Highways notice - cutting back hedges
Discussion
Hi all,
I've had a notice in the post from highways that a hedge I own is overhanging the pavement - "overhanging vegetation obstructs or endangers the safe passage of pedestrians on the footway". Complete with pictures etc. and requesting it be cut back within 21 days.
Citing Highways act 1980 - Section 154(1)
It's a cherry laurel and does grow fast - technically fair and I will cut it back, but its over the boundary line by something like 6 inches... it's really in practice no big deal & I can think of maybe 10 hedges I regularly walk past that encroach on the pavement far more than this, and have done for years if not decades.
Just curious really if anyone knows what might have triggered this? Someone making a specific complaint?
In the context of the wider area I can't believe it would have been given any notice as part of some sort of routine inspection. If it's a complaint is there any way I can find out who made it?
I'm also curious, does anyone know what might happen if in reality if I do nothing? Or if I cut it back and it grows over again next year by say 3 inches, & makes me a repeat offender?
I've had a notice in the post from highways that a hedge I own is overhanging the pavement - "overhanging vegetation obstructs or endangers the safe passage of pedestrians on the footway". Complete with pictures etc. and requesting it be cut back within 21 days.
Citing Highways act 1980 - Section 154(1)
It's a cherry laurel and does grow fast - technically fair and I will cut it back, but its over the boundary line by something like 6 inches... it's really in practice no big deal & I can think of maybe 10 hedges I regularly walk past that encroach on the pavement far more than this, and have done for years if not decades.
Just curious really if anyone knows what might have triggered this? Someone making a specific complaint?
In the context of the wider area I can't believe it would have been given any notice as part of some sort of routine inspection. If it's a complaint is there any way I can find out who made it?
I'm also curious, does anyone know what might happen if in reality if I do nothing? Or if I cut it back and it grows over again next year by say 3 inches, & makes me a repeat offender?
Not really worth worrying about who complained - it could be anyone, and is likely to be a mum with a pram or a wheelchair user who got snagged by your hedge.
If you do nothing, the council will do it for you and bill you.
A regular trim should see you right, despite you planting an ugly fast grower on your boundary.
If you do nothing, the council will do it for you and bill you.
A regular trim should see you right, despite you planting an ugly fast grower on your boundary.
Wokingham Borough Council are rife for these sort of notifications in my local area....not sure if that is a good or bad thing, as there are ALOT of lazy home owners who allow pavements to become impassable....but the worst offenders are Wokingham Borough themselves. It is no shock that complaints submitted via their own website about their own over grown bushes and trees get ZERO response.
I have had likewise. In fact the whole street got letters. Obviously in response to a complaint as other neighbouring streets were as bad but were not lettered. .
Caused IMO by a couple of houses taking the pish bloocking half the path with overgrown plants. . Then when they send out letters they just letter everyone over the line at all rather than having any allowance.
Caused IMO by a couple of houses taking the pish bloocking half the path with overgrown plants. . Then when they send out letters they just letter everyone over the line at all rather than having any allowance.
You might find the anonymous complaint on FixMyStreet if your local authority uses it to manage highways reporting https://www.fixmystreet.com.
At the front I have a ancient double hedge running along a bank with a shallow ditch between. The hedge is of various species and the damson tree branches are as hard as iron nails. When we moved in the pavement was completely impassable and so I cut it back.
The boundary of our property does not extend as far as the pavement and the upper row of the hedge is possibly on the property line but the lower row definitely belongs to the local authority and I would love to know if they would take responsibility. I expect the locals would blame me of it become overgrown again so I will continue to maintain it.
At the front I have a ancient double hedge running along a bank with a shallow ditch between. The hedge is of various species and the damson tree branches are as hard as iron nails. When we moved in the pavement was completely impassable and so I cut it back.
The boundary of our property does not extend as far as the pavement and the upper row of the hedge is possibly on the property line but the lower row definitely belongs to the local authority and I would love to know if they would take responsibility. I expect the locals would blame me of it become overgrown again so I will continue to maintain it.
MattyD803 said:
Wokingham Borough Council are rife for these sort of notifications in my local area....not sure if that is a good or bad thing, as there are ALOT of lazy home owners who allow pavements to become impassable....but the worst offenders are Wokingham Borough themselves. It is no shock that complaints submitted via their own website about their own over grown bushes and trees get ZERO response.
