Haha that is indeed a good idea PF - perhaps even a whole chorus of them?!
Thanks for the support, I've been so disheartened about this. The pyracantha was planted ages ago by previous owners for additionally privacy as the fence is only 4 ft and the pyracantha adds another 2, which brings it to a reasonable 6 ft. When he trims it, not only does it make it look ridiculous, but he cuts off all new growth, which means no flowers or berries on top whatsoever.
I would resist the temptation of any sort of confrontation - as has been pointed out upthread, if and when you decide to sell, you are obliged to note any sort of neighbour disputes. Mum's the word!
You describe the fence as being 4ft high, and by implication, it is not your fence. There's nothing to stop you, however, from erecting trellis 6ft high your side of the boundary (not attached to the fence), and growing a fast-growing climber (though not a Russian vine, I beg you!). Something like Clematis Montana would do the trick. In one fell swoop, you prevent the selfish devil from leaning over and you will have an attractive plant - or plants, actually, since he would be prevented from attacking your pyracantha as well.
If the fence is yours, you could attach 2ft of trellis on top and plant as suggested.
I'd agree with the 'don't stir the pot' approach. It can make matters worse if you want to sell up, as has been said.
I'd certainly think about adding to the fence too. Not really worth planting anything if you're moving though. Even Russian Vine doesn't grow that quickly
On the other hand, it might make future life easier for the new occupier...
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
You can't reason with unreasonable people DHR. That's the problem. Someone who cuts a neighbour's planting down because it's 'spoiling' their sunny spot, is not a reasonable person....
With the best will in the world, getting the police doesn't make any difference in these situations, and it only makes this kind of person step up the grief. If, no - when, it then escalates, you have a real problem when you move because of the issue of disclosing neighbour disputes.
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
It would be easier to just kill them Fairygirl than deal with their petty nonsense
I wouldn't worry too much about the disclosing of neighbour disputes thing. I'll tell you why later.
I have had many horrible and inconsiderate neighbours over the years, the ones who threw cat poo at my door and doorstep every day because they assumed it was my cats and I was an easy target. It was actually the unneutered ginger over the road. My cats were too scared of it to venture out to their flower beds. I didn't declare that when I moved. They were acting illegally as was your neighbour so I doubt they are going to confess to have been doing something illegal to the next owners, they will deny it.
The weirdo next door who screamed and thumped on the wall every time I put on a CD during the day or got the hoover out and constantly came over to moan about everything under the sun.
The neighbour who used to lean over my fence and cut down my washing line with washing on it because he thought washing in gardens looked horrible and lowered the tone of the neighbourhood. I could go on.
Anyway the guy I bought this house from had ongoing disputes with all the neighbours and had built an extension which we then had to demolish as it had no planning permission and declared none of those things in the house move paperwork costing us hundreds of pounds.
We went to see a solicitor who told us these problems are ignored by the court system, they are not interested and to pursue a private prosecution would cost me many thousands of pounds. I was advised not to go there. In his experience claimants did not usually get anywhere with these complaints as the other party always denied it and if there is no evidence it's his word against yours.
Disputes have to be proven with CCT evidence, recordings and photographs.
The declaration is about serious problems such as boundary disputes, disputes over tall leylandii hedges, joint drives etc. Not petty disputes such as noise, and irritants such as your neighbour leaning over to cut your plants, these are subjective and therefore not relelvant so you don't need to declare them.
If my neighbour did this I'd get my husband to go over and tell him he'll chop his hands off if he sees them over the fence on our property again. He'll soon stop doing it.
Fair enough Lou, and you're right, if they're acting illegally, they're going to keep quiet.
In that case - I agree with you both. Bung him under the patio ecokid!
On a serious note, that's a horrific amount of c**p you've had to deal with, Lou. I've had relatively few neighbour issues, until I moved into this house. Mainly children who've clearly been allowed to do what they want for years, and don't take kindly to being told that it's not happening any more. Their parents are just as ignorant unfortunately. A friend across the road had a parent at her door because she'd shouted at their child. The child along, with two others, had been standing at her boundary fence, poking it's hands in and teasing her dogs who were going mental barking. I said to her, I bet it would have been a different story if one of the dogs had then bitten their feral brat.I'd heard the commotion and also saw him at the door and was ready to give her moral support if needed. She's no mug and saw him off.
As I'm on my own, I don't have a man who can go round and do a bit of 'talking' and it does make me an easier target. I harbour dreams of chucking a well aimed, lit rag in the direction of the neighbours' 'vehicles' across the back from me. If he filled them with fuel, he'd double their value...
The sad thing is, it's not the big issues that cause problems - it's the ones that are considered low level nuisance - noise is probably the most common. These irritations on a regular basis are what drives us all mad.
Why are so many people so b****y inconsiderate?
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
I feel for you Fairygirl, I was on my own too at the time of those incidents and although I hate to say it as I think I'm quite tough - I work in a men's prison after all - my old neighbours were bullies who thought a single woman was an easy target.
Since I got married they are much more wary now there is a man about and usually stop their nonsense when he goes over to "have a word".
People are horrible.
My current neighbours here by the seaside are great but when I lived in Horsham they were all aggressive, rude and unfriendly.
Posts
Haha that is indeed a good idea PF - perhaps even a whole chorus of them?!
