Elderly Cheltenham couple are forced to live in darkness by neighbour's towering trees
AN ELDERLY couple say they are being forced to live in darkness – by a row of towering leylandii trees.
Pensioners Joan and Robin Winstone say the huge conifers near their Cheltenham council flat are blocking out the light and making life miserable for residents, despite recent attempts to keep them back.
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Living in darkness: residents Joan Winstone and Gloria Hoddy
Joan, 73, said: "They have grown out of all proportion and now they just stop all the light getting through.
"They are dreadful. My husband is disabled and it's not nice for him to have to stay here in a dark flat.
"I know some of the neighbours have tried to plant things, but nothing grows because there isn't any light.
"They have had a terrible time trying to keep them alive."
The trees, which belong to a neighbour, grow along the border of the block in Little Herbert's Close, Charlton Kings. Joan and her 79-year-old husband moved into the block three years ago. The couple initially had a first-floor home, but had to move to the ground floor because of Robin's disability.
The trees are in the garden of 19 Little Herbert's Close. The property's owners refused to comment but, after the Echo contacted them, neighbours spotted workmen trimming the leylandii for four hours. Joan said: "It hasn't made any difference. They're still just as bad as they were before. We are going to have to ask the council if we can move, because we cannot go on living like this."
Neighbour Gloria Hoddy, whose garden also backs on to the trees, said she cannot grow anything in her garden because of the lack of light.
She said: "I put washing out on the line, but it hardly gets any sun because of the trees. We have lived here for 30 years and they have just grown and grown."
Joan said she has asked Cheltenham Borough Homes to intervene and negotiate with her neighbours several times, but to no avail.
Sara Bennett, head of neighbourhood services at Cheltenham Borough Homes, said the authority has tried to engineer a solution to the problem. She said: "The tree in question is situated in a private owner's garden and is therefore the responsibility of the private resident.
"The tree is not considered dangerous, but in an effort to try and assist Mr and Mrs Winstone, we have been in contact with both them and the private occupier over several months. We will re-contact the private occupier and offer again our assistance in this matter."
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by Jay, Cheltenham
Friday, September 10 2010, 6:31PM
“Loving the 'chainsaw' or 'Roundup' suggestions. Honestly think these trees should be banned except in their natural habitat. Really feel sorry for ANYONE who has to put up with their effects. And to Rodney with his SO intelligent comment of 'Move' ... would you say the same if your neighbours planted leylandii by your property ...?”
by Pingu, Hesters Way
Thursday, September 09 2010, 8:32PM
“Just looked at the situation on google maps and street-view.
The property with the trees is 19 Little Herberts Road, not Little Herberts Close.
I suspect the owners put them there in a misguided attempt to hide the flats. Unfortunately planting a leylandi forest is not an acceptable solution. The trees should be cut down immediately.”
by S.C., cheltenham
Thursday, September 09 2010, 8:13PM
“Chainsaw - simples innit”
by Gordz, Abbeydale
Thursday, September 09 2010, 5:55PM
“I had trouble with neighbours leylandii trees towering over my garden (though nowhere near as many as these ladies) and damaging my fence, they had the doctors in to cut them down yesterday. Ive never seen so much sun in my life!”
by Joe K, Barton & Tredworth
Thursday, September 09 2010, 4:54PM
“I wonder if Severnrudder's explanation applies to these neighbours? Would they be prepared to see the threes lopped down to a reasonable size if money wasn't an issue?”
by Fellow Human., glos
Thursday, September 09 2010, 4:12PM
“Anti-social Behaviour Act 2003 - Leylandii Law.
High Hedges
Part VIII (High Hedges) is in response to concerns about hedges, typically of Leyland Cypress plants, which can grow to 6 metres or more in height, sometimes cutting out light for neighbours. Such hedges are not controlled by town planning legislation (which normally limits the height of fences to 2 metres), and so there was formerly no way of preventing people from allowing such a hedge to grow. This part of the Act gives local authorities the power to investigate complaints made by people affected by such hedges, and, if necessary, to require their reduction. Councils can charge a fee for dealing with such complaints. Soon after implementation, some councils were charging no fee, while the highest in the country [citation needed] was Sevenoaks, which charged £650.
i.e. the council have the right to insist the leylandii are cut down to a reasonable height and fine the owners if they have not done so.
As for 'move' or 'get a life'.. we all have the right to peaceful enjoyment of your property - it is part of the Human Rights Act.
Have some compassion.”
by Driver, Glos
Thursday, September 09 2010, 3:09PM
“Roundup works well!”
by emell, the sticks
Thursday, September 09 2010, 2:41PM
“A chainsaw works best of all”
by emell, dymock
Thursday, September 09 2010, 2:40PM
“Rob, you need copper nails not rusty ones”
by Rodney, Cheltenham
Thursday, September 09 2010, 1:14PM
“Move!”