Advice on dead hedge

[GrassyBottom]

I have a Leylandi hedge which is pretty much dead and a total eyesore. It's about 5' high and around 30 trees.
I am having some quotes for removing it and picked reasonably large local firms to come and look.
The guy who came today was adamant that I don't need to have the stumps removed.I plan to plant a Beech hedge in it's place and he reckons it would be perfectly fine to plant the new hedge plants in between the stumps which are about 3' apart.
Is he right?

He's the professional, which I'm not, but I wouldn't have thought it matters much if stumps are left. Beech will make a much more attractive hedge, and will keep autumnal coloured leaves through the winter.

When we had Leylandii, I left enough space BEHIND it so I could get in to control it. I would suggest you keep the beech far enough away from any fence or boundary, so it can grow thick enough, but without going into anyone else's territory.

Thanks, I know he's the professional but I was surprised. I guess I thought his expertise was more in the chopping down than the planting and growing which is why I doubted him.

Good idea about planting a little way further in from the boundary (which is a paved road). The old hedge doesn't actually overlap the road as it has been kept in good shape. I wouldn't have got rid of it if it were not dead!

DH might now be motivated to get a chainsaw rather than pay £600......

I don't think you need to remove the stumps in terms of regrowth. However, I think there may be an aesthetic issue if you intend your new beech hedge to look absolutely pristine - hulking great stumps are not going to help in that case! It sort of depends a bit whether this is a 'tucked out of the way and not really visible' hedge that is largely functional in nature or the incredible visual backdrop to a beautiful garden.

If the trees are cut off as close to the ground as possible they shouldn't be too visible.

It will take a long time, but they should rot away eventually. Making saw cuts ACROSS the face of the stumps, and a deep as you can manage easily, may speed the rotting process.