Wall dispute

[Inkspot]

Name changed for this but could do with a bit of advice about how to handle this situation. Bit complicated.

We have neighbours to the back of us who built a huge extension to their house a couple of years before we bought ours. As part of their planning permission they had to build a vegetation screen to preserve the privacy of the houses they back onto. They haven't done this.

We are below them on a big hill. When we bought our house there was lots of discussion about the wall between us ie it had to be secure. It is a retaining wall and very expensive to replace. Eventually our seller fixed it and it was signed off by the council but only as a temporary fix. It might last for decades but we can't get anything in writing from the council.

Our back neighbours now want to cut down all existing trees and build a fence. They caught me in the hop and I agreed to this (idiot that I am) as at least a fence would make our garden private. However the very few trees there are provide some, privacy for our bedroom.

How would you proceed? They are wealthy and not that nice and I don't want to enter into a big dispute with them.

The plan is to send them a friendly email saying I hadnt thought it through but that we can't agree to trees being cut down. And then notify the council that they are in breach.

Any advice much appreciated!

Can't you just speak to them (email seems a bit odd!) and ask if they plan to replant vegetation ? Or alternatively you plant some your side.

Email them, saying that you've looked at the original agreement and wish to retain the trees as per original planning permission.

If it was part of a planning permission, they'd have to get you to sign off against the original document, signalling your wish to tear it up.

Now I think of it, it was part of the original PP regs, they can't just deal with you, but with the council who issued it.

Step on it, the feckers will have the chainsaws out tomorrow if you don't.

Our neighbours did this, though giving us documents to sign off, saying, Oh, it'll be OK. We checked, It wasn't. We objected and won, and are still on good terms with them. Though I think this is because they are fundamentally decent chaps.

Planting our side won't really work as there is a four or five foot drop between the gardens. So trees our side would have to be super tall.

I rang the council and they are going to send someone round. I checked their planning permission and it couldn't be clearer. So dh and I are emailing to say the trees need to stay. Am a bit worried that it will be clear that it was us complaining, but hey ho.