Thanks for the support, I've been so disheartened about this. The pyracantha was planted ages ago by previous owners for additionally privacy as the fence is only 4 ft and the pyracantha adds another 2, which brings it to a reasonable 6 ft. When he trims it, not only does it make it look ridiculous, but he cuts off all new growth, which means no flowers or berries on top whatsoever.
I would resist the temptation of any sort of confrontation - as has been pointed out upthread, if and when you decide to sell, you are obliged to note any sort of neighbour disputes. Mum's the word!
You describe the fence as being 4ft high, and by implication, it is not your fence. There's nothing to stop you, however, from erecting trellis 6ft high your side of the boundary (not attached to the fence), and growing a fast-growing climber (though not a Russian vine, I beg you!). Something like Clematis Montana would do the trick. In one fell swoop, you prevent the selfish devil from leaning over and you will have an attractive plant - or plants, actually, since he would be prevented from attacking your pyracantha as well.
If the fence is yours, you could attach 2ft of trellis on top and plant as suggested.
Good luck!
Great idea SV...if it was me I'd be putting up a 6ft fence panel ASAP and put an end to his "Sunny Spot"
It would be money well spent IMO
Sheps...
Thread some wire through the pyracantha. It can't do his shears any good at all.
I think you should kill him and put him in the compost. That will solve the problem.
Lou - that made me laugh out loud!
I'd agree with the 'don't stir the pot' approach. It can make matters worse if you want to sell up, as has been said.
I'd certainly think about adding to the fence too. Not really worth planting anything if you're moving though. Even Russian Vine doesn't grow that quickly
On the other hand, it might make future life easier for the new occupier...
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
You can't reason with unreasonable people DHR. That's the problem. Someone who cuts a neighbour's planting down because it's 'spoiling' their sunny spot, is not a reasonable person....
With the best will in the world, getting the police doesn't make any difference in these situations, and it only makes this kind of person step up the grief. If, no - when, it then escalates, you have a real problem when you move because of the issue of disclosing neighbour disputes.
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
It would be easier to just kill them Fairygirl than deal with their petty nonsense
I wouldn't worry too much about the disclosing of neighbour disputes thing. I'll tell you why later.
I have had many horrible and inconsiderate neighbours over the years, the ones who threw cat poo at my door and doorstep every day because they assumed it was my cats and I was an easy target. It was actually the unneutered ginger over the road. My cats were too scared of it to venture out to their flower beds. I didn't declare that when I moved. They were acting illegally as was your neighbour so I doubt they are going to confess to have been doing something illegal to the next owners, they will deny it.
The weirdo next door who screamed and thumped on the wall every time I put on a CD during the day or got the hoover out and constantly came over to moan about everything under the sun.
The neighbour who used to lean over my fence and cut down my washing line with washing on it because he thought washing in gardens looked horrible and lowered the tone of the neighbourhood. I could go on.
Anyway the guy I bought this house from had ongoing disputes with all the neighbours and had built an extension which we then had to demolish as it had no planning permission and declared none of those things in the house move paperwork costing us hundreds of pounds.
We went to see a solicitor who told us these problems are ignored by the court system, they are not interested and to pursue a private prosecution would cost me many thousands of pounds. I was advised not to go there. In his experience claimants did not usually get anywhere with these complaints as the other party always denied it and if there is no evidence it's his word against yours.
Disputes have to be proven with CCT evidence, recordings and photographs.
The declaration is about serious problems such as boundary disputes, disputes over tall leylandii hedges, joint drives etc. Not petty disputes such as noise, and irritants such as your neighbour leaning over to cut your plants, these are subjective and therefore not relelvant so you don't need to declare them.
If my neighbour did this I'd get my husband to go over and tell him he'll chop his hands off if he sees them over the fence on our property again. He'll soon stop doing it.
Fair enough Lou, and you're right, if they're acting illegally, they're going to keep quiet.
In that case - I agree with you both. Bung him under the patio ecokid!
On a serious note, that's a horrific amount of c**p you've had to deal with, Lou. I've had relatively few neighbour issues, until I moved into this house. Mainly children who've clearly been allowed to do what they want for years, and don't take kindly to being told that it's not happening any more. Their parents are just as ignorant unfortunately. A friend across the road had a parent at her door because she'd shouted at their child. The child along, with two others, had been standing at her boundary fence, poking it's hands in and teasing her dogs who were going mental barking. I said to her, I bet it would have been a different story if one of the dogs had then bitten their feral brat.I'd heard the commotion and also saw him at the door and was ready to give her moral support if needed. She's no mug and saw him off.
As I'm on my own, I don't have a man who can go round and do a bit of 'talking' and it does make me an easier target. I harbour dreams of chucking a well aimed, lit rag in the direction of the neighbours' 'vehicles' across the back from me. If he filled them with fuel, he'd double their value...
The sad thing is, it's not the big issues that cause problems - it's the ones that are considered low level nuisance - noise is probably the most common. These irritations on a regular basis are what drives us all mad.
Why are so many people so b****y inconsiderate?
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
I feel for you Fairygirl, I was on my own too at the time of those incidents and although I hate to say it as I think I'm quite tough - I work in a men's prison after all - my old neighbours were bullies who thought a single woman was an easy target.
Since I got married they are much more wary now there is a man about and usually stop their nonsense when he goes over to "have a word".
People are horrible.
My current neighbours here by the seaside are great but when I lived in Horsham they were all aggressive, rude and unfriendly.