Special group to resolve tree and hedge disputes

THERE are now ‘more complaints about trees than dog muck’, councillors have claimed.

Hyndburn council has set up a special planning group dedicated to ‘resolving thorny debates’ between residents over tree and hedgerow conflicts.

Oswaldtwistle councillor Judith Addison said: “I think we all find that the tree officer has to be very arbitrary in the way they make decisions sometimes and we as councillors hear the side of the residents who are living in the house that’s overshadowed by the trees or have got a back yard full of leaves from the trees in the adjoining property.

“Sometimes I think it warrants a bit of discussion and compromise and working together with residents.”

Coun Ken Moss, cabinet member for parks, concedes he is now known as ‘the tree man’ and that it is a ‘very emotive subject’.

He warned that the issue of trees, particularly those with tree preservation orders, needed ‘careful handling’ and that discussions and compromise should be pursued first before going down ‘a more formal route’.

Hyndburn Mayor Peter Britcliffe told the recent full council meeting: “As a councillor I get more complaints about trees these days than dog muck, which is quite incredible really.”

Council leader Miles Parkinson said: “The intention is to give ward councillors the right to call in decisions to the tree sub committee, but to enable non-controversial or routine decisions to be dealt with by officers under delegated powers.”