conifer law

[Bob Rolfe]

ive got a customer who is having trouble with some conifers... problem really is that the conifers are not in his garden there in next doors what are the laws surrounding conifers does anybody know apart from the right to light one

[Stephen Blair]

up here you can cut back to boundary, and must offer to return the branches, looks horrendous though. dead sticks galore. i used to get involved trying to sort out the problem with the customer, now i usually stay well clear. they will either agree and not bother as long as they dont get a bill or go bonkers at the thought of it and create mary hell. but this is just my personal experience in the matter

[Dean Lofthouse]

What problem exactly Bob ?

[Lee Winger]

ive got a customer who is having trouble with some conifers... problem really is that the conifers are not in his garden there in next doors what are the laws surrounding conifers does anybody know apart from the right to light one

 

There is no right to light mate

[Paul Barton]

As Dean said, you can cut back to the boundary bit it may well look pretty terrible.

 

If they are causing an 'actionable nuisance' to the your customers property then you can seek enforcement to have them cut back - but this means something like physical damage to buildings or perhaps pathways.

 

If it is a height issue then the neighbours must try and talk it out and come to an agreement. If they can't agree they should get a mediator. Failing that they can ask the council arb officer to come and take a look. They can use government guidelines to assess whether the height is above what is deemed reasonable in terms of casting shade on to your customers property - particularly shade of windows of the main living areas of the house. The council will most likely charge for this regardless of the outcome.

 

I would let them negotiate and get back to you with their decision - messy business!

[Stuart A-C]

http://www.gov.im/lib/docs/dlge/legislation/treeshighhedgesact2005.pdf

 

We had a very 'well to do' customer in Leicester who refused to have his conifer hedge reduced, and ended up with an ASBO!

[Paul Barton]

Good link Stuart.

 

Another on here: http://www.communities.gov.uk/documents/planningandbuilding/pdf/overgardenhedge.pdf

[18 stoner]

up here you can cut back to boundary, and must offer to return the branches, looks horrendous though. dead sticks galore.

 

He he! Sometimes what the customer wants and all that;

 

[Stuart A-C]

Nice, looks a bit wonky though!!!

[Stephen Blair]

it the customers fall out and they have exhausted all possible routes, then they each pay the council 200plus vat, then they decide what should happen and i pressume the loser fits the bill on the outcome