AN energy giant has done nothing wrong by removing a once-protected tree, the district council has said.

Last Friday’s removal of a large chestnut tree in Maldon Road, Bradwell, caused uproar among villagers, who believed contractors working on behalf of RWE Npower Renewables had acted illegally because the tree was protected by a preservation order.

The workers removed the tree and surrounding bushes in preparation for the construction of a ten-turbine windfarm at Hockley Farm.

A spokesperson for Maldon District Council said: “The planning permission that was granted to Npower by the Secretary of State on appeal overrides any tree preservation orders that may have been placed on these trees by the local planning authority.

“Npower are therefore not undertaking any works which require new or separate planning permission.”

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