I had one of these from Wokingham council, trimmed everything back as I hadn't realised it had crept outwards over the years. No deadline to cut it by on the letter which was slightly concerning.If you don’t cut it back to your boundary within 14 days, the LA will come and do it and will look to recharge.
The powers that we use is S154 of the Highways Act 1980, any appeal have to be made at a Magistrates court.
If someone has complained, you won’t be able to find out, it could have been a planned inspector, or a superintendent.
The letter looks official as it have to be leave stating the act.
I’d just trim it back.
I’ve served about 100 odd the last few months, but that’s for dangerous or low over hanging trees.
The powers that we use is S154 of the Highways Act 1980, any appeal have to be made at a Magistrates court.
If someone has complained, you won’t be able to find out, it could have been a planned inspector, or a superintendent.
The letter looks official as it have to be leave stating the act.
I’d just trim it back.
I’ve served about 100 odd the last few months, but that’s for dangerous or low over hanging trees.
Simpo Two said:
You'd think Highways would have more important things to worry about than a hedge sticking out 6". Maybe the person in the office who sent the warning should get a spade and fix some potholes instead.
Strange isn't it, you have 6" of greenery hanging over the pavement and the council send you a letter. But the other side of the pavement can have half a car hanging over the pavement and no one bats an eyelid.
Whilst I do agree that overhanging greenery is a problem and I'm glad to see that some councils are doing something about it, I think cars parking on pavements are a far bigger and more dangerous problem.
Here's a bit that needs doing in Norfolk - I informed Highways last July about it, and they have done nothing (despite repeated reminders) and confirming it needs clipping. But hey, they get paid if they do nothing, but certainly move fast if the public don't do as they say. After all - it's only us paying their wages[url]
|https://forums-images.pistonheads.com/311513/202511108156138[/url]
Yellow Lizud said:
Simpo Two said:
You'd think Highways would have more important things to worry about than a hedge sticking out 6". Maybe the person in the office who sent the warning should get a spade and fix some potholes instead.
Strange isn't it, you have 6" of greenery hanging over the pavement and the council send you a letter. But the other side of the pavement can have half a car hanging over the pavement and no one bats an eyelid.
Whilst I do agree that overhanging greenery is a problem and I'm glad to see that some councils are doing something about it, I think cars parking on pavements are a far bigger and more dangerous problem.
Yellow Lizud said:
Simpo Two said:
You'd think Highways would have more important things to worry about than a hedge sticking out 6". Maybe the person in the office who sent the warning should get a spade and fix some potholes instead.
Strange isn't it, you have 6" of greenery hanging over the pavement and the council send you a letter. But the other side of the pavement can have half a car hanging over the pavement and no one bats an eyelid.
Whilst I do agree that overhanging greenery is a problem and I'm glad to see that some councils are doing something about it, I think cars parking on pavements are a far bigger and more dangerous problem.
Yellow Lizud said:
Simpo Two said:
You'd think Highways would have more important things to worry about than a hedge sticking out 6". Maybe the person in the office who sent the warning should get a spade and fix some potholes instead.
Strange isn't it, you have 6" of greenery hanging over the pavement and the council send you a letter. But the other side of the pavement can have half a car hanging over the pavement and no one bats an eyelid.
Whilst I do agree that overhanging greenery is a problem and I'm glad to see that some councils are doing something about it, I think cars parking on pavements are a far bigger and more dangerous problem.
Thinking they have dual standards is a bit ‘specshial’ if you actually wanted honest feedback on that opinion.
Fastpedeller said:
Here's a bit that needs doing in Norfolk - I informed Highways last July about it, and they have done nothing (despite repeated reminders) and confirming it needs clipping. But hey, they get paid if they do nothing, but certainly move fast if the public don't do as they say. After all - it's only us paying their wages[url]
|https://forums-images.pistonheads.com/311513/202511108156138[/url]
Typical little Britain small mindedness being demonstrated above.Have a go thinking about the world beyond your nose.
"The council" have got an entire district to maintain, and will prioritise what they can with what they've got.
Though if you want to pay more council tax so they can immediately cut whatever bit of shrubbery catches your eye this morning, by all means send them a cheque.
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