Electricity Northwest want to cut my trees

[DaveyH]

Evening All,

 

I had a visit today an Electricity Northwest Surveyor wanted to cut back 3 of my trees that are touching the LV cables suppling my neighbours. The cable runs over my land but according to their plans doesn't so there is no wayleave in place or I don't think there is.

The trees give good sound insulation from the M6 over the other side of the field and give a stunning back drop to the garden. He said he would only have them cut from  the back to maintain the appearance from the front but my worry is that this would unbalance the tree? especially as it is close to a ditch.

I guess I need to get this job done but some of the stories I have heard about Utility companies lopping trees worry me. 

Am I within my rights to get it done myself and then invoice them?

If they must do the work - what can and should I insist on? (from aesthetics to removal of branches?)

[Khriss]

1 hour ago, dumper said:

 

you could have said that earlier        K

[dumper]

20 minutes ago, Khriss said:

you could have said that earlier        K

I was going to make a comment but need to check my facts 

[averagearborist]

My experience in utilities are that the distributors generally do their best to accommodate the needs of people with electrical equipment on their property. If the trees are in some way important to the land owner, cutting for clearance can be limited or minimised. If you make your feelings and concerns known, they will take extra care in pruning. As someone said, insist work is be carried out to a BS3998 standard, which (despite what people may say) is what distributors stipulate their arborists work to if possible.

Pruning to gain sufficient clearance will not unbalance the trees or make them dangerous - it is in the distributors interest that the trees remain safe. Reducing spread by a few metres will not adversely affect the trees' long term viability.

All that said, the circumstances and tree condition very much dictate what work must take place, the end results and aesthetics. If it's LV, it is unlikely they will be taking more that 2 or 3 meters off the spread of your trees. LV work is probably the least intrusive electrical utility work.

[averagearborist]

Utility arb work is all dependant on the proximity distances between the tree and live wires and the qualifications of the people doing the work. Sometimes any work requires a shut down .
 
There is provision in the legislation for a landowner to do the necessary work and charge for it but you would have to comply with all the safety requirements of the Distribution Network Operator, Electricity Northwest in this case.
 
They will want to remove all branches  from near to the live wire and a bit more to allow for "resilience" for the next five years..
You are better off asking that they do the work to British Standard for tree work 3998 as was and not allow the use of climbing irons if the tree is to be retained. Utility arbs have spikes permanently attached to their boots.

That's not true about spiking every tree. The old school utility arbs are still out there, boshing off limbs at the stem without a care, but less so these days. Distributors now insist that work is carried out to a decent standard, you aren't allowed to spike retained trees, and works are to bs3998 where possible. Tree work is subject to checks and auditing. Distributors have got environmental policies with regards to tree and vegetation work, biosecurity and all that, and their arborists or subcontracting arborists will have to adhere to it.

[averagearborist]

Please be care full with giving them notice to quit. Even when no way leaves are in place, 2 years notice to quit is needed. And even when you have gone down this route remember electric companies will be as awkward as any one in not wanting to do this. They do have statutory powers which they rarely use but can. I know from spending over 4 years messing about with muppets at Northern electric. Remember most of them are unfortunate ly jobs worth you would not employ to pick the broom handle from floor. One tact that can work but can be interpreted as aggressive is treating to remove poles by felling them. Yes slightly dangerous with live line but can be safely done. They do not Want work or interruption to supply. All said and done if only few trees by low voltage, a live line worker can work 1m from 1kv line so you could insist they are sensitive ly trimmed every 2 years. 

So don't try to cut down the electrical equipment. Obviously this is a terrible idea. Did i read that right? Is that what you are suggesting? Anyway no.

What is said here about limited cutting is spot on. Just make sure that both the contractors and distributor know you are concerned and will be paying close attention to the works, and get a really clear work specification before they undertake the work.

[openspaceman]

22 minutes ago, averagearborist said:

14 hours ago, openspaceman said:

Utility arb work is all dependant on the proximity distances between the tree and live wires and the qualifications of the people doing the work. Sometimes any work requires a shut down .
 
There is provision in the legislation for a landowner to do the necessary work and charge for it but you would have to comply with all the safety requirements of the Distribution Network Operator, Electricity Northwest in this case.
 
They will want to remove all branches  from near to the live wire and a bit more to allow for "resilience" for the next five years..
You are better off asking that they do the work to British Standard for tree work 3998 as was and not allow the use of climbing irons if the tree is to be retained. Utility arbs have spikes permanently attached to their boots.

That's not true about spiking every tree. The old school utility arbs are still out there, boshing off limbs at the stem without a care, but less so these days. Distributors now insist that work is carried out to a decent standard, you aren't allowed to spike retained trees, and works are to bs3998 where possible. Tree work is subject to checks and auditing. Distributors have got environmental policies with regards to tree and vegetation work, biosecurity and all that, and their arborists or subcontracting arborists will have to adhere to it.

I'm glad to hear that, you must be a better than average UArb, my experience with rail and utilities arbs is that they attract the worst sort of tree hackers but  I retired form this sort of work 4 years ago.

[topchippyles]

4 hours ago, trigger_andy said:

.

Cannot help your self can you even when nothing to say 🤏🤪

[trigger_andy]

1 minute ago, topchippyles said:

Cannot help your self can you even when nothing to say 🤏🤪

Believe it or not I was cleaning my screen and somehow managed to type and post a one word comment.  

[topchippyles]

If you say so trigg but pigs might fly 🙃

[Everishgreen]

5 hours ago, averagearborist said:

So don't try to cut down the electrical equipment. Obviously this is a terrible idea. Did i read that right? Is that what you are suggesting? Anyway no.

What is said here about limited cutting is spot on. Just make sure that both the contractors and distributor know you are concerned and will be paying close attention to the works, and get a really clear work specification before they undertake the work.

Yes i have let Northern electric I will cut a pole down on a live line and yes I would, why because I am a nutter, well not every day of the week but because I am that sick of there ignorant arrogant disregard for communication and negotiation. And it seems to be the only way to get them to pay attention. Extreme but sometimes needs to be for people to take stock and listen, tripping the line first is easier. But in a former life was live line trained. What stops me is if some one on that line is on certain medical equipment, I would not want to pass my issue on to them. But when negotiations are not that happening, should I lie down and let them tickle my belly after unlawfully accessing land etc.