Fuming homeowners take matters into their own hands
Homeowners in Edinburgh are furious over their neighbour's towering 13ft hedge, which they claim blocks the sun and leaves their homes freezing. After the council declined to take action, the frustrated residents decided to take matters into their own hands. They hacked the hedge down to size and dumped bags of branches and clippings on their neighbour's doorstep as revenge.
Victory for the Neighbours
After an appeal, planners have ordered the neighbour, Barry Rice, to trim the hedge down to three meters in height. The planning inspector found that the hedge adversely affected the neighbours' reasonable enjoyment of their gardens. However, Mr. Rice argued that it was unreasonable to expect full sunshine all day long.
The Impact on the Neighbours
The homeowners complained that the towering hedge was dangerous, expensive to maintain, and made their gardens cold and dull. They claimed that it prevented their families from fully enjoying their outdoor areas and made their conservatories frequently cold and dull. Cutting down the hedge themselves, they highlighted the risks involved and the need for dangerous and sharp hedge trimming tools.
Dispute over Responsibility
Mr. Rice disposed of the bags left on his doorstep but refused to accept any more. He argued that owning a garden requires year-round attention and that shading is a common occurrence in all gardens. He found it unreasonable for anyone to expect full sunshine all day long. Additionally, Mr. Rice's wife felt intimidated when approached by the two men, claiming that it was their responsibility to dispose of the cuttings left by them.
Conclusion
Mr. Rice has been ordered to cut down the hedge to three meters by next March. However, it will be allowed to grow back up to 3.68 meters, just 22cm shorter than its current height. The Edinburgh Council has been contacted for comment.
