Trees and hedges are the responsibility of the owner of the land they are situated on. The owner has a legal obligation to keep them from encroaching on the highway.
Tree and hedge issues to report to the council
- Trees or hedges overhanging or encroaching on a public footpath
- Trees or hedges overhanging or obstructing visibility on a public road
- Dead or diseased trees on public land
Potterhanworth Road/Main Street
One such example in our own village that could benefit from attention, is the hedging belonging to properties of Old Four Row. As can be seen from the recent photograph below, the foliage severely restricts the normal width of the footpath. This has the effect of forcing pedestrians out towards the edge of the carriageway. With many heavy goods vehicles and buses using the road through our village, pedestrians are brought into unnecessary close proximity of those vehicles.
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| Hedging restricting the width of the pavement |
Shrubs and trees etc overhanging the Public Highway
The owner or occupier of a property has a legal responsibility (Highway Act 1980 s154) to ensure that the 'public highway' adjacent to a property is not obstructed by vegetation from their property.
http://www.gardeningdata.co.uk/shrubs/hedges_and_roads/hedge_trim_highway.php
Report highway defects
'Lincolnshire County Council, as Highway Authority, is responsible for managing and maintaining the road network in Lincolnshire. We aim to provide a high quality customer service throughout the county and try to respond to online/email reports within five working days (usually sooner).'
http://www.lincolnshire.gov.uk/report-highway-defects/41433.article
Overgrown foliage
Problems with overgrown foliage should be reported to the Highways and Transportation section of Lincolnshire County Council on 01522 782070
The following is an extract from an email received on 6th April from the Clerk to the Parish Council:
ReplyDelete"As to the situation regarding the hedges along Main Street/Potterhanworth Road, I will also bring the matter to the attention of the Parish Council. I would, however, comment that this is a recurring problem and although the Parish Council from time to time writes to owners (and, in the case of the particular property you mentioned actually managed to speak to the occupier direct) seeking their co-operation (with varying degrees of success) ultimately, it is for the Highways Authority to enforce the position. Experience, however, leads us to believe that unless there is a particular or significant risk to personal safety, they seem reluctant to deal with such matters as a priority."