In article , norman
eeserve.co.uk writes

Mike wrote in message ...
In article vjhl9.751$Op4.96001@newsfep2-gui, Top Cat
writes
I've got a very large Silver Birch tree just outside my boundary. It's on
a
council owned verge, overhangs my property, and the sap makes a hell of
the
mess of my car when parked on the driveway, it's a bloody nuisance!. Do
you
think as if I asked the council they would be obliged to remove it and
plant
something else more appropiate?

P.S. I'm a private householder.


Word your letter to the Council very carefully about you 'charging them'
to have your car cleaned every week/fortnight if they do not keep their
tree under control and from overhanging your land. Remind them that you
are quite within the law to prune any overhanging branches and return
the Prunings to them, ie dump them in the road. Give them 7 days to do
it and add that you will accept no responsibility if the tree dies or is
effected in any way by your lawful action if you do have to do it
yourself. Have the letter delivered by recorded delivery.

Copy the letter to the Council Ombudsman and the Citizens Advice Bureaux

Mike


My area has many council-owned trees and I act on behalf of my residents
association. Any problems with trees and I phone the council parks dept guy
responsible for our area. He meets me on site, usually within a couple of
days. We have a chat, agree a solution to the problem, and agree a schedule
according to the urgency of the problem. You might want to try that approach
instead. There are no extra costs associated with using a pleasant personal
approach; in fact it's cheaper, quicker and frequently more productive ;-)

N.


And will be more receptive in future rather than marking you down in
their little black book to be screwed the minute you step one inch out
of line
--
hugh