Pensioner who lost leylandii fight has ‘no right to a view’

♦a pensioner has lost an eight-year battle to have his neighbours’ hedge chopped down, as a report concluded he should not “expect panoramic views” in a village.

The lengthy argument between 90-year-old Eric Merry and Peter and Trish Fryer saw angry letters exchanged and mediation by the Citizens Advice Bureau fail to resolve the row.

Mr Merry claimed that 20ft leylandii trees blocked sunlight to his home and prevented him enjoying views of the countryside around St Johns Town of Dalry, Kirkcudbrightshire.

Mr Merry turned to high hedge laws in the summer in a bid to force the Fryers to take action, and then approached the Scottish Government in a last-ditch bid to win the day.

However, Scottish government official Steve Field concluded: “It is not reasonable to expect panoramic views of the countryside, especially over property not controlled by the householder.”