Neighbour who couldn't grow fruit and veg after hedges blocked light wins battle to have them reduced
A man who claimed he couldn't grow fruit and veg in his garden due to his neighbour's leylandii blocking out the light has won a battle to have them reduced.
Green-fingered Andrew Clark said shadows from the leylandii plunged his garden into darkness and left him struggling to grow fruit and veg.
The trees belong to Richard and Laura Beales and have caused a rift between the neighbours at their rural Highland homes.
Mr Clark of Tain, Rossshire, complained his failed attempts to grow produce was caused by light being lost to his garden.
He said he attempted to engage with the Beales but was forced to apply to Highland Council under high hedge legislation after discussions collapsed.
Mr Clark insisted the trees are having a 'detrimental' impact on his garden and his ability to grow crops despite ensuring making every effort with fertilising the soil.
In his application to the council, Mr Clark said: "I tried growing crops through the last season to see if it was possible but the lack of light had a profound effect on the crop.
"Only after waiting a full season has it been clear how much sunlight the hedge is blocking.
"The hedge totally deprives my garden from sunlight from September through to the end of May, this having a detrimental effect on my ability to enjoy my garden and grow crops.
"The height of the hedge reduces my growing season to three months, I grew a fair range of vegetables last year and despite all efforts with great soil, well fertilised, the bulk of the crop was almost a total waste."
The Highland Council have since announced they had issued a ruling ordering the trees be reduced to 6.5ft.
Issuing a high hedge notice ordering the trees be reduced in height, Highland Council's principal planner Erica McArthur said: "It is considered that the high hedge at its present height is causing an unacceptable reduction of light which is adversely affecting the enjoyment of the domestic property and land which an occupant of that property and land could reasonably expect to have."
However the dispute is set to rumble on after the Beales lodged an appeal against the decision with the Scottish Government.
They claim the 20-year-old trees did not restrict light and reducing their height would impact their privacy.
The couple said: "We completely dispute the allegation that as stated in section 5 of the notice 'the high hedge at its present height is causing an unacceptable reduction of light which is adversely affecting the enjoyment of the domestic property and land'.
"We have always been happy for Andy Clark to reduce the tree height if he wished, but at his expense.
"We are still happy for him to reduce the height by one half, which I believe would be significantly more than what would be prescribed on any notice."
A government reporter will issue a ruling in due course.
