Derbyshire neighbours in battle over 25m hedge

Neighbours say hedges at a property on Station Road, Eckington, are overbearing and block the light – and fear the roots may undermine their properties.

However, despite repeated requests to homeowner John Rose, they say nothing has been done.

Now they have lodged an application with North East Derbyshire Council to rule on the matter.

Richard Cory, a retired mining industry geologist, who lives next door, said the fast-growing coniferous leylandii cypress do not appear to have been touched for more than a decade.

The 67-year-old said: “They dominate everything. They’re higher than the house now, about 20-25 metres high. It’s ridiculous.

“We would like them removed.”

Sheila Cory, his wife, a 67-year-old retired district nurse, said: “It blocks our light.”

Dr Zak McMurray, whose home on Southgate Court backs onto the hedges, said: “It is causing issues with our property, but I am keen to have it sorted amicably.”

Hedge is helping to stop flooding

Documents accompanying their application show they have been asking for action for years.

A 2013 letter from Mr Cory to Mr Rose says: “For much of the year, they cast a full shadow across our garden and in winter months they block the light of the sun when it is low in the sky from our kitchen.”

The documents show Mr Rose told a tree expert they are soaking up a water course, which would otherwise cause flooding in the gardens.

He said: “We have had a meeting with flood prevention people. They looked at the issue and think there is a problem there.”

He said it may take “a long time” to resolve, as several different agencies would have to be involved in finding a solution.

A council spokesman said: “High-hedge queries are resolved using a Government formula to establish the required height of the hedge to respect neighbouring amenity, considering distance to houses, windows and areas affected and the orientation.

“The outcome will determine the height the owner will be required to reduce the hedge to, should it be deemed too high.

“Failure to cut the hedge to that height can lead to prosecution.”

Mr Rose added he did not believe the hedges would be classified as too high, due to their distance from nearby properties and windows.

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