Man at war with his neighbour over 47ft trees that were blocking sunlight to his home wins battle to have them chopped down
- Philip Kenyon, Lockerbie, Dumfriesshire, said his life was being made a misery
- Murray and Morag Wright have now chopped down all but one tree after appeal
A man at war with his neighbours over their 47ft trees he said were blocking his solar panels and light to his garden has won his battle to have them chopped down.
Philip Kenyon said his family’s lives were being made a misery by trees owned by Murray and Morag Wright in Lockerbie, Dumfriesshire.
Mr Kenyon claimed the trees towered over his property and blocked light to his garden and kept sunlight away from his kitchen and sun lounge.
He also said the trees were causing a 20 per cent reduction in solar yield from panels he has installed on his roof.
The Wrights insisted the trees offered them privacy at their home and reduced noise from a nearby railway and motorway, but have now admitted defeat and chopped down all but one after Mr Kenyon appealed to the Scottish Government.
Photo shows trees belonging to Murray and Morag Wright in Lockerbie, Dumfriesshire, that Philip Kenyon said was making his and his family’s lives a misery
Mr Kenyon claimed the 47ft trees were blocking sunlight to the panels on his roof and causing a 20 per cent reduction in solar yield
Mr Kenyon appealed to the Scottish Government to have them lopped but has now withdrawn his appeal after the Wrights chopped down all but one tree
Mr Kenyon had initially turned to Dumfries and Galloway Council but the local authority rejected his pleas to have them lopped under high hedge laws after they inspected his property.
READ MORE: Moment ‘neighbour from hell’ is caught snapping branches off next door’s trees in her dressing gown after claiming they were ‘overhanging’ her drive
He has now dropped his appeal to the Scottish Government.
In his initial letter sent to the government, Mr Kenyon said he has no late afternoon and evening sunshine in the garden and no summer sun in the kitchen windows and lounge.
‘If this appeal is unsuccessful, can you confirm how much higher the trees need to grow before another high hedge application would be successful?,’ he wrote.
In response to the appeal bid, the Wrights said: ‘We are on higher ground looking down towards the trees while he is on lower ground looking across at them.
‘Our trees could be regarded as forming part of a small wood. The trees are beneficial to us for privacy as well as reducing motorway noise and in particular railway noise. They freshen the air and enhance our garden.
‘Mr Kenyon’s complaint to us was lack of sunlight from 3pm in late summer in his garden, he did not mention lack of light in his house or solar panels when we spoke with him.’
In their refusal to grant a high hedge notice, Dumfries and Galloway Council said: ‘As a result of our investigations which have now taken place, no action will be taken in relation to the hedge. A high hedge notice will not be served.’
But earlier this week, Mr Kenyon dropped his appeal bid and told the government: ‘I can inform you that Mr and Mrs Wright have had all but one of the trees removed. Therefore I wish to formally withdraw my appeal.’
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