Landlord fined for illegally felling trees
A Stockport man has been find £2000 after illegally cutting down two trees in one of the borough's conservation areas.
The magistrates heard Mr Smith had received planning consent to create extra flats at a Victorian house he owned on Mauldeth Rd conservation area. He decided to create further access by cutting down the trees.
The councils' head of development control, Steve Lamb, said: 'Conservation areas exist to preserve historic parts of the borough.
'The presence of trees enhances the character and appearance of these areas and the borough as a whole.
'The local authority will not hesitate to take action against people who wilfully cut down trees in conservation areas.
'Anybody wishing to carry out work on trees, which have a stem diameter of 75 mm when measured 1.5m above natural ground level, must give the council 6-weeks written notice of the work.'
For more information contact the Council's Parks and Recreation team on 474 4432.
Stockport Council's Parks and Recreation team has joined up with the Stockport branch of the RSPB to offer people the chance to stroll round Bruntwood Park in Cheadle, Saturday, April 1 from 7am to 9am. Details on 428 5391.
I must admit I am very intrigued by the records which you get of people's wildlife sightings in the Stockport and wider Cheshire area. Could I ask whether your readers would share their future sightings which we could use and/or follow-up from the last few years that would be superb.
Steve J McWilliam (rECOrd Manager, Chester Zoological Gardens
http://www.record-lrc.co.uk/
Stockport Town Hall
St George's Day Cinema Night
Vintage film show celebrating life in Stockport since 1900.
Sunday 23rd April at 7.30pm
Tickets £2.50 in advance and £3 on the door
Bar open and refreshments available
Tickets: 0845 8330973 or from Town Hall Reception
Town Hall and tea
Visitors to Stockport Town Hall have the chance to tour the building and then have tea with the mayor, councillor Shan Alexander.
The next tour is on April 5 at 3.15pm. It costs £7.50 and proceeds go to the mayor's charities.
Call 474443301 to book a place.
The video phone mast proposal is to site a mast close to Pownall Green Primary School. I have undertaken extensive research into data on phone masts and their possible effects. At present the evidence is inconclusive. The long term effects are not yet known, as they simply haven't been around long enough.
Helen Foster-Grime
Museum awards
The Hat Works and the Air Raid Shelters have received a Sandford Award for the level of education services they provide the borough's school children.
The award is from the Heritage Education Trust, a body which recognises excellence in education provided at tourist attractions from castles to gardens and museums.
A Sandford judge said: 'Teachers who do not explore the Hat Works as a potential out of classroom activity for historical design and technology or social education are as mad as hatters.'
Bill's the star garden athlete in green gym
Bill Booth has won North West Volunteer of the Year as part of the Green Heroes Awards run by the British Trust of Conservation Volunteers.
Mr Booth took early retirement four years ago and since then has worked on many conservation projects in Reddish Vale Country Park. The Gym takes on a different project each week and last week they planted willow trees on the blackberry slopes at the Park.
If you live in Reddish, Brinnington or Heaton Norris and would like more information about volunteering for conservation projects, please contact Liz Edwards or Jill Cunningham on 0161 474 8424.
