AIBU to Expect the Council to Trim the Trees?

[SummerC]

Ok maybe I am insane, but my local council is driving me mad!

My garden is enclosed on 3 sides by council property and the trees and hedges are ridiculously overgrown and hang into my garden. To make matters worse, the trees are home to loads of birds. It's to the point that I cannot hang my washing out in my garden because they will be covered in bird dirt when I bring them back in.

I know I may be in the wrong, but I feel like a hypocrite. My dd is in terry nappies because I want to do my bit for the environment. BUT...with the exception of small items which can be dried on airers, all of my clothes are dried in the tumble dryer. Aside from that, I miss the lovely smell of line-dried clothes.

So what should I do? AIBU?

[Olihan]

Have you phoned the council and asked them if they will trim them? It seems a little pointless to be getting riled if you haven't taken action yourself.

[GordontheGopher]

You have the right to cut off anything that's hanging over into your property. Get the chainsaw out!

[SummerC]

I have phoned them...3 times in the last 6 months and nothing has been done. I'm starting to lose my patience now.

GordontheGopher - I thought this as well, but one of my neighbours got in trouble with the council because she trimmed the branches which were hanging into her garden. The council's argument was that by her trimming the trees without the proper knowledge and skill was compromising the integrity of the tree.

[potoftea]

If your council is anything like mine they will eventually cut them, but you will have to nag them into it. I'd suggest finding out who will have to authorize the cutting, and phone her/him on a weekly basis to find out when it's happening.
Might be worth a visit to citizens information to find out your position on cutting the overhanging branches too.
If you could encourage some kids to climb the trees and fall off you could get them on health and safety grounds to chop them (obviously I'm not suggesting children be allowed to really hurt themselves ).

[GordontheGopher]

My friend had the same problem and found out she could cut them down as long as they weren't listed. I'm guessing the CAB would have the definitive answer if the council are being slow?

[GryffinGirl]

check there isn't a tree preservation order or anything like that on them - if there is don't do anything yourself.

I have the same problem with the council not trimming trees. We have a very vigerously growing tree on the pavement outside our house. The roots are beginning to grow under the house and when in leaf it completely blocks our light unless brutally trimmed each year, but the council only do it every two years after a LOT of nagging. I wrote to my councillor about it rather than speaking to the tree department (or whatever they are called).

Is there any problem with the roots undermining your property? If there is, i found out about a house of lords legal case called "Westminster City Council v Delaware Mansions" which obliges the council to pay for repairs to a property where their tree roots undermined a property because they wouldn't trim the leaf canopy. Maybe threaten them with that even if the roots are not bothering you now . The council lost!

You can trim them yourself if they overhang your property, unless there is a TPO. I would!

[GryffinGirl]

you can find your councillor's email details on the councils website and get him/her involved. My councillor was very helpful and now the tree is brutally trimmed every year. It grows back though - about 15 feet a year -it is a monster!

They won't be able to claim you threaten the integrity of the tree if you have repeatedly asked the council to trim them and they haven't, especially if you get a professional gardener or tree surgeon to do it (expenive though)

[fishie]

if the trees and bushes are full of birds then they shouldn't be chopped in nesting season (ie spring/summer).

my sympathies though, an enormous lime tree casts all my garden into shade and drops sticky sap on us.

[southeastastra]

it's the wrong time to cut them, loads of baby birds and squirrels in them atm.

[Tortington]

use the formal complaints system.

contact your local councillor.

keep ringing up is futile - no ne actually gives a shit unless your name is logged along side a process.

[SummerC]

Thanks everyone for you suggestions! I'll keep nagging and see what happens. Hopefully once nesting season is over, they will trim them back for us.

Ta!

[Alambil]

When I moved in to my council house, the garden was a jungle. The man that lived here before me was disabled so the garden just went wild - council said they'd sort it before I moved in - they also used it as a dumping ground to get rid of things like the winch storage cupboard and extra bannisters he used.

They didn't sort it; it's all still a jungle and the cupboards are still there.

4 years on and they still haven't. They want £600 to do it!! It's THEIR rubbish and THEIR screwup and I'm left with the bill; I can't afford it

I've rang and rang and rang, rowed, been calm, got the CEO involved - everything....

All I'm saying is - don't get your hopes up. Their tennants may well be asking themselves and knocking on a brick wall.

Find out if the trees are protected, wait til Autumn and deal with it yourself if you can.

[Alambil]

When I moved in to my council house, the garden was a jungle. The man that lived here before me was disabled so the garden just went wild - council said they'd sort it before I moved in - they also used it as a dumping ground to get rid of things like the winch storage cupboard and extra bannisters he used.

They didn't sort it; it's all still a jungle and the cupboards are still there.

4 years on and they still haven't. They want £600 to do it!! It's THEIR rubbish and THEIR screwup and I'm left with the bill; I can't afford it

I've rang and rang and rang, rowed, been calm, got the CEO involved - everything....

All I'm saying is - don't get your hopes up. Their tennants may well be asking themselves and knocking on a brick wall.

Find out if the trees are protected, wait til Autumn and deal with it yourself if you can.

[Alambil]

oops sorry!