Hedges that encroach onto a footpath badly - Resporting it

[surveyor_101]

Any had an experience of footpaths and hedges thank are taking up around 12 inches as well as vision issues for motorists.

[surveyor_101]

think this is taking the pee.

People have to pass in single file on the school run.

[surveyor_101]

Had it trimmed in November and their rear one which is 6 inches into the rear neighbours gardens but its on top the 6ft fence.

Other halfs moaning about for school run and I did this morning and kids jumping into the road as it takes up so much room.

[surveyor_101]

The link is dead but I assume you mean the Highways Act 1980.

This applies>I think

Section 79

The Highway Authority may direct a landowner to alter any tree, shrub or other vegetation that obstructs the view at a corner.

Ans this>

Section 154

The Highway Authority may serve notice requiring the cutting or felling of a hedge, tree or shrub which endangers, obstructs or interferes with the passage of vehicles or pedestrians, including the view of drivers or the light from a street lamp.

The work is required be carried out within 14 days.

Note: A 'hedge, tree or shrub' includes vegetation of any description.

The Highway Authority may also serve notice requiring the cutting or felling of a hedge, tree or shrub which by reason of its condition is likely to cause danger by falling on the highway.

[surveyor_101]

StuTheGrouch said:

That is taking the piss. So daft it actually looks photoshopped!

I assured you it isn't, I think the cut has been insufficient for so long that if it was cut back to a sensible amount it wouldn't be a the green cleanly cut hedge it is now. It would be a brown messy affair for the next 12 months, until it grew back properly. There rear hedge is just as bad 6-8 inches into the neighbouring gardens. Strikes me of people who think they live in some sort of manor house and not a modern development.

[surveyor_101]

Dear Sir or Madam,


I wish to make a complaint regarding a hedge on the aforementioned road/drive. Number 10 *****.

The hedge in question encroaches onto the footpath to an excessive amount. This means people have to walk in single file and or some people and children are forced into the road on a bend with not the best vision for motorists, I believe this is dangerous. I am aware the hedge was cut by the owners contractor in November 16 and so it is clearly their intention to have it this far into the pavement. I do not consider this fair or reasonable and is selfish and irresponsible.

I believe you have a responsibility under the Highways Act 1980, namely Section 154.

Section 154

The Highway Authority may serve notice requiring the cutting or felling of a hedge, tree or shrub which endangers, obstructs or interferes with the passage of vehicles or pedestrians, including the view of drivers or the light from a street lamp.

The work is required be carried out within 14 days.

Note: A 'hedge, tree or shrub' includes vegetation of any description.

The Highway Authority may also serve notice requiring the cutting or felling of a hedge, tree or shrub which by reason of its condition is likely to cause danger by falling on the highway.

Also one could argue that it Section 79 also applies due to the obstructive nature of the hedges position on the bend.

Section 79

The Highway Authority may direct a landowner to alter any tree, shrub or other vegetation that obstructs the view at a corner.

I trust that you agree with my assessment of the situation and will now take action against the property owner asking them to alter/prune the offending hedge so it no longer obstructs vision or the footpath of ******. If they do not take the action within the set period, appoint a contractor in a timely manner to carry out the necessary works and recover the costs from the homeowner as per the legislation allows.


Kindest Regards


Surveyor_101

[surveyor_101]

PAULJ5555 said:

I reported the same thing 2 weeks ago, bushes growing out into a cycle lane making the cyclists use the road instead of the cycle lane.

2 Weeks and no action taken, a second phone call is needed I think.

Thats why i do it in writing with the legislation.

[surveyor_101]

Alucidnation said:

They will give the owner a warning to do it first, and then if not, they would at a cost.

But it looks like that hedge wont be able to be trimmed back much more at all, as it will expose the dead wood inside.

Then i expect people will moan about it being unsightly.

Sorry are you saying they shouldnt cut it back far enough as it will look bad?

[surveyor_101]

akirk said:

In which case it will look unsightly their other option is to remove the hedge and replant!
I don't agree that this was necessarily selfish - but simply a lack of gardening skill - hedge planted too near the boundary to allow for growth either side / trimmed too infrequently and not liking brown, only the ends trimmed to look neat - meaning that it has grown over-bushy... 20 minutes with a hedge trimmer and it would be sorted - will be green again within 6-12 months...

ultimately boundary foliage is the land owner's responsibility...

