Ivy damaging wall coming from council land

Uncle_Cuddles

I have a walled boundary backing on to what I think is council owned land which is overgrown with brambles, young sycamore trees and ivy cascading over the wall. I have just spent a couple of hours cutting it back, pretty much to the top of the wall, but the wall is in parts pretty wrecked by the ivy, with missing mortar. The other side would probably be worse.

The land also backs onto the back of some shops to the left, which have metal security fencing. I can see their yards are also overgrown. A few years ago the shops all clubbed together to clear it all, but didn’t cover the bare ground so it has grown back even worse than before. I spoke to the shop owner and he said they only did it to get access as there are flats above the shops, and I guess it was a fire risk, and obviously still is.

So, is the council responsible for this, and would they repair my wall?

Furts

In these days of austerity, with Councils having no money, my guess is no chance. Yes, they may have a liability but making them take action is another matter. It depends how long this has been going on, and what you have done about it so far. Everybody has a duty to mitigate their losses and you have allowed this situation to occur. Which means you have to accept some responsibility for what has occurred.

Give it a go, but getting support from a Local Councillor would be a stronger way forward

Davesnave

Are you sure it's your wall?

One man's 'fire risk' is another's 'natural habitat.'

Even in the countryside, I have a commercial neighbour with land like this. Rather than fight a losing battle with them, I just go around at the weekend occasionally and spray their weeds. It's called being pro-active and looking after one's own interests.

Also, I've had evergreen laurel hedging planted on that boundary for 5 years, so whatever happens in the future, there will still be one.