Legal move on trees at Wolves site
Legal action will be taken by council chiefs after 10 protected trees were chopped down by builders working on the £50 million Wolves training ground development.
The authority began looking into the error made by contractors working on behalf of Redrow Homes – part-owned by Wolves chairman Steve Morgan – in May this year.
All 10 of the trees, which included a weeping ash, cypress, firs, cedars and pines, were covered by preservation orders but were removed as part of the Compton park redevelopment project.
In addition to the training ground revamp, the project includes the relocation of St Edmund's Catholic School and the creation of 55 luxury homes.
The local authority has spent months investigating the incident and today confirmed it will be seeking to take the matter before the courts.
Wolverhampton City Council spokesman Gurdip Thandi said: "We're finalising the evidence with the intention to pursue prosecution."
He said the council could not reveal the name of the firm involved until papers have been served. However the prosecution is against the sub-contractor and not Redrow Homes or Wolves.
It is hoped the case could be held early in the new year although a date is yet to be fixed.
At the time of the incident Redrow homes apologised for the "unfortunate error" but said many of the trees were due to be removed at a later date for health and safety reasons.
The contractors also offered to plant replacement trees by way of an apology.
Work was halted when a concerned resident raised the alarm with the council.
Redrow today said they had no comment to make with regards to the council's decision.
