should I do it or not?

[chris23a]

I wouldn't do it. Its going to look awful afterwards and it will never regrow, if someone sees you doing it they will think you dont know what your doing. I would advise the customer to remove it altogether, if they aren't prepared to do that then just walk away.

[Rich Rule]

wh y not cut back to required distance from the path or further. erect a fence for the rest of the world to see and she will still have the beauty of looking at her bush.

[Moosewood]

Just trim the hedge back to its natural pruning line and swear that it is 40% (it is subjective…). It is so much hassle for a local authority to prosecute that if the homeowner made any effort to correct the situation, I think that they would leave them alone, especially if it is an old lady. Prosecuting an old lady is the last type of busy-body press that a Council wants these days.

 

OR

 

After looking through the Section 154 of the Highways Act (1980) and my first questions would be:

 

1. Has your client been served a formal notice under section 154 or just a request/letter?

2. Does the hedge currently obstruct the passage of pedestrians?

 

If your client only has a letter (polite or not) and you think that passage of a pedestrian is not obstructed then email (email cause there is a record) the council, dept and officer involved stating that while you foresee that an obstruction may occur in the future that in your expert opinion (state qualifications/experience at the end of the email) it would be best to prune the hedge in accordance with RHS best horticultural practice.

 

Therefore you propose to spread this drastic pruning over 2 or 3 years by trimming the hedge back by 20% this year and follow up the job by 20% next year. State that you feel this will ensure that the hedge continues to add to the attractiveness of the local landscape.

 

…maybe just follow the first option as council officers often get into a tizzy over nothing and it could just become a big headache.

[bumble B]

Just trim the hedge back to its natural pruning line and swear that it is 40% (it is subjective…). It is so much hassle for a local authority to prosecute that if the homeowner made any effort to correct the situation, I think that they would leave them alone, especially if it is an old lady. Prosecuting an old lady is the last type of busy-body press that a Council wants these days.

 

OR

 

After looking through the Section 154 of the Highways Act (1980) and my first questions would be:

 

1. Has your client been served a formal notice under section 154 or just a request/letter?

2. Does the hedge currently obstruct the passage of pedestrians?

 

If your client only has a letter (polite or not) and you think that passage of a pedestrian is not obstructed then email (email cause there is a record) the council, dept and officer involved stating that while you foresee that an obstruction may occur in the future that in your expert opinion (state qualifications/experience at the end of the email) it would be best to prune the hedge in accordance with RHS best horticultural practice.

 

Therefore you propose to spread this drastic pruning over 2 or 3 years by trimming the hedge back by 20% this year and follow up the job by 20% next year. State that you feel this will ensure that the hedge continues to add to the attractiveness of the local landscape.

 

…maybe just follow the first option as council officers often get into a tizzy over nothing and it could just become a big headache.

 

Good call.

What with cut backs how much money do you reckon the LA has to throw at this?

If it will create an eyesore for the village maybe the owner should contact the local rag?

Sounds like a newbie tree officer going by the book to me, no offence tree officer types:001_tt2:

[TArrryan]

I have a quotation written for the job now, Ill reccomend its cut back level with the wall edge, If i remove only the overhanging parts you will still be left with woody branches jutting out into the edge of the pathway. Im sure many of you have stabbed yourselves on dead conifer branches before its not pleasant, sods law says somone will have their eye out walking past it and sue me!!!

I will discuss the options when I deliver the quote and see what she has to say, I suspect she will tell me to do it regardless, I'll just park out of sight and don a paper bag!

 

 

Ditto Pete.

I would also erect a small sign next to it outlining the story so people don't think you are a complete tree rapist!

 

I have already thought of this and I will do it if she accepts the quote, I'm buying a white board soon so ill write on that and prop it up near the path

 

 

Get a Long Bar on a Big Saw,Kneel in a Wheelbarrow and have your groundy push you along the Hedge.The novilty of this technique with amuse you and impress passers by alike!

 

When I have the pictures I will post them!!

 

 

Anyone know the best place to get a few men at work signs, preferably with the hedge cutting writing underneath, If I get the job I'll cordon off the path, Dont want people walking past while I hack the hege apart

[TArrryan]

looks like I'll be hiding the van and wearing a paper bag on the 28th!! I explained the situation to her and she's decided to just have the side off completely. not gonna be a proud day but not every job will be a happy one unfortunatly, on the upside she insisted on cash!!!