Overhanging tree question

[custardbear]

In our neighbours garden (she rents) there's an enormous (compared to the space it's in) tree. The neighbours on her other side have a private road feeding about 6 households. The neighbours have been grumbling because that tree hangs right down, causes sap on their cars and they can't drive past without branches hitting the cars as they drive. They've been asking the neighbour to tell the landlord, she's told him loads of times, (he's sooo bloody slow at
Doing anything g by the way, we've had quite a bit of dealing with him and even the smallest thing takes him months to consider and do anything about - there was a bee nest on his property that was right by our front door and it took him 5 months and a lot of asks to remove) they're now asking us because they know we know him. It doesn't affect us particularly as it's just slightly in our garden but doesn't really have any major affect on our lives. The previous owner had it pollarded and it was fine for many years.

My husband just told the landlord (he's over as he has a lock up on the property) that the neighbours in the other side are getting upset and it's affecting them. He's just said they need to get someone in to cut the overhanging branches - however it's really very overhanging so lopping any branches off will cause it to be a really weird shape, and unless they cut it back totally it'll still cause the sap

What's the 'gardening' rules about this type of issue? Thanks

If the tree is obstructing the highway then I think the council can direct the owner to cut it back.

It's a private access road so I don't think the council would be involved - I can suggest it though - albeit it's firmly in the back garden of the house next door

It's worth contacting the council anyway. Some council's have a special section on the website for roads/pavements and obstructions

I reported a hedge that was massively overgrown once, when it rained it would hang down even more and took up the majority of the pavement. I contacted the council and within a few weeks it had been cut right back. Not sure if the home owner or council did it

Who owns the private road? You can cut anything that comes over your boundary line but technically you have to offer the owner of the tree the off cuts back.

You can cut back to the boundary of your property. So the road owner can cut as much as they like as long as it overhangs their property

if there is a tpo the tree can only be trimmed after getting permission.
check the council website.

The neighbours can just cut it back themselves to the boundary.

The neighbours can just cut it back themselves to the boundary.

not if a tpo is in place

I'd check if there was a TPO and then get a tree surgeon in myself. Perhaps split the cost between all those who use the road. You have every legal right to cut back what hangs over your property.

Ok thanks - I'll let them know about getting someone and splitting the cost themselves but suggest the council first
👍

The neighbours can just cut it back themselves to the boundary.

not if a tpo is in place

Or if the tree is in a Conservation Area

I'll let them know about getting someone and splitting the cost themselves but suggest the council first If they decide to get someone in to trim overhanging branches, and split the cost, they could consider seeing what it would cost to pollard the tree, and see if they could get the landlord's permission to do that (ideally with a contribution to the cost from him, but that's probably too much to ask).

Next time you write a polite request for the tree to be managed, mention the possibility of branches falling in high winds and possibly injuring someone and his responsibilities towards the public.
This might the reaction you want.