"Jim W" wrote in message
news:1fymjhc.145ji515y3l8gN%00senetnospamtodayta@m acunlimited.net...
Michael Saunby wrote:

"Essjay001" wrote in message
...
Ben wrote:

Fair enough being cross if this particular hedge was not
inconveniencing anyone, but where I used to live I spent half my
journey to work walking along the road because one gardener after
another allowed their trees and shrubs (not hedges) to completely
block the pavement. I wish the council had told them to cut back a
bit!

Complain to the council, it is their responsibility to keep the
pathways
clear. They should write to the owners telling them to cut their
hedges/trees

But does the owner have to cut them? Out here in rural West Devon the
council cut the hedges, I really can't imagine the sense in doing
things
any other way. All the likely legal fees, letters sent and ignored,
knocking on doors, etc. Surely the council cut roadside verges, so why
not
the hedges? Clearly (sub)urban Britain has some very strange customs.

Granted some folks might not want their hedges cut with a tractor
mounted
flail, but surely that's just a technical matter for homeowners to
agree
with the council.


Aaaah but theres a difference betwen a hedge and overhanging shrubbery
from a domestic garden.. I cannot imagine them getting a flail trimmer
down our residential north London street LOL.. That'd bring everyone
out quick;-) that said there are quite a few overhanging things esp in
the summer.

And what would the difference be? Why as a smallholder don't I have to
worry about keeping my roadside hedge from overhanging the road, but a
suburban gardener must? It does seem very odd that it's claimed such a law
(or is it bylaw?) exists that is so different between countryside and
suburbia.


Hedge cutting is usually (to my knowledge) only done in the 'country'
sic where it is necessary to road safety. (visibility). Or just routine
maintainance of larger areas.


It seems to be a pretty routine thing in Devon for all hedges. The work is
done by farmers/contractors by the local council pays. Though these days
it may have something to do with tourism and keeping the place tidy. There
are certainly other laws to make that so - e.g. you can't have billboards
in the countryside.

Michael Saunby