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<\/p>\nTHIS is the moment a Storage Hunters star chopped down a "beloved" tree in an ongoing row with villagers – after allegedly charging them \u00a330,000 to park.<\/p>\n
Daniel Hill, known as "Dapper Dan" on the reality TV show, denies doing anything wrong during the row.<\/p>\n
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He is accused of secretly buying up plots in Haslingfield, Cambridgeshire for \u00a318,000.<\/p>\n
Hill then allegedly charged his neighbours \u00a330,000 to park outside their homes.<\/p>\n
Locals are now fuming after Hill felled a cherry tree on the Badcock Road housing estate.<\/p>\n
Shocking footage shows him smirking as his workmen chopped down the tree.<\/p>\n
A silver birch in a designated tree planting area popular with local children is expected to be felled by Hill later this week.<\/p>\n One resident told the Mail: "The residents are all absolutely devastated that this has happened and many have been in tears. <\/p>\n "A lot of our children and grandchildren have enjoyed playing there over the years."<\/p>\n Hill bought the vacant plots of land at an auction last month after their owner went bust.<\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n But locals claimed they had no idea the sale was even happening.<\/p>\n The Storage Hunters star reportedly wanted neighbours to pay him \u00a3576 a week for the right to park outside their homes – on spaces they have long used for free.<\/p>\n He also allegedly demanded \u00a3190,000 "compensation" from an elderly couple who have been growing a hedge and a willow tree on one of the plots since the 1970s.<\/p>\n Hill told The Sun: "Auctions are how I make money. I buy things cheap and sell them for a profit and this deal is no different.\u00a0<\/p>\n "These people were bidders in the same auction with the same opportunity as me. <\/p>\n "The fact that they were not prepared to pay what I was prepared to pay is their problem not mine.<\/p>\n "Yes, I have cut down the tree, the tree that I own, on the land that I own. <\/p>\n "I have acted within the law and I really think they\u00a0need to accept this and move on."<\/p>\n In an earlier statement, he told the Mail: "We have always wanted to live in Cambridge. We saw a plot of land for sale online valued at \u00a32,000.<\/p>\n "This included two potential building plots, roads, paths and a parking area. We bought the land for \u00a312,000.<\/p>\n "Before purchasing the land we did all the checks and found that there were no restriction.<\/p>\n "In fact there was a planning policy that actually promoted development in the village.<\/p>\n "I have not held anyone to ransom, intimidated nor threatened anyone – all I have done is purchase land that was for sale."<\/p>\n![](\"https:\/\/www.thesun.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/newspress-collage-nigbcytmq-1701082496068.jpg\")
<\/picture>CASH GRAB <\/span><\/p>\nCapt Tom's daughter pocketed \u00a318k to give out plaque but foundation got just \u00a32k<\/h3>\n
![](\"https:\/\/www.thesun.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/newspress-collage-84ej6vame-1701070150705.jpg\")
<\/picture>WONDERLAND SHOCK <\/span><\/p>\nMan rushed to hospital after Christmas Wonderland ride 'went wrong'<\/h3>\n
Most read in The Sun<\/h2>\n
![](\"https:\/\/www.thesun.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/JW_GRACE_DENT_QUITS_V4_COMP.jpg\")
<\/picture>GRACE SPENT <\/span><\/p>\nGrace Dent QUITS I’m A Celeb ‘on medical grounds’ as fans spot moment she broke<\/h3>\n
![](\"https:\/\/www.thesun.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/newspress-collage-en6xnkgng-1701035825569.jpg\")
<\/picture>ROSE WHINE <\/span><\/p>\nI’m A Celeb in ‘sexism’ row as Nella Rose slammed over ‘toxic’ views about men<\/h3>\n
![](\"https:\/\/www.thesun.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/newspress-collage-pehllqp9z-1701025738753.jpg\")
<\/picture>FOUND SAFE <\/span><\/p>\nGirl, 9, who vanished while walking a puppy has been ‘found safe and well’<\/h3>\n
![](\"https:\/\/www.thesun.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/RR-p9-v2-comp.png\")
<\/picture>FRENCH FANCY <\/span><\/p>\nNigel Farage\u2019s ‘secret’ lover WILL jet to jungle to support him on I\u2019m A Celeb<\/h3>\n
'MOVE ON'<\/h2>\n