Backlash after East Kilbride restaurant owners cut down 80 trees without permission

An investigation has been launched after the new owners of a restaurant in South Lanarkshire cut down around 80 trees without permission.

The owners of The Osprey in East Kilbride cleared a wooded area to “open up” the space in front of the restaurant on Strathaven Road, with an oak tree among those destroyed.

The work has sparked widespread backlash from locals who have called for a boycott of the restaurant when it opens and accused its owners of vandalism.

It’s believed that the trees were positioned as a windbreak for nearby buildings.

Scottish Forestry has launched an investigation into the unauthorised felling, which was carried out without permission from the relevant public body or local authority.

The Birk family, who took over the venue formerly known as Carrigans earlier this year, said on social media that they had “got it wrong”.

The owners added: “We’re sorry. We got this wrong. We have to hold up our hands and say we made a mistake in clearing the wooded area in front of the restaurant.

“The intention was to open up the space at the front and possibly extend the car park in future.

“There were no tree preservation orders, and the restaurant is not in a conservation area, but we know this is not an excuse for the insensitive call to take away the trees.”

The family said they are replanting young trees and have pleaded with the public to give them a second chance.

“We never wanted to upset or offend anyone, and we are happy to work with local conservation and heritage enthusiasts and organisations to help educate us and others so they don’t make the mistake we did,” their statement added.

Opinion has been divided among residents, with some expressing their support for the family and welcoming the opportunity for them to work with the community.

Local MSP Collette Stevenson said she had been in contact with South Lanarkshire Council and the owners to clarify who instructed the works and what permission had been sought.

A Scottish Forestry spokesperson said: “We take all reports of alleged unauthorised felling very seriously.

“There is no Felling Permission in place for this work, so we have now opened up an investigation and will visit the site in due course.

“Now that an investigation has been opened, it would not be appropriate to comment further on this case until it is concluded and next steps decided.”

Fraser Carlin, head of Planning & Regulatory Services at South Lanarkshire Council, said: “We are aware of the felling of trees on this area of private land and the council has received a number of enquiries about it from councillors, local residents and other interested parties.

“I can confirm that the trees were not the subject of tree preservation orders, and so no permission was needed or granted. However, we can advise that in some instances, felling permission may be required from Scottish Forestry.”