Grumpy neighbours tree clippings left in my garden

[andygo]

The grumpy neighbour we have has had his conifers lopped off. Apart from the fact it's the worst job I have ever seen - looks like a aircraft has skimmed them en route to crashing - the workmen have left a load of cuttings in our back garden.

When they did the job on Friday they asked us to leave or gate open which we did for most of the day. We had to go out late afternoon, but told them with half an hour to go that we needed to go out and lock the gate. They didn't come and remove the rubbish, but I spoke to them again as we were leaving and they promised to come back on Saturday. Quelle surprise! they didn't appear.

We dislike the nutcase neighbour, so we are minded to just chuck the stuff back over his fence. I'm certainly not goingt to cut it all up and take it to the tip for him! Am I within my rights here?

[andygo]

The fire option isn't really a goer, lol.

We have had a couple of run ins with the neighbour in the past - he's a bit of a nutcase with a harridan of a wife so I won't be giving him any dialogue as he is a complete a hole.

As long as I'm technically in the clear, I'd prefer to give him his rubbish back just to equal things up a little in our dealings with him!

[andygo]

The Surveyor said:

Why did you have to lock the gate to your garden when you nipped-out, would it not have been easier to have left it unlocked for the short time you were out so they could clear up whilst they were actually finishing off?

Security. Easy to take a peep into my garage which has a tasty assortment of tools. I normally have the window covered on the inside but had taken it down to paint window frame.

[andygo]

Purity14 said:

Just go and put them in his garden waste bin, easy.

Would need about 6 wheelie bins!

[andygo]

There's lots. I'm not into spending an afternoon sawing branches up thanks!

I'm going to put a note through his door suggesting he gets in touch with his contractors to remove by close of play tomorrow or they will be put back over his fence with more care than they did when dropping them onto the young plants in my veggie plot!

Edited by andygo on Monday 2nd March 13:28

[andygo]

I've posted a note suggesting he gets back in touch with his contractors and to get it sorted or I will be returning it as is common practice.

I didn't address it to his name as we call them - Mr and Mrs Tw*t though in the interests of good relations....

[andygo]

Devil2575 said:

I'd suggest that if you really wanted to foster good relations you'd have had a chat with him rather than a note to the effect of "Do X or I will do Y to you".

I don't think I'm being unreasonable TBH, curt maybe, unreasonable, no.

[andygo]

Devil2575 said:

It's not what you say it's how you say it. He may view your "curt" note as an attack, especially if it is for something he knows nothing about. Also you could reasonably expect him not to be aware of the situation in which case it might have been more diplomatic to given him a chance to resolve it before you informed him of what you were going to do should he not.
Sometimes in order to get the best possible outcome, in this case the clippings removed and harmony maintained, it pays to tread gently.

Edited by Devil2575 on Monday 2nd March 15:51

I understand the tread gently approach, it's one I would normally use, but as he is an arse and a troublemaker, its karma time for him. Wifey, normally ultra conservative and polite was all for chucking the stuff over immediately. At least I'm telling him and suggesting an option.

[andygo]

surveyor said:

I'm not sure how the OP expected the gardeners to clear up the mess. To my mind if your only going out for 1/2 an hour and there's people working next door wanting to clear the garden I'd leave the gate unlocked.... I assume that he has lived in London as in my experience it's the people who have experienced the great metropolis who are very self centered, demanding and nonsensical.

All this could have so easily been avoided by him mentioning to gardeners have to pop out for 5 mins - why do you need access? They think he's out for 5 minutes so would have no time to be interested in his garage, should they be so minded and his garden would be clear.

Instead he's caused himself and the neighbour problems and extra work/cost.

I told the gardeners with 1/2 an hours notice that I was going out. They said they would sort it. They didn't. I spoke to them as I was leaving and they said they would be back on the next day, Saturday. They didn't. If I'd said I was popping out for 5 mins then they would have just waited for me to reappear. Then when I didn't, I guess that would be a problem I've caused! The gate was open for 3 hrs or so after they had finished my part of the operation. Even after I told them I was going out, they carried on clearing the opposite side of the neighbours garden. Go figure!

Not sure how I'm at fault here, but no doubt someone will. I've turned the other cheek enough times to the ar*e next door. There comes a point when enough is enough.

The neighbour on the other hand is as nice as pie. When they needed help with their hedge (full of brambles) I was more than happy to remove them and went round their side to trim the hedge where they couldn't reach with my electric trimmer and then cleared up.

Most of the time I'm an

Edited by andygo on Tuesday 3rd March 13:08