More than 100 people living on an Aberfeldy housing estate have put their name to a petition calling for a neighbouring landowner to fell a row of very tall pine trees.
The residents of Moness housing estate in Aberfeldy have put together a petition for the removal of tall pine trees along Moness Avenue and Moness Crescent.
Over 100 local residents signed the petition and many more are thought to be in favour of action to remove a dark wall of mature trees that are stopping some people from getting TV signal.
When Storm Arwen hit last year, 20 or so trees fell in the high winds. Residents moved their parked cars away and feared the pines would topple on garages positioned close by.
Recently the locals recently presented the four pages of names to John McKenzie, owner of Moness Resort.
The trees stand on land belonging to his holiday resort where there is an indoor pool and wedding marquee. Many homes in Moness Crescent back onto the unbroken line of full-height conifers.
“The pines are causing quite a few issues,” explained Moness resident Elaine Murdoch.
“They have gotten so tall that they are affecting television signal, they are becoming dangerous for houses and cars and are shading light from homes and gardens.
“We have 100 signatures on our petition.”
Elaine explained that many living in properties overshadowed by the pine trees- reckoned to be around 70 years old - have “given up” on trying to watch television as the towering trunks block the satellite signal.
“People living nearby are fed up with pixilated screens. It’s impossible to watch without becoming irritated.”
Elaine said it was not a feasible option to ‘top’ the trees.
She and fellow Moness resident Isla Moncrieff started the petition at the end of August.
Recently Elaine came out with her five-year old grandson Thomas to ask other people to sign and make their frustrations known.
“Everybody wanted to sign,” said Elaine. “We had no difficulty getting names. We’d have even more if we got everybody when they were home.”
Pensioner Violet Keir signed. “The trees are blocking the light, they spoil living here,” she told the PA.
“Years ago I had a view out to the fields, you could see cattle grazing there.”
Alison Thom from Moness Crescent said: “I’ve given up on Sky altogether.
“And I miss the sun. The trees block that from my home.”
Replying to the residents’ formal plea for the trees to be felled, Mr Mckenzie told them in an email: “All the trees are examined yearly by a qualified tree surgeon, as per our insurance company instructions, and any trees in doubt are taken down as required.”
He went on to allude to a failed application to build housing in woodland bordering the affected homes, citing the pine trees as the main obstacle.
“You may not know, but about seven years ago, we applied for planning permission and we were knocked back specifically due to the protection of the trees.
“This year, we again asked the Perth and Kinross planning department, [who] attended a meeting on site with the forestry department.
“At that meeting we were told that the planning department would strongly oppose any planning application, again due to the trees.”
Chair of Aberfeldy Community Council, Victor Clements told the PA the matter of the unhappy residents of the Moness housing estate and their wish to see the pines removed had been raised in meetings twice previously by himself and twice by Councillor John Duff.
“The problem gets worse all the time. Resentment is building up and the lack of action to satisfy them reflects on us as a community council.
“We are aware Mr Mckenzie wishes to develop houses on that area of land and feels that Perth and Kinross Council is blocking him on account of the woodland bordering Moness.
“Certainly from a woodland management perspective, bats and red squirrels live in the trees, but with the pines gone, other existing trees would continue to provide a habitat.
“I’ve done the research and obtaining a felling licence would be no problem.
“I’ve even advised Mr Mckenzie that I would apply to Scottish Forestry for one on his behalf. So far he has not taken me up on this.
“Additionally I’ve sought to quell any concerns that cutting the pines would be costly. I consider there would be 60-80 tonnes of timber to be claimed and if someone stepped in to do the job, the majority of costs would be offset by the sale of the wood.”
