neighbours tree issues.

[idontknowwhattosay]

Guy across the road has a MASSIVE tree in his front garden, about the same height as a 5 story building. He has never had anything done to look after the tree, there are loads of dead branches. Today we had pretty high winds and there are big bits of tree covering the road now, one bit we moved was just shy of the height of my 5ft tall daughter. The last time we had high winds a branch fall and cracked and broke the back window of someones car.
Is there a council department that i can call or try to get involved in getting him to have the dead/ overhanging/ dangerous bits of tree?
Thanks

I think people should have to apply for a licence for trees over 15 feet high of theyare close to fences/ dwellings etc
I’m surrounded by other people’s big trees and we have none but have the chore of sweeping them up in the autumn

Going outside and moving the branch was a pretty dangerous thing to do without a hard hat on. More branches could have fallen and brained you. A high wind is nature's way of clearing dead branches out of trees, it is normal.

If it is that big then the tree is likely to have a TPO on it, so it isn't easy to get permission to carry out works. It has also probably been around for a good few hundred years, so some might say it has more right to be there than you do.

It would be the tree officer at the local council that you need to speak to.

If you don't like large trees, then don't move into a house near one - go and live on a brand new housing estate where the developer has ripped them all out for you, and replaced them all with hundreds of acres of faceless concrete blocks and tarmac.

Local council - parish, town, borough - can write to landowner on your behalf.

If you don't like large trees, then don't move into a house near one - go and live on a brand new housing estate where the developer has ripped them all out for you, and replaced them all with hundreds of acres of faceless concrete blocks and tarmac.

and wait for the flooding ...

idea
it could have been dangerous, but to get my car out the road i needed to move the branch off the road.
Im not angling for it to be chopped down, but for it to be made safe.

Bloody hell, Im not complaining about the existance of the tree, i would just like the man to have the broken, dead and dangerous parts removed before the cause more damage.

It has also probably been around for a good few hundred years, so some might say it has more right to be there than you do.

With rights come obligations. Neighbour should insure their tree or fund the damages out of their own pocket.

Ask him to get it looked out. Helpfully point out that he'll be liable if anyone gets hurt, especially now he's aware there are concerns.

Bloody hell, Im not complaining about the existance of the tree, i would just like the man to have the broken, dead and dangerous parts removed before the cause more damage.

Quite. Blacksax just hates people, even if they love trees.

I know he paid to have the rear window replaced on a neighbours car a year or so ago. So he is well aware of the possibility.
When the tree is green there are lots of dead areas. At the moment there is a few broken branches that have been dislodged and are in the tree still. He has a drive, but in high winds he wont use it as the branches fall on his car....ironic that he doesn't want his property damaged.

On a serious note has it been inspected ?

A few years ago a tree in a public park in Brum was felled in high winds killing 3 people. The council were found liable for not having inspected it for safety - turned out it was practically hollow. There were an awful lot of hi-viz jackets in the parks that year ....

news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/2129673.stm

Actually this was the story I remember - the previous one is different

www.birminghampost.co.uk/news/local-news/death-tree-had-obvious-decay-3976817

however the take home message is clear: unmaintained trees can kill ...

I have never seen anyone work on it, but i dont know if it has been inspected. I have found the council department for Trees, ( i didnt know that it existed!) so i will give them a call in the morning.
We live on a small cul de sac and with the positioning of the house and tree none of us can get out the road in our cars unless we move the branches, the owner of the house can tho!
One of my neighbours started putting the branches on the owners drive when he moved them the owner was not happy with it.

I would speak to your local council's tree officer - (this is probably at your district or Borough Council depending on where you live, but your parish council if you have one ought to be able to direct you to the right place)

They do have to maintain their trees. Looking after and protecting trees is about proper maintenance!

But if it does have a pto on it or if he refuses to pay for the work it'll take longer to sort out. I would take pictures of the falling branches - use something position something nearby that shows the size, as this will help the council know how serious the issue is.

Xpost. Good luck!

“I think people should have to apply for a licence for trees over 15 feet high of theyare close to fences/ dwellings etc”

That’s ridiculous.

Worth taking a picture before it gets moved.

I love the idea that a hard hat will protect you against falling branches. That’s what happens when you remove all personal accountability from H&S - people in yellow jackets and plastic glasses start believing that they are bulletproof!

As an aside, just because it is big, doesn’t mean that it is “hundreds of years old”. Even slow growers like beech can reach decent sizes in 80-100 years. People often assume trees are much older than they are.

As for the OP, I sympathise. Tree owners are liable for damage and are therefore obliged to maintain their trees where third parties are at risk.