Some bugger shredded my tree stump?!?!!
Discussion
Odd situation - would be good to get some views.
One of my rental properties had a large conifer (50 odd foot and 3-4 thick but obviously lots of little branches all converging, you couldn't see through it) outside the perimeter wall but still on my deeds.
Over time its had stuff dumped behind it, its up against the back wall of the garden
Its (was) this bugger.
https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@51.311027,0.031162,...
To the left are 3 en-block garages.
Now 2 days before xmas the wind got hold of it and uprooted it to a degree that it was going to be a danger to the houses on the left (there are 3 just out of shot, it was leaning towards us at about 7 o clock) so I had someone come and get rid of it on the 27th. Not cheap. 5 hrs and 4 trucks to get rid!
They left a stump, nice and neat, all done. Painful for the wallet but its gone.
Now, fast forwards to the weekend and I go round to check all is well and am met with a 3ft high pile of mulch where the aforementioned stump was, which is now being blown around and strewn all over the place.
One of the neighbours saw it being shredded but thought nothing of it other than a white truck and 3 guys.
I have since asked around and put a few notes through the doors of the locals asking if anyone saw anything further, but nothing except it was a Southwark Council truck with 3 guys about 2-3 weeks ago.
There is your typical moaning nothing-better-to-do-with herself woman who was a constant source of nagging about it previously, saying people were dumping things behind it (in fact my wife caught her husband putting stuff there, but we shan't go into that...........) and she was mysteriously the one who informed my wife that she saw the white truck, but didn't see anything on it to identify, another neighbour let me know that it was a Council Truck.
Now the questions are:
Why the f
k would anyone shred the stump - they'd have to pay to have it done surely?
How would you find out who did it, I've got a fairly strong suspicion (moaning woman) but no proof, I could try and blag, but it probably wouldn't work.
How do I report it, naturally I want the person responsible to burn in the fires of hell as its causing me grief and this is PH after all.
Its criminal damage (to a degree, I'm not getting all Daily Mail about it) and I really don't fancy having to pay out further to clear up someone elses crap after dropping a grand on it 2 days after xmas to get rid.
Weird I know, but that's how it is. The close is tucked right out of the way so its unlikely it would have been done by the council as its on private property (they wouldn't help when it was just about to fall over as its not on public land, so I'll be blowed if they'd shred the stump for fun) and besides its in Biggin Hill so nowhere near Southwark.
Any thoughts? PH-esque or helpful welcome.
One of my rental properties had a large conifer (50 odd foot and 3-4 thick but obviously lots of little branches all converging, you couldn't see through it) outside the perimeter wall but still on my deeds.
Over time its had stuff dumped behind it, its up against the back wall of the garden
Its (was) this bugger.
https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@51.311027,0.031162,...
To the left are 3 en-block garages.
Now 2 days before xmas the wind got hold of it and uprooted it to a degree that it was going to be a danger to the houses on the left (there are 3 just out of shot, it was leaning towards us at about 7 o clock) so I had someone come and get rid of it on the 27th. Not cheap. 5 hrs and 4 trucks to get rid!
They left a stump, nice and neat, all done. Painful for the wallet but its gone.
Now, fast forwards to the weekend and I go round to check all is well and am met with a 3ft high pile of mulch where the aforementioned stump was, which is now being blown around and strewn all over the place.
One of the neighbours saw it being shredded but thought nothing of it other than a white truck and 3 guys.
I have since asked around and put a few notes through the doors of the locals asking if anyone saw anything further, but nothing except it was a Southwark Council truck with 3 guys about 2-3 weeks ago.
There is your typical moaning nothing-better-to-do-with herself woman who was a constant source of nagging about it previously, saying people were dumping things behind it (in fact my wife caught her husband putting stuff there, but we shan't go into that...........) and she was mysteriously the one who informed my wife that she saw the white truck, but didn't see anything on it to identify, another neighbour let me know that it was a Council Truck.
Now the questions are:
Why the f
k would anyone shred the stump - they'd have to pay to have it done surely?How would you find out who did it, I've got a fairly strong suspicion (moaning woman) but no proof, I could try and blag, but it probably wouldn't work.
How do I report it, naturally I want the person responsible to burn in the fires of hell as its causing me grief and this is PH after all.
Its criminal damage (to a degree, I'm not getting all Daily Mail about it) and I really don't fancy having to pay out further to clear up someone elses crap after dropping a grand on it 2 days after xmas to get rid.
Weird I know, but that's how it is. The close is tucked right out of the way so its unlikely it would have been done by the council as its on private property (they wouldn't help when it was just about to fall over as its not on public land, so I'll be blowed if they'd shred the stump for fun) and besides its in Biggin Hill so nowhere near Southwark.
Any thoughts? PH-esque or helpful welcome.
mybrainhurts said:
Why is it a problem?
Don't understand what you mean by shredded...
A grand to move that..? Strewth.
I know. Captive audience. Xmas eve, further high winds due a couple of days after and 3 neighbours wondering if I'm going to add to their xmas trees by several feet via their bedrooms left me in an awkward position in my negotiations.Don't understand what you mean by shredded...
A grand to move that..? Strewth.
The tree was rickety due to crap being dumped behind it, now its gone and been replaced by a not unattractive stump, someone has mulched it and its now being seen to be a dumping ground as it resembles a 4ft square compost heap. Round and round.
I'm more curious why someone would weigh out several hundred quid to mulch a tree stump that isn't theirs that affects zero people.
On one hand I'm grateful, but I cant be bothered spending more time clearing up someone elses mess.
Believe me, the witchhunt is purely to see if I could offset some of the cost of felling the f
king thing in the first place.Campo said:
It is a bit strange, can't see why anyone would choose to do that without being asked.
Are you sure it's not just the original crew that finished it off but didn't clear the leftovers?
Also, did your tenants not hear anything. I can't imagine it was quiet.
No, not the original tree surgeons, my neighbours did hear things, have a quick scan over the original post, it appears to be Southwark Council. Probably a mate for a few beer tokens - I know, I just cant understand why.Are you sure it's not just the original crew that finished it off but didn't clear the leftovers?
Also, did your tenants not hear anything. I can't imagine it was quiet.
RichB said:
Now you're just showing off, saying you've got a paddock as well as a rental property. Toyotapilot will be on your case soon! 
Alas no, I back onto a riding school which also houses several donkeys.I'd be happy to piss him off further by saying so though, I could provide him with all the manure he requires for further postings.
5potTurbo said:
Ba-dum-tish!
I still don't see what the problem is. OP paid to have a tree cut down and had the stump removed for free.
I'd be happy and STFU.
Stump turned into huge pile of mulch that people have now dumped more compost on, now my responsibilty to remove. I still don't see what the problem is. OP paid to have a tree cut down and had the stump removed for free.
I'd be happy and STFU.
Neighbours complain of tree and debris behind. Tree nearly goes for a burton, tree removed. Neighbours happy, tree unexpectedly turned into mulch, neighbours complain of mulch and debris.
If they'd taken it with them, I'd be chuffed, as it is, its like having a free Domino's delivered, only to find that its already been digested.
Spoke to arborists/surgeons, nowt to do with them so someone has actually paid to do it. Southwark have no record so far of anything anywhere near my postcode. Local council now looking into it but they did f
k all when it was about to drop on 3 houses as its private land (Freehold) so I very much doubt they'd have done it.Its really not that big a deal, its just a pain the arse, and very odd.
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