Bought house. Council asking for fence to be taken down

Section62

diystarter7 said:

The other day I sent pictures of an ignorant fool not cleaning up the dog mess got an email back with an empty thank you and the kick in the teeth, due to covid we are short-staffed. What they are really saying, mind your own business and don't waste our time

How often do you complain to your council about minor issue of this nature?

Councils have what they know as "vexatious complainants".  Typically this means people who complain about the council, but the same tag is often applied to regulars who contact the council complaining about other people's behaviour, perhaps whilst not thinking about how their own behaviour impacts on other people.

If you find the council is ignoring your reports, one approach is to report stuff less often and be more selective. 

From your posts on this forum it seems you have rather a lot of issues with your neighbours... I'd advise doing a bit more living-and-let-live and try to limit your complaints to perhaps one or two every six months.  You may get a more positive response from the council that way.

jojothefirst

_Sam_ said:

Ramouth said:

What about a 1m wall with 1m railings on top?  This would make the garden dog proof while still allowing some visibility.  A nice climbing rose would give some privacy over time.  Not a cheap solution but it might be a good compromise.

I would be tempted to go this way too. Build a low wall that matches the rest in the neighbourhood, with discrete metal railings on top that would make the garden secure for dogs and kids and allow visibility for the highway users. Perhaps the planners won’t object to this.

I would then speak with the Highways and ask them which part of the boundary they need clear, and plant climbers alongside the wall except in where it needs to be clear.

The sound of this is great and i suspect it is what stands the best chance with the coucil. The cost would be huge though and the current fence is well made and not cheap.

Will ring the tomorrow, but if they cant do anything about trees i am thinking we will eventually just chop the fence in half and grow conifers

deannagone

Why do you think they can't do anything about trees?  Of course they can.  As has been pointed out here, they may already have done something about the hedge that was previously in your side garden.

hannahcolobus

You mentioned it was renovated before you bought it, when did they buy it? 

jojothefirst

hannahcolobus said:

You mentioned it was renovated before you bought it, when did they buy it? 

We bought it in Nov 2021. They bought it in 2019 i believe

jojothefirst

deannagone said:

Why do you think they can't do anything about trees?  Of course they can.  As has been pointed out here, they may already have done something about the hedge that was previously in your side garden.

I mean they cant do anything about me planting trees right?

The potential issue with the trees that were there before is that they were overgrown.

Section62

jojothefirst said:

deannagone said:

Why do you think they can't do anything about trees?  Of course they can.  As has been pointed out here, they may already have done something about the hedge that was previously in your side garden.

I mean they cant do anything about me planting trees right?

The potential issue with the trees that were there before is that they were overgrown.

They can, potentially - that was the point I made earlier about why a fence is not better than the hedge from the highways perspective.

If you have trees or a hedge which overhangs the highway, or obstructs or interferes with the view of drivers of vehicles, then the council can serve notice on you to get them cut back.

hannahcolobus

jojothefirst said:

hannahcolobus said:

You mentioned it was renovated before you bought it, when did they buy it? 

We bought it in Nov 2021. They bought it in 2019 i believe

Ah okays- so there could have been an ongoing council arrangement whereby the previous owner had to keep the hedges trimmed. And then the latest buyers just ripped them down and presumably then has done nothing wrong in not declaring anything? Just thinking that if that’s the case then it probably isn’t worth trying to pursue them for anything. 

It would be worth finding out from the council what the history is because the previous trees do look like they have been kept low. Just might be a good idea to find out if that was because of the council before you go to the expense of putting hedges in. You have my sympathies though as it seems like poor planning on the previous owners part and you’re now getting the flack for it. 

markin

I would start by getting Highway on side by cutting the corner by a meter or 2, Whatever would make them happy, but probably setting back the entire fence a meter, but then the is the 'not in keeping with the area' problem. 

jojothefirst

Section62 said:

jojothefirst said:

deannagone said:

Why do you think they can't do anything about trees?  Of course they can.  As has been pointed out here, they may already have done something about the hedge that was previously in your side garden.

I mean they cant do anything about me planting trees right?

The potential issue with the trees that were there before is that they were overgrown.

They can, potentially - that was the point I made earlier about why a fence is not better than the hedge from the highways perspective.

If you have trees or a hedge which overhangs the highway, or obstructs or interferes with the view of drivers of vehicles, then the council can serve notice on you to get them cut back.

I understand that if it over hangs then it becomes a issue. I am asking it there is anything at all stopping me planting them in the first instance. Am i right in thinking that as long the tree is on my land, there is nothing the council or highways can do.


I have emailed the council on monday (tried to ring first) but as yet have had no reply.
Rang highways monday and said it was urgent as i have 28days to respond. Not had a reply so rang and emailed again today but still no reply as of yet.