How council fixed neighbour’s garden fall out

Neighbours in ugly 5yr spat over ‘untrimmed’ hedge. Picture: Supplied

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A UK couple have been embroiled in a bitter dispute with their neighbours over a garden hedge, leaving them “scared” to go outside.

Keith, 71, and his wife Julie Smith have been locked in a feud with their neighbours in Prestonfield, Edinburgh, over the height of a hedge, The Sun reports.

According to Edinburgh Live, the five-year-long battle started as a mild disagreement but ended up with accusations of aggressive behaviour and even resulted in one pair calling the police.

“Their behaviour has been atrocious, absolutely appalling,” Keith told the outlet.

“I have never experienced that sort of provocation and intimidation.”

According to the Smiths, their neighbours are “unpredictable” and have been recorded shouting “take some of that ya fat c**t, the rest will be back shortly!”

The point in conflict is the height of the hedge, which the Smiths claim towers over their plot of land, plunging their garden into darkness. They say this has an “overbearing effect on their home”

In June 2020, the pair paid £350 ($A712) for a High Hedge Notice application to tackle the issue.

Hedges defined as “high” are over two metres tall, block out sunlight, or “adversely affects the enjoyment” of a property.

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Keith and Julie Smith have described their neighbour’s behaviour as “atrocious”. Picture: Edinburgh Live

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Almost a year later, Edinburgh Council finally sent an inspector to check the hedge’s size, but to their horror, the Hedge Height Notice was denied.

The hedge inspector ruled that the bush did not negatively impact their property enough to be given the chop.

“We are wanting to enjoy a peaceful retirement but have been intimidated by Mr and Mrs Smith,” the hedge owners told Edinburgh Live.

“Mr Keith Smith has been allowed to use the general complaints process to overturn statutory notice.”

The dispute continued to escalate as the Smiths disagreed with the inspector’s report, appealing the council’s decision.

The appeal was successful and the hedge was ordered to be trimmed to 2.6 metres, and in 2023 it was finally cut back.

However, gaps where trees once stood were replaced by gardening tools, including ladders, pipes and concrete – a move slammed by the Smiths as “deliberate” and provocative.”

The pair also accused the trim as being inadequate and called for the council to come back, which they did and agreed that the remaining trees should be further cut back.

Julie said the dispute has left her “anxious”, “stressed” and “scared” to enter her garden. She also claimed the conflict has had a negative impact on her and Keith’s marriage.

“[He’s] always shouting, [he] never used to be like that. Because he’s stressed, I try to calm him down,” she said.

“We’ve been married 48 years and we’ve never argued as much as we’re doing now.

“We are pensioners and we should be enjoying our lives, sitting back, and enjoying our garden. I’m scared to go out there.”

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Two sets of Edinburgh neighbours have been battling over the height of a bush for five years. Picture: Supplied

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In subsequent years, the feud raged on and police have been called to the neighbourhood multiple times.

Last June, the hedge owners accused Julie of taking their ladder. Police confirmed they responded to a “dispute between residents” and no criminality was established.

A month later, the hedge owners claimed a physical altercation took place involving Keith.

Police confirmed to Edinburgh Live they received a report of a “disturbance” and two men were issued warnings.

Despite the conflict exacerbating, the hedge-owners disagreed to chop their beloved bush flat out and refused to take any further action.

They claim they’re feeling harassed and intimated by the Smiths and even reported them to “relevant authorities.”

The Smiths maintain they are the victims of both inappropriate hedge height, and of lack of action from the council – especially since they paid an expensive fee.

Edinburgh council admitted the tree had not been cut back after ruling that it should be.

“Following the decision at the Development Management Sub-Committee, a varied high hedge notice will be issued,” a City of Edinburgh Council spokesperson said.

The development management subcommittee voted on February 26 and ruled that the bush be trimmed to the originally stated height of 2.6 metres.

Parts of this story first appeared in The Sun and was republished with permission.