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My neighbours' overgrown house

(184 Posts)
AlieOxon Thu 16-Jan-14 21:57:00

I know I posted before but I can't find the thread now....re my efforts to get something done about the ivy, brambles etc....I have now just had an answer via the councillor from the SODC, who set the neighbours a deadline of Jan 2nd to sort it:

She says they now say
"I can confirm that the notice has now expired and we have scheduled contractors to begin works in the week of 27th January. I will be visiting the neighbours on the first day of the works to answer any questions and warn them of the increased noise to be expected during the clearance."

Cor!
But she adds 'We live in hope'........
So do I.
..................I started on this a year last October.

grannyactivist Fri 07-Feb-14 16:20:24

This is like our own mini soap opera - did you take before and after photo's Alie? I do hope so - you could put them om the pictures thread if you didn't want them on your profile page. smile

AlieOxon Mon 10-Feb-14 12:46:29

The aftermath.....
The clearing of the large stump on Friday has resulted in some more damage to my shed, which is now leaning forward to the extent that one of the (plastic) windows has popped out.
It must have had some pressure on the back - but I didn't see any of this happen, the stump had gone when I looked.

i will tell the council - and the councillor!
Waiting for my gardener, who will back me up on when this happened.....
Will take pics.

AlieOxon Tue 11-Feb-14 17:18:44

I'm very glad of the record on this thread now, as I can refer to it when I complain. I know just which days they were cutting the big tree.

Hoping for a few minutes sun for photos, but looks like it may not happen....

AlieOxon Tue 11-Feb-14 17:20:26

Gardener agrees on the damage.

AlieOxon Wed 12-Feb-14 10:08:21

I should have said, also very glad of the support on the way!

soop Wed 12-Feb-14 11:48:57

Well done, AlieO you have earned our respect. smile

AlieOxon Thu 13-Feb-14 19:17:45

Thanks soop.
Have council woman probably coming tomorrow to inspect damaged shed.

AlieOxon Sat 15-Feb-14 09:03:16

Yes, she came yesterday about 5ish.
I felt that anything I said slid off. - i.e. I don't think she believes me. She commented that it must have been the weather.

The wind somehow managed to blow it from the opposite direction?

AlieOxon Sat 15-Feb-14 09:05:05

Can anyone direct me to a site that will show that the weather here was actually fine that day?

Aka Sat 15-Feb-14 09:11:25

Don't let her get away with that. You have the perfect paper trail here and that's going to be very difficult to deny.

Re the weather on that day. YOU know it was calm, it's up,to her to prove otherwise.

LizG Sat 15-Feb-14 09:41:53

Keep at her. Councils have insurance to cover adjoining properties and you deserve recompence.

AlieOxon Sat 15-Feb-14 10:14:23

Thanks Aka and Liz - especially about their insurance!

I am not saying it was dead calm, but it was much like today here - breezy and sunny.....but all people remember now is the storms!

Elegran Sat 15-Feb-14 10:15:20

Do you have any photos of it after the workmen and before the storms?

AlieOxon Sat 15-Feb-14 10:20:35

Storms before and after, Elegran, but I have photos of it now, taken as soon as there was any sun after Friday, and there has been no more damage as of now......

Elegran Sat 15-Feb-14 10:25:14

Surely storm damage would look different to the damage caused by workmen bashing away? Did any neighbours see it just after it happened? They could back you up. Keep on nagging.

AlieOxon Sat 15-Feb-14 11:13:29

My gardener saw it Monday. He also saw earlier how near the big stump was that they took down on the 7th.

I don't think storm damage would have pushed the shed INTO the wind! I think this is one of the bigger arguments!

Hey, maybe the wind will push it back into place.....

Galen Sat 15-Feb-14 11:22:12

Cab or similar may help

AlieOxon Sat 15-Feb-14 11:33:30

Possibly but I will try the sympathetic councillor and also this woman's boss if things are stuck...
......another thing is that she told me that they are moving the office and I may not hear anything until the end of next week!

In limbo again.

soop Sat 15-Feb-14 12:00:51

Oh dear AlieO what can I say other than keep your chin up and as Elegran suggests...keep nagging!

AlieOxon Sat 15-Feb-14 12:46:23

Yup, soop ! I intend to.......feel in a fighting mood.

Eloethan Sat 15-Feb-14 14:31:08

Alie Just keep going. Make an absolute (but calm and polite) nuisance of yourself - ring them, send them all the relevant info, etc. etc. Hopefully, they'll eventually get fed up with having to respond and you will get compensation. If not, speak to your local MP and take your info and photos with you. The MP would then presumably approach them and this would cause them further work.

Good luck with this.

Charleygirl Sat 15-Feb-14 14:47:59

Alie0 have a look at 12Michael's daily weather report around the country. That is the only paper trail that I can think of which is widely available to you. Most people mention which part of the country they live.

AlieOxon Sat 15-Feb-14 14:56:58

Oh, believe me, I have been a polite nuisance Eloethan.
For the last 15 months. I guess I can do it some more.

Charley I have looked and can't find the 7th Feb....because the results don't come up in order......frustrating!
Maybe I should ask Gransnet.

AlieOxon Sat 15-Feb-14 15:04:23

I have done.

AlieOxon Sat 15-Feb-14 16:38:21

Got an answer, with the link!
Seems that it wasn't good when Michael was up at 7, but later there was a good forecast.
Which fits with the workmen arriving next door at 10.30.