorset Council of the previous meeting. It will leave around 100 trees untouched, including oaks, sycamore and Scots pine on the 300-metre-long section of the C13 Dinah’s Hollow at Melbury Abbas, south of Shaftesbury. The route remain one of the main north-south routes in the county, despite the difficulties of sharp bends and narrow lanes with traffic through the Hollow down to one lane and controlled by lights.
Dorset Council has argued that the felling and coppicing works are needed for the good management of the trees in the Hollow, for road safety now, and to prepare for eventual land stabilisation works in the years to come, likely to cost around £8 million. All of the trees are covered by a blanket Tree Protection Order. (Image: Dorset Council) Many residents and the parish council claim the Dorset Council proposals are excessive and that a simpler, less obtrusive scheme should be adopted which would protect many of the trees now due to be felled.
Running in parallel with the tree works is the preparation of Compulsory Purchase Orders for land, in separate ownerships, on either side of the Hollow – a process which could take two years to complete. Chairman of Melbury Abbas and Cann parish council David Webber told Dorset councillors at a meeting in Dorchester on Monday that consultants from Exeter had come up with a simpler scheme which involved fe.