Trespass and criminal damage

The Parish Council are becoming increasing concerned about the number of residents who are choosing to ignore the laws of trespass and criminal damage on Parish land with no regard to the effect or costs their actions are having to the majority of residents.

The law regarding the cutting of overhanging plants, etc is quite clear. Residents may cut back to the property boundary anything that is overhanging but cutting past the boundary becomes trespass and criminal damage. Any cuttings must be offered back to the owner which in this case is the Parish Council and not dumped over the boundary.

In all cases all that is required is a call to the Parish Clerk to inform us of a possible problem and we will investigate and, if required, do the work at no cost to the resident. However, if it is felt that severe and unnecessary damage has been caused to Parish property without contact or authorisation then we shall take all steps necessary,including court action, to recover the cost of having to clean up and repair the damage.

Any money spent on these cases comes from the Parish Council budget that all residents contribute to through their Council Tax precept. This means that other planned, important work may not be possible – your money is being wasted. So far this financial year, we have had to deal with 4 such cases, with one currently in the hands of our solicitors. This is an expensive course of action but completely necessary given the scale of the damage and disregard for Parish land.

Please note that requests for trees/hedges to be cut-back or felled for whatever reasons (H&S) then we employ specialist tree surgeons to assess and recommend the correct course of action taking into account our Wildlife Policy and H&S issues.