Ms Mary McCormack:

I will give an example. I have approximately 50 acres of hardwoods, most of which are ash trees. I could take out less than 10 ha without planning permission, but if I was to take out the lot - approximately 20 ha - I would have to conduct an environmental study. Because there is a grey area the forest service told me to hang on in. I did so and rang the planners who told me that because it involved a disease, they could not see how it would be a problem. I told them that I had been told that perhaps it might be. It was written into the Local Government Reform Act 2014 that anyone changing forestry or putting back in half Sitka spruce and half hardwoods had to seek approval. They said they would take advice on the matter. When I got back on to the planning office, I was told that I might as well apply for planning permission to clear it. Of late we know what happens when planning permission is applied for.