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ALL HEDGE BETS ARE OFF AS FIR STARTER TARGETS THE SUBURBS’ SCOURGE

Story Image

 

 

A torched tree in Sowerby Bridge

 

Sunday June 5,2011

By David Paul

 

LEYLANDII trees, dubbed the scourge of suburbia, are being *targeted by an arsonist who has struck 10 times in the past month in the same market town.

 

In some incidents, fires have been started twice in the same day.

 

So far no one has been injured in the blazes which have been put out quickly by firefighters.

 

However, Karina Gonzalez, of West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service, warned: “If these fires continue it will only be a matter of time before someone gets hurt.”

 

The arson attacks have been made in the Beechwood and *Triangle areas of Sowerby Bridge, near *Halifax, West Yorkshire.

 

West Yorkshire Police are working with investigators from the fire service’s arson task force to track down the culprit and have asked residents to be on the lookout for anyone acting suspiciously.

 

Inspector Dave Browning said: “Officers are carrying out high visibility patrols in the area and speaking to people to see if they have seen anything that might help us to bring the person or persons responsible to justice. A series of fires such as these are very rare, *especially in a small *community such as this.”

 

Leylandiis are loved and loathed in equal measure for their ability to grow up to four feet a year, *providing privacy for some while blocking out sunlight for others.

 

One of the fire-raiser’s victims was Barbara Smith, 71, who woke to find what she thought was white powder all over her garden. At first she thought it was something that must have been washed down by an overnight rainstorm but it was the ash from a burning Leylandii.

 

“The garden was totally white, I just didn’t know what it was,” said Mrs Smith. “It’s quite worrying because these trees are very close to people’s homes. Setting them on fire is such a stupid thing to do.”

 

Leylandii, which can reach a height of 75ft, have caused controversy since being introduced to the UK from North America in 1888.

 

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It is estimated that at any one time around 17,000 people in Britain are at loggerheads with their neighbours over hedge disputes.

 

Six years ago a new section was introduced into the Antisocial Behaviour Act. The “Leylandii Law” gave people the right to challenge the height of a neighbour’s hedge but councils charge up to £500 to begin any investigation.

 

Nancy Webster, of campaign group Hedgeline, which helps in disputes over hedges, said: “Leylandii are a scourge and they blight people’s lives but we wouldn’t advocate setting fire to ones owned by other people.

 

“We always advise people to be polite when trying to get their neighbour to cut down a *Leylandii.”

 

Read more: Express.co.uk - Home of the Daily and Sunday Express | UK News :: All hedge bets are off as fir starter targets the suburbs’ scourge

[treequip]

If I remember correctly there was a rash of hedge burning in Leeds a couple of years ago, shame for the wildlife and the poor bugger having to clear all that nasty burnt timber.

[Mark James]

It just shows how annoyed people get over them.

[easy-lift guy]

So I am trying to figure this one out. People of the UK plant Leylandii for privacy. Still other people don't like these plantings because they are a fire hazard? among other reasons. " Leylandii Law" Right to challenge the height of your neighbors hedge, of course

you have to pay 500 Pounds to get the proceedings started?. Is it a 50/50 split for like and dislike of this plant material?, or was it a really slow news day or week and the paper had to print something. Just trying to understand.

elg

[Ian C]

Im gonna try this new approach on the next conny reduction i do, leave the saw at home and fire the bugger:thumbup1:

[Daniël Bos]

well done Button, but surely you meant to post this in the "your greatest achievements" thread?

 

:lol:

 

Could be my dad, he used to pay a reward for every dead conifer brought to him. Fire is not his style though, and he lives about 500 miles east.

[blazer]

Like the 'West Yorkshire triangle' bit - explains it all.

 

Locally some very large have been reduced - I assume the council wouldn't allow total felling:confused1:

[Breezeblock]

sacrilage some nob end burning our favourite tree

hail the the god that brought us the cash generating icon

[Moonie]

So I am trying to figure this one out. People of the UK plant Leylandii for privacy. Still other people don't like these plantings because they are a fire hazard? among other reasons. " Leylandii Law" Right to challenge the height of your neighbors hedge, of course

you have to pay 500 Pounds to get the proceedings started?. Is it a 50/50 split for like and dislike of this plant material?, or was it a really slow news day or week and the paper had to print something. Just trying to understand.

elg

 

People don't like them because having a nice sunny garden is great until the guy next door throws up a huge privacy hedge that blocks all light out from your garden. It isn't a huge issue you find people talking in the street about here but it does piss people off. Campaign groups and Arson are both ridiculous responses by people who live sheltered lives with **** all else going on in them essentially.