My Hedge, my choice?

DanG1300

Background info.
We have recently (in the last 2 years) bought and moved in to a detached house which has several neighbours (side and back, 5 in total). The garden of the house we bought was surrounded by 15ft High 8ft deep leylandii hedges, they are within the boundary of my property and there is fencing in the other side of the boundary to mark the property line.
The issue. 
As the garden is quite small I wanted to remove the monstrous leylandii hedges, when I did the one on the side of the property as a courtesy I did check in with the neighbours that they didn't mind, explained I was putting in a 2m fence and gravel board at no cost to them, they were delighted. 
I then removed 2 trees from the back to put a shed in (again checked with the bordering neighbours, again delighted). 
That evening neighbour number 4 comes and informs me that she doesn't want me to remove "their" hedge, I'm a bit taken aback but assume them that I'm not planning on removing it right away but I do intend to eventually, I'm told that if I remove it I need to replace it with something as high (ridiculous as I would need planning and the cost is prohibitive), at this point I tell the women that we will talk about it when I come to thinking about it again but right now she can be safe in the knowledge that I won't remove the hedge without speaking to them again. 
Fast forward about 1 year, the hedge is annoying me and I now have enough to remove the hedge, I go to speak to the neighbours. 
I see that the boundary fence is very short, I offer to replace this at no cost with a new 2m high concrete post, gravel board and wooden panel fence. They say no, I offer to replace the entire back fence (like my garden they have 2 back neighbours). They say no, they throw lots of things at me as to why I shouldn't want to remove it, and why they don't agree that I can remove it. 
30 days on
I am about to go and visit them again to see if they have re considered, if they have not I will give them my plan in writing. 
1. I own the hedge the stumps are 2ft inside the boundary line. 
2. I will remove the hedge. 
3. I will place a 2m high fence inside of the boundary line. 
Any concerns about privacy etc are not my concerns. Thank you for your time have a nice day. 
I've checked with citizens advice, they say if its your tree it's your choice, everyone else I know says the same. 
I just want to check that
 a) I'm not being crazy unreasonable for wanting to gain 8ftx50ft of garden and
b)I'm within my rights to do so 
Sorry for the long post, look forward to the answers 

DayDreamerandGeneralWaster

Of course you aren't crazy and you are within your rights, assuming the deeds don't say you can't remove existing hedges. 

Tell them to buy their own hedge if they want it. I wouldn't have even told them. 

FreeBear

As long as you are not in a conservation area and/or the property isn't listed, you are free to cut down the hedge. Highly unlikely there will be tree preservation orders on leylandii, and if you are using a contractor, you won't need a tree felling licence.

So, go ahead with the big chop and enjoy the enlarged garden.

kazwookie

Crack on, they are in your garden, you have  the right to do with them as you wish, unless there is a TPO on them or you are in a conservation area.

I personally would be doing it the sooner the better, to give your new area a chance to 'be in' over the winter months.

robatwork

DanG1300 said:

I see that the boundary fence is very short, I offer to replace this at no cost with a new 2m high concrete post, gravel board and wooden panel fence. They say no, I offer to replace the entire back fence (like my garden they have 2 back neighbours). They say no, they throw lots of things at me as to why I shouldn't want to remove it, and why they don't agree that I can remove it. 

You missed out the important bit at least for me. What were the things they threw at you?

Anyway they don't need to agree you've done more than enough by informing them.

DanG1300

robatwork said:

DanG1300 said:

I see that the boundary fence is very short, I offer to replace this at no cost with a new 2m high concrete post, gravel board and wooden panel fence. They say no, I offer to replace the entire back fence (like my garden they have 2 back neighbours). They say no, they throw lots of things at me as to why I shouldn't want to remove it, and why they don't agree that I can remove it. 

You missed out the important bit at least for me. What were the things they threw at you?

Anyway they don't need to agree you've done more than enough by informing them.

I meant figuratively haha, I meant they kept saying reasons why I shouldn't be allowed to remove it, like "well didn't you think about the hedge when you bought the house" what about the privacy, etc, etc 

robatwork

You're too nice.

Chop it all down then put up a trampoline by their boundary for full Hyacinth Bucket outrage.

TELLIT01

The OP is totally correct with the assertion of 'my hedge, my choice'.  If it is leylandii the council could insist that it be reduced under nuisance hedge regulations.  Most people would be delighted to be rid of the hedge.  Just do it and ignore the complaints.  You are putting up a 2 m high fence and they can plant their own hedge, which you can complain about if they plant leylandii and it overshadows your garden :-)

Brie

You're completely right - your hedge, your choice.

I'm wondering what their concern is....lack of privacy obviously but does this mean they think you will be able to look into their garden from your upstairs back bedroom?  Why is this a concern??  Are they nudists?   

Maybe you could sell them on the positives - more sun into their garden?  Nice to have unless they have a fern forest growing in the shade.  

fyi - the devil me wants to suggest that you remove the hedge and put a single thread of string in to mark the boundary between your properties.  Then they would know what no privacy is like and might end up putting a new fence up themselves!!

MalMonroe

Gosh, you are SUCH a considerate and nice neighbour!! All that negotiation and not wanting to hurt anyone's feelings.

But what you said initially - "they are within the boundary of my property and there is fencing in the other side of the boundary to mark the property line" says it all.

It's your house, it's your hedge. If the neighbours want any such hedge, they are free to plant their own leylandii - which are very quick-growing - in fact too quick in some cases. We once planted some as a hedge and were absolutely amazed at the speed with which they grew and the height they achieved.

[Do bear in mind though that once the leylandii have reached 8ft you may have to negotiate with the neighbours to chop the tops off.]

But seriously, you've done your utmost to be helpful, informative and friendly. 

You are under no obligation whatsoever to go and see them again or give them any notification in writing. By trying to negotiate with neighbours who don't even have any right to complain, you are just giving them the idea that they're going to be successful. They're not. Best not to give them any false hope. Just do what you have to do. Nay, what you WANT to do! And enjoy your own home and garden. 

Bendy_House

Yup, super-considerate Dan. SuperDan.

Everything as said above. To hopefully kill further discussion, I'd be looking at turning the issue around and putting the onus on them to prove the BS they are claiming. Nicely, of course. "I'm absolutely certain that I am within my rights to do this, but I am happy to look at any evidence you can present to the contrary." Then practice your most disparaging stare with raised, questioning, eyebrows.

Whatever BS they come out with, just calmly reply, "Evidence..."

One issue, as pointed out above, what if they decide to go Leylandii instead? Would this be an issue for you, or is it mainly about gaining that lost bit of garden? If it could be an issue, then - yes - you may be able to prevent it from growing too high, but who wants that hassle? So - your call - you may want to consider suggesting an alternative screening plant of limited achievable height and depth - clumping bamboo, for example? Port laurel?