getting the aerial line moved out to the roadside would also be
expensive and tricky (probably the reason the original owner persuaded
them to let him run the line across their flatter land in the first
place).
Would it long term be worth it perhaps, if you can finance it? Or is it really prohibitive. Perhaps something to investigate.
Sorry, @Lizzie27, missed your last response somehow, but thanks for your support. I do get thier perspective, especially about their hedge as it will leave them somewhat naked and I think I would be similarly reluctant in their position. I have the forest management company coming back in a couple of weeks to do some stuff for me and we are going to try again...watch this space!
The road is really tricky, @micearguers, no easy route, too many bends, trees and telephone wires in the way. Even if a feasible route exists, I know how expensive it will be because I have had similar quotes for a previous property - new posts and line was €168,000 plus vat (they wont reuse the existing ones) ok it was 3km and this would be about 300m but still prohibitive! The main obstacle is the now franchised electricity supplier, my electrician says its impossibe to get them to do anything. Indeed I have been waiting 18 months so far to have my meter moved to a more accessible location.
Mountainous Northern Catalunya, Spain. Hot summers, cold winters.
Haven't commented yet as the whole thing seems bizarre with government edicts providing endless potental for neighbourly strife.
I think you should get a registered/recorded delivery letter to your neighbours, copied to the rural police, stating that under the new rules you are legally required to cut down the hedge and trees below the electricity lines and require access to do so and that you would like to do this as amicably as possible to preserve good neighbourly relations whilst observing the new regulations. See if that works.
Having said that, how low are you suposed to cut? If it's only th ebits dierectly below cables there should be plenty of scope to leave full size trees and taller hedge plants further along. The local electricity mob breezed thru here in early October and asked for access to our paddock to cut down part of the tall hedge around it in order to keep overhead lines clear. They've still left it about 3m tall which I would have thought would cast some shade for beasts. There are pastures a-plenty round here with lower hedges but occasional full size trees in them for shade.
Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
"The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
UPDATE: Ongoing diplomacy efforts have paid off! Yesterday the neighbours allowed access to do the pruning of overhanging branches around my electrity line. We compromised on their front hedge, by severely reducing the height of it, rather than cutting it right back to the ground as I’m supposed to do (to answer your question @Obelixx , which I’ve just realised I didnt repond to). This does not strictly comply with the law, but leaves them some privacy, rather than a large gaping hole.
I plan to explain to the rural police when they come next that I was prevented from cutting the hedge right down and confirming this in writing to their head office, to cover my ass. Hopefully, this will satisfy the RP, but if not, I will make them accompany me to speak to the neighbours so they can hear it directly from the horse’s mouth!
Mountainous Northern Catalunya, Spain. Hot summers, cold winters.
Glad you have been able to do at least some of the work required by the RP and that you and your neighbours have managed to reach a compromise. Hopefully the RP will take over if they are still not satisfied.
Posts
The road is really tricky, @micearguers, no easy route, too many bends, trees and telephone wires in the way. Even if a feasible route exists, I know how expensive it will be because I have had similar quotes for a previous property - new posts and line was €168,000 plus vat (they wont reuse the existing ones) ok it was 3km and this would be about 300m but still prohibitive! The main obstacle is the now franchised electricity supplier, my electrician says its impossibe to get them to do anything. Indeed I have been waiting 18 months so far to have my meter moved to a more accessible location.
Sounds as if you were not given the small print legal stuff to read over , when buying..
I think you should get a registered/recorded delivery letter to your neighbours, copied to the rural police, stating that under the new rules you are legally required to cut down the hedge and trees below the electricity lines and require access to do so and that you would like to do this as amicably as possible to preserve good neighbourly relations whilst observing the new regulations. See if that works.
Having said that, how low are you suposed to cut? If it's only th ebits dierectly below cables there should be plenty of scope to leave full size trees and taller hedge plants further along. The local electricity mob breezed thru here in early October and asked for access to our paddock to cut down part of the tall hedge around it in order to keep overhead lines clear. They've still left it about 3m tall which I would have thought would cast some shade for beasts. There are pastures a-plenty round here with lower hedges but occasional full size trees in them for shade.
I plan to explain to the rural police when they come next that I was prevented from cutting the hedge right down and confirming this in writing to their head office, to cover my ass. Hopefully, this will satisfy the RP, but if not, I will make them accompany me to speak to the neighbours so they can hear it directly from the horse’s mouth!