Hedge vandalised - what can I do?

pimento

All it really needed was a bit of consultation before they did the cut. Not much to ask as it is a shared hedge. I consulted them before we last had a contractor in.

pimento

keystone wrote: »

An eight foot fence will normally require planning permission BTW although they might have an arrangement.

Cheers

The planning permission for our side extension (done just after the house was built) states that nothing can be done to the hedge without reference to the council planning department in case of loss of amenity. I don't count a mature hawthorn hedge that predates the building of our house in 1978 the same a leylandii hedge blocking light to a residential neighbour (which I would happily take out if a residential neighbour requested). We are screening an industrial site which isn't the same thing at all.

keystone

pimento wrote: »

The planning permission for our side extension (done just after the house was built) states that nothing can be done to the hedge without reference to the council planning department in case of loss of amenity. I don't count a mature hawthorn hedge that predates the building of our house in 1978 the same a leylandii hedge blocking light to a residential neighbour (which I would happily take out if a residential neighbour requested). We are screening an industrial site which isn't the same thing at all.

That puts an entirely different complexion on it then althoug the planning restriction was probably only in relation to the extension build (ie the works covered by the PP) rather than future maintenance. Did they know this?

Cheers

Mr_Ted

keystone wrote: »

Ted's first link is much more related to hedgerows rather than hedges and there is an enormous difference betwen the two and IMO not really relevant.

The 1st link was more in relation to the bird nesting situation, and it has to be said that any responsible grounds maintenance company should be aware of this.
Although as I said, it IS very unlikely at this time of year that there would be unfledged birds still in any nest

The OP has, as stated, more important thing to be concerned about than getting into a dispute over this, it must be stressful enough dealing with that than to enter into a dispute in anger which may, respectfully, be aggravated by personal circumstances at which you are angry about

Again respectfully, and concernedly, OP please dont let this trivial thing detract you from what is most important to you at this time, it can make you bitter enough having to deal with troubles without adding to them, and I'm sure the Fire Service will be as caring and concerned under the circumstances, as they obviously know you well.

TC

keystone

Ted - I've just seen a totally new side to you. Well said.

Cheers

Mojisola

pimento wrote: »

The head fire officer came round tonight to personally apologise. He said that he had no idea when they asked the contractor to 'trim the top of the hedge' that they would take the height down by half. He said it was unacceptable and that if it were his house he would be furious, too.

We have a meeting on Monday with the contractor and an officer from fire head office for them to make suggestions as to what they can do to make it better. The fire officer tonight has already suggested that they build a proper fence on the fire station side of the hedge to a height of about eight feet to give us some privacy back. We will see what they say before we decide.

It appears that the contractor sub-contracted the job out to a company who sub-contracted it out again so it would appear that the person actually wielding the chainsaw was the work experience bloke who had left his tape measure and his brain at home that morning.

Don't turn your anger at the result on the poor guy who actually cut the hedge. He doesn't know you, isn't part of the Fire Service so doesn't have any background knowledge of you and was given third-hand instructions which may just have been "Cut down the hedge".

I'm glad the Fire Service have responded well. It's an unpleasant event that has come at a very difficult time for you both. The hedge will grow but I can see how upsetting it is every time you look out at it.

smashingyour...

Be careful with the fence idea, it's likely to be a security fence if their landscaping contractor is anything to go by.

pimento

I think I might suggest that they put a few rows of brick to the top of the existing enclosure around the unsightly diesel storage tank and run some temporary screening from the back door to the end of the garden where our patio is. I don't really like the idea of a permanent fence because it will block light to the hedge.

If they do build a fence, it will only be eight feet high on their side. It will be six feet high on mine.

Thanks for all your opinions/suggestions, I will update you after Monday.

cyclonebri1

Mr_Ted wrote: »

:(Theres little you can say about something that cant be undone, and unfortunately it looks like they have taken it down to a level with a wall, which I would have to assume was an assumption as to where to trim it back to.
The good news is it will probably grow back quite rapidly.

I understand the emotional comment but it is unfortunate, maybe you should have had a better consultation about your expectations as there are regulation height in respect of boundary's and I expect the Fire Service have consulted these:o

As for the birds nesting, I doubt they are this late in the year;)

Agree luckily for the birds the chicks have fledged, don't whittle about that.


Ok so how does a shared hedge work???

Surely it's "someones" boundary and on "someones" land.

"Whoverers" land that is, they determine the hedge height? It's not "anyones"??

Getting pedantic, if it sits on the boundary, they have a right to clip their half to the height they desire, from the centreline of the hedge it stays at your height.

Please feel free to discuss

Mojisola

cyclonebri1 wrote: »

Ok so how does a shared hedge work???

Getting pedantic, if it sits on the boundary, they have a right to clip their half to the height they desire, from the centreline of the hedge it stays at your height.

If a hedge or fence on a shared boundary, both sides are supposed to agree to what happens to the boundary feature. It isn't owned half and half.