PAUL IN ROW OVER PLAN TO FELL TREES ON MULL OF KINTYRE FARM

Paul is involved in a row with neighbours over plans to fell thousands of trees on his estate.

He wants to remove 300 lorry loads of timber a year for the next few years from his Scottish hideaway on the peninsula of Kintyre. But residents say the increase in the number of heavy lorries using a single-track road would be dangerous.

They already cope with trucks going to a nearby quarry and say the road is at saturation point.

Neighbour William Taverner said: “I have three young children and I am concerned about road safety. It is busy enough with quarry lorries. ­Timber lorries would be too much.”

Another resident said the narrow road had blind corners, potholes and limited passing places.

 
Paul has owned the farm for 40 years.Wings' song Mull Of Kintyre was recorded in 1977.

It’s one of those places that’s very special

Paul McCartney

Colin Chrystie said: “This timber could easily be taken out by another road on the estate. I’m not sure Mr McCartney is even aware of this ­proposal. I think if he knew, he would see sense.”

 

The trees are being removed from the former Beatle’s 600-acre High Park Farm as part of a maintenance programme.

Last year Paul – who had a No1 hit in 1977 with his band Wings’ song Mull Of Kintyre – applied for two grants from the Forestry Commission to help clear windblown trees and draw up a management plan. He has owned the farm for 40 years and has bought another four on Kintyre.

“It has been like a little hideaway,” he once said. “I love the people up there. It’s one of those places that’s very special. I can sort of breathe when I get up there.”

A spokesman for Sir Paul’s management team, MPL, said: “No decisions have been made on how the wood will exit the estate. All available options are being explored.”