I think it selfish as it was cut in Nov 16 and clearly a decision was made to keep it seriously overgrown rather than take the opportunity to rectify the situation, hence selfish.

Their rear hedge is nearly as bad as its half in other peoples gardens.

[surveyor_101]

CaptainCosworth said:

+1 This pretty much sums up the problem

They pay a professional to trim it on a regular basis as a neighbour tells me they have a standing access agreement with neighbouring properties.

[surveyor_101]

eccles said:

Ah, first world problems!

What sort of issue causes you to rise then, are you flying to Syria to assist with the relief effort and therefore anyone getting upset about an issue like this has a charmed life?

[surveyor_101]

eccles said:

No, I just find it quite amusing that you or you Mrs can't just knock on the door and ask the bloke to trim his hedge. Also the whole 'I have to walk in single file for a yard' issue is hardly an something to get my knickers in twist about. How do you manage on bin days?

It's a main route to the path to access the development, so a busy thoroughfare for school run, it's only pavement one side no pavement on the other side. The odd bin to dodge isn't 10-12m strip of hedge round the bend. I am unreasonable as I have 4 children under 10 to get to and from school so it's more of an issue for my family.

I have spoken to a neighbours and live in a nearby street and judging by there massive overgrown hedges I would suggest they are they type of neighbour to be a bit awkward, clearly they have an issue with anyone over looking their property, why else have these massive hedges blocking any views into your boundary. I saw their comments on a recent planning objection and it mentioned blocking light to some of their hedge! Lol

I can speak to them but if they turn funny I could end with a sour relationship and my wife has to walk pass their house twice a day for the next few years.

Same with a idiot neighbour with 6 cars parked in other peoples spaces and drove like a nutter round our old street. I had a nice word he didn't like it and it turned nasty. He called the police on me after he realised he was on a hiding to nothing. Several neighbours were canvases by police and they threatened the guy with a section 59. Who ended up getting dodgy looks and being tailgatesd around town. Me and the wife not all the other neighbours who were also fed up. I learnt then best to remain Anonymous and let the authorities deal with it.

It's nice to think you can have a pleasant chat and I get your point but if you fall out it's neighbours it can be unpleasant for years.

Edited by surveyor_101 on Saturday 28th January 21:30

Edited by surveyor_101 on Saturday 28th January 21:38

[surveyor_101]

InitialDave said:

Not even trying to have the chat and just dragging the "offical" recourse of the council etc into it right off the bat is a bit silly.

No because if I have a chat and they don't like it aim stuffed either way. They fall out with us, or I call the council and they know who grassed either way stuffed.

Or if I am lucky they say sorry I will get it trimmed unlikely since they paid someone in Nov and they didn't do front or rear to deal with the encroachment into other boundaries.

[surveyor_101]

InitialDave said:

Not even trying to have the chat and just dragging the "offical" recourse of the council etc into it right off the bat is a bit silly.

If you want privacy a modern development isn't for you there fear hedge blocks light into my neighbours garden makes it flaming dark it's 6ft over the 6ft fence. It's not a national trust Georgian manor.

[surveyor_101]

the pavement on the other side stops just out of shot.

[surveyor_101]

Somerset Highways seem a very special bunch, when there not doing 90 plus passed me on the motorway in mark up vans they are busy losing paperwork.( long story I called and ask why there marked highways van was driven by some speeding guy several mornings passed me. I was told they don't drive that fast in their vans. I sent dashcam footage. They then ok they do its data protection we can't tell what happens to the driver but thanks for the footage.)

The area inspector lost the paperwork and they have found it again. He has had a look and Section 154 doesn't apply apparently as its not a busy enough road only applies to a main road in his mind.

They will when they have a spare minute give the owner notification to sort in 28 days, (not 14 in the act).If after some undefined period they will then get it cut and bill them.

Edited by surveyor_101 on Thursday 16th February 13:47

[surveyor_101]

Gavia said:

Why does it matter to you that they're driving at 90+ on a motorway?

I have had to survey a live motorway for highways England and I they should know better. When I am in a marked vehicle you represent highways and people who work on them if you don't give a monkeys abut limits and follo?ing distances why would joe public. If he was on a a road doing a survey and I passed him at 90 when he walking inches from a live lane I doubt he would be happy.

If he wants to do 90 do it in his own time vehicle and with his own fuel.

