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Y Cyng / Jeremy Brignell-Thorp - Torri coed yng nghoetir Cwm y Tarw, Y Trallwng / Tree felling at Bull Dingle woodland, Welshpool, Questions at Any Time to Cabinet Portfolio Holders - Tuesday, 2nd September, 2025

September 2, 2025 Questions at Any Time to Cabinet Portfolio Holders View on council website

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“What evidence justified Bull Dingle tree felling?”

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Here is a summary of the questions that County Councillor Jeremy Brignell-Thorp put to County Councillor Matthew Dorrance, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for a Fairer Powys, during the Questions at Any Time to Cabinet Portfolio Holders meeting. The questions concerned tree felling at Bull Dingle woodland in Welshpool. County Councillor Jeremy Brignell-Thorp asked for evidence relating to carbon emissions, nature recovery, correspondence with Scottish Power, and community consultation.

Tree felling at Bull Dingle woodland

County Councillor Jeremy Brignell-Thorp raised concerns on behalf of the community living close to Bull Dingle woodland in Welshpool about tree felling that had taken place there. He directed a number of questions to County Councillor Matthew Dorrance, the Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for a Fairer Powys, relating to the council's climate and nature agenda1.

Carbon Emissions

County Councillor Jeremy Brignell-Thorp asked for the evidence used to justify the removal of all the trees in terms of carbon emissions, referring to the council's target imposed by the Welsh Government of reaching net zero by 20302. He requested to see the calculations and analysis that were made showing the impact on the carbon budget in the year 2030 of the following options:

  1. Taking the actions that have just happened, i.e. removal of almost all of the trees, with the timber chipped as has been reported.
  2. Removal of just the minimum to make the site safe and secure, so perhaps removal of the 20% which were Ash trees, plus size reduction in any other trees that were a potential threat to neighbouring properties.

He also asked for confirmation that no payment had been received for the timber taken from the site for chipping, and for details of what had happened to the chipped timber, and whether the carbon implications of this were taken into account.

Recovery of nature

County Councillor Jeremy Brignell-Thorp asked to see the ecology report detailing how the impact on biodiversity3 due to the clearance could be minimised, and whether it compared the ecological impact of complete removal of the trees versus minimal removal to ensure the site was safe and secure.

Correspondence with Scottish Power

County Councillor Jeremy Brignell-Thorp noted that residents were concerned that the felling was carried out before 1 September, when works on trees and hedges are normally prohibited because of nesting birds4. He requested the release of all correspondence with Scottish Power relating to the timing of the felling, to explain why it was imperative that this was undertaken prior to 1 September.

Community consultation

Given the impact of the works on the local community, County Councillor Jeremy Brignell-Thorp asked for a diary of the consultation that was carried out prior to the felling, and evidence that the community were told accurately what was due to happen.

  1. The climate and nature agenda is a set of policies and goals aimed at addressing climate change and protecting the natural environment. ↩

  2. Net zero refers to achieving a balance between the amount of greenhouse gas produced and the amount removed from the atmosphere. ↩

  3. Biodiversity refers to the variety of life on Earth at all its levels, from genes to ecosystems, and can encompass the evolutionary, ecological, and cultural processes that sustain life. ↩

  4. The Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 protects wild birds, their nests and eggs. It is an offence to intentionally take, damage or destroy the nest of any wild bird while it is in use or being built. ↩

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Meeting Documents

Agenda

Agenda frontsheet 02nd-Sep-2025 Questions at Any Time to Cabinet Portfolio Holders.pdf