Tree pruning by electric company - should I let them?

[aesmith]

Hi,

 

I have a guy from SSE coming to see me on Saturday to discuss cutting back one of our trees to increase clearance from their 11kV line. I have no problem in principle, but was wondering whether I should let them go ahead, or arrange the work myself. Do these power distribution guys normally do a decent job, with the work done by a proper tree surgeon or at least by someone who considers the affect on the tree?

 

Also, looking at it from another angle, how close to 11kV lines would an independent arborist be happy working?

 

I just wanted to get a bit of an opinion so I know how to play it when the guy comes round.

 

Thanks, Tony S

[Eddy_t]

9 metres on wooden poles and 15 metres on metal pylons.

 

 

No, they've decided to put single circuit 132kv on wooden poles so it changed in g55/2

 

 

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[Gardenmac]

I wouldn't let them near any trees in future, they came to prune our Cyprus and it wasn't a prune it was a decapitation. Wouldn't mind so much but I convinced one of my neighbours beforehand that the guys doing the work seemed sound enough and convinced him to let them prune his beech trees. Best words are butchered to####!

[spandit]

Ours never showed up - trees are getting very close to the lines now - good job it doesn't supply our power, at least, I think it doesn't...

[dervishcarving]

My dad (down in N wales) had the 'lecky people round last year. He had a huge old oak at the bottom of the drive that overhangs the road, the drive and the electricity cables (to the house and along the road). this is a big tree. Its also got a fair few problems (bit of rot, pretty unbalanced, drops limbs regularly) so they decided it was dangerous. they got an independent arborist in and he agreed, dangerous. My dad reluctantly agreed that it had to come down (and i do mean reluctant, its a great old tree) but the council decided to slap a protection order on it where there wasnt one previously. Plus the village busy-body old woman said that she would do anything she could to block removing it if they went ahead. So now we just wait for the next big storm and it will probably fall over. Kinda sad but these trees are way older than us or our power lines. the lines are strung beneath the branches, the road would have been built way after the tree started growing and this old woman's grandchildren seem to like walking underneath it. something, sometime, is gonna go wrong.