It's tax payers fuel never seen a hato car driven in a manor that caused me alarm! They are tracked and monitored and know how to behave on a network. I recently drove a marked commercial vehicle 480 round trip and stuck to every limit as it's a marked vehicle.

Edited by surveyor_101 on Sunday 26th February 21:18

[surveyor_101]

Gavia said:

What? You provided dashcam evidence, so you were in your car and were overtaken. Grow up, some people drive faster than you, it's not the end of the world. No matter how much you try to justify what you've done, you come across as a petty individual, who could well have ruined someone's career for no good reason.

He has passed me on several occasions at speed driving in an erractic manor. I offered dash cam evidence but they didn't want it.

Nothing petty if you work or have worked on highways you will appreciate how vulnerable you are. If you have stood on live carriageway you would see how vulnerable you are and how you don't need people going 90 plus when there people working. The last time I saw him and called in there was a 50mph advisory due to a broken down car in lane 1 and this clown passed me well over 90! Heroes just inches from someone who supposedly works for county highways.

90 in a van on the motorway will use a lot more fuel to gain what 5 seconds! Last time I got off the motorway I ended up behind the chump.


Ruined his career for know good reason.

So he chooses to drive 90-100 Daily in a works van with dash cams everywhere and chance of being caught speeding. But if someone reports him it's their fault his career is damage? Do you live with your mummy!

Grow up

12 years ago I went to court for totting up and nearly lost my licence and job. Then I realised that I can't drive and whatever speed I want without consequences to my live and job. I used to speed but realised it's pointless and took responsibility for my career and my own actions.

Edited by surveyor_101 on Sunday 26th February 21:26

Edited by surveyor_101 on Sunday 26th February 21:30

[surveyor_101]

Gavia said:

You're adding to the circumstances all the time. You're now saying that it was through roadworks, or some other reason to have people on the motorway, which was absent from your original comment.

Somehow I don't believe you. I think you're in a mood because someone in a van had the audacity to overtake you.

Don't resort to insults about whether I live with my Mum or not, that's just adding to your demonstration of insecurity.

All this because the council didn't send out an emergency response team to chainsaw their way through these conifers in a timeline that you deem to be acceptable.

I am not adding, I was elaborating on my reasoning for reporting him. Since you consider anyone doing 20mph over pluck in a public sector funded vehicle or used for emergency services as being career record if someone reports that person. What happens if police had pulled him?. The guy is an adult and he has to be respojsbile for his actions same as all of us do. If he wants to drive like a dick in a highways van then he accepts his career could how down the toilet if he runs out luck one day. If he wants a career he has a responsibly to have some self control.

If you ran a business with vans and all your drivers drove like this guy your fuel bill could be 20% higher. They need to know.

I am not insecure I don't understand why you think this guy doesn't have to take responsibility for his own actions?

Why have you come to a several week old thread for an argument. They say they are Dealing with it and I am being patient i am not moaning. The incident with the van happened before I had cause to report the hedge so it's not some insecure petty attack for not dealing with it.

Edited by surveyor_101 on Sunday 26th February 22:01

[surveyor_101]

Gavia said:

You're adding to the circumstances all the time. You're now saying that it was through roadworks, or some other reason to have people on the motorway, which was absent from your original comment.

Somehow I don't believe you. I think you're in a mood because someone in a van had the audacity to overtake you.

Don't resort to insults about whether I live with my Mum or not, that's just adding to your demonstration of insecurity.

All this because the council didn't send out an emergency response team to chainsaw their way through these conifers in a timeline that you deem to be acceptable.

I am not adding, I was elaborating on my reasoning for reporting him. Since you consider anyone doing 20mph over pluck in a public sector funded vehicle or used for emergency services as being career record if someone reports that person. What happens if police had pulled him?. The guy is an adult and he has to be respojsbile for his actions same as all of us do. If he wants to drive like a dick in a highways van then he accepts his career could how down the toilet if he runs out luck one day. If he wants a career he has a responsibly to have some self control.

If you ran a business with vans and all your drivers drove like this guy your fuel bill could be 20% higher. They need to know.

I am not insecure I don't understand why you think this guy doesn't have to take responsibility for his own actions?

Why have you come to a several week old thread for an argument. They say they are Dealing with it and I am being patient i am not moaning. The incident with the van happened before I had cause to report the hedge so it's not some insecure petty attack for not dealing with it.

Edited by surveyor_101 on Monday 27th February 12:52