Neighbours face thorny issue (From Stroud News and Journal)

Neighbours face thorny issue

THE thorny issue of Leylandii is a growing problem for two couples in King's Stanley.

For forty years Rita and Donald Worby have lived peacefully side by side with neighbours Brian Arnold and his wife.

But in the last year the Arnold's 30ft Leylandii have become a hedge too far for their retired neighbours who claim that the trees have put their garden in the shade.

Mrs Worby, 70, explained: "The trees have been growing for 20 years, it didn't matter when we were working and raising our family.

"But now we are retired the garden is more important to us than ever before and the Leylandii cuts off all the light from the garden.

"We have asked Mr Arnold to cut them down to a reasonable size, about seven foot that's all we ask, but he tells us that he can't afford it."

Mr and Mrs Worby approached David Drew MP to see if he could intervene but currently there is no law in place to help the warring neighbours.

The fast growing tree has caused so many neighbour disputes around the country that earlier this year legislation regarding hedge nuisance was proposed in Parliament but fell just a few days before the General Election was called.

On Monday, Mr Arnold, 60, denied that his Leylandii shaded his neighbour's garden.

"I had them trimmed four years ago at a cost of £1,000.

"And I will get them lopped back to about 16ft - but I will do it in my time, I am getting quotes in at the moment,"he said.

"If Mrs Worby says she hasn't seen a sunset for years it's because my house is in the way not my Leylandii."

Anyone facing a similar situation can contact Hedgeline for up to date information on how to tackle the problem on 024 7638 8822.