Our 5-year war with neighbours over ‘untrimmed’ hedge descended into a BRAWL – now I’m too scared to go outside
A BITTER hedge brawl going on for half a decade has left “scared” neighbours afraid to go outside.
Keith, 71, and his wife Julie Smith have become embroiled in a bitter few with their neighbours in Prestonfield, Edinburgh, over the height of a hedge.
The five-year-long battle started as a light disagreement but ended up with accusations of aggressive behaviour and even resulted in one pair calling the cops.
Keith told Edinburgh Live: “Their behaviour has been atrocious, absolutely appalling.
“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***.”
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” and in June 2020 the pair paid £350 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.
Nearly 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.
The hedge owners said: “We are wanting to enjoy a peaceful retirement but have been intimidated by Mr and Mrs Smith.”
Tensions about the boundary of the property grew as the Smiths disagreed with the inspector’s report, appealing the council’s decision.
In a surprising turn of events, the appeal was successful and the hedge was ordered to be trimmed to 2.6metres, and in 2023 it was finally cut back.
However, gaps where tree once stood were suddenly 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 put her and her husband under tremendous stress and has even had a negative impact on their marriage.
She said: “We are pensioners and we should be enjoying our lives, sitting back, and enjoying our garden. I’m scared to go out there.”
Unfortunately, the feud rages on and in June last even the police were called over a disagreement.
A Police Scotland spokesperson said: Around 2.55pm on Wednesday, 19 June, 2024, we received a report relating to a dispute between residents in the Priestfield area of Edinburgh. Officers attended and suitable advice was given.
“Around 9.40am on Monday, 8 July, 2024, we received a report that there was a disturbance in the Priestfield area of Edinburgh.
“There were no reports of any serious injuries. Two men were each issued with a Recorded Police Warning.”
Despite the conflict exacerbating, the hedge-owners disagreed to chop their beloved bush flat out refuse 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.
A City of Edinburgh Council spokesperson said: “Following the decision at the Development Management Sub-Committee, a varied high hedge notice will be issued.”
The development management sub-committee voted on February 26 and ruled that the bush be trimmed to the originally stated height of 2.6m.