2 100 year old Oaks on neighbouring property for removal

[Rebeccap87]

Hello, I’m hoping I can get some advice, I’m also contacting an arborist to assist. 
 

our neighbour has 2 100 year old oaks, around 3/4metres from her property. We are semi detached. The soil type is loamy/clayey and is not free draining. I’ve checked this on a map site that indicates the soil type, our lawn is always boggy in winter. 
 

the neighbour wants to remove both trees next month in one go. This worries me about heave. Is this a possibility and will our property suffer? I will add- the neighbouring property is already suffering cracks in the brickwork above the door lintel. We don’t seem to have anything in the way of cracks at the moment. Pic attached of trees lot be removed. 

[Rebeccap87]

20 hours ago, kram said:

Thats a shame, looks like nice healthy oaks that have been their longer than the houses. Consider requesting a TPO from the council.

I’ve called the council today, been told to email them. Auto response said 10 working days for contact… I’m not keeping anything crossed though! 

[Rebeccap87]

10 hours ago, Stubby said:

It does look from the pics that they may have been crown lifted before , or at least a lower limb or two removed .

Yes they have had some work done in them and regularly maintained them. They’ve lived there 50 plus years and only now pigeon poop is a major concern and reason for removal 

[Rebeccap87]

8 hours ago, Bolt said:

Is 100 years the combined age?

I am only go off what their tree surgeon told them regarding age…. The owners of the property have lived there 50 plus years and didn’t plant them so my guess is they predate the house. 

[Rebeccap87]

6 minutes ago, GarethM said:

So what are you actually asking, other than your neighbour has a good reason to remove a couple of 30 year old trees ?.

 

Personally, get shot as it's better now than being inside the living room or garage.

I’m asking, should I be concerned about heave from these trees being removed? They are 30 years old. Neighbour has lived there 50 plus years and they didn’t plant them… 

[Rebeccap87]

7 hours ago, openspaceman said:

Yes that is what I thought, neither of them look older than I. Also the building looks like it was built in the 60s so the footing should be deep enough to take a bit of surface movement however unlikely.

 

I would not like them  growing bigger that close to my house.

I’m just going off what their tree surgeon has told them…. Yes house is 1960 build. The neighbour has lived here 50 plus years and didn’t plant them so that makes me think they do predate the house? I feel better about the comment about the house footings. 

[GarethM]

Leave your neighbours to it, your the one speaking to their tree guy and the council about TPOs.

[Rebeccap87]

I haven’t spoken to their ‘tree guy’ I’m repeating what they’ve told me. I wouldn’t want them liable for damages to my property so would rather have some assurance that felling these trees in one go won’t cause ground heave and affect my property. If they want to fell that fine, but I’d like to have some sort of professional guidance on the correct and safest way to do it without affecting us both. 

[Stubby]

10 minutes ago, Rebeccap87 said:

I haven’t spoken to their ‘tree guy’ I’m repeating what they’ve told me. I wouldn’t want them liable for damages to my property so would rather have some assurance that felling these trees in one go won’t cause ground heave and affect my property. If they want to fell that fine, but I’d like to have some sort of professional guidance on the correct and safest way to do it without affecting us both. 

There used to be a theory about " staged reduction " to avoid heave/subsidence  but I think its recognized now as total bollox .

Edited October 16 by Stubby

[kram]

"Ground heave is likely to occur when established trees or shrubs die or are removed, therefore removing their root systems that help absorb moisture from the soil. Without these root systems, excess water can accumulate in the ground, causing the soil to expand and heave upwards."

 

Thats from google. You could insist that as part of the works, suitable drainage could be added to maintain ground water at suitable levels, perhaps something like a french drain (channel filled with gravel)

[GarethM]

Me thinks a lack of moisture at the moment is something of an impossibility, it's rained that much Ahab and an ark could sail by.

 

Just let them crack on, if the shoe was on the other foot you'd be telling them to do one.