Harwood high hedge complaint sparks concerns in gardens

Residents living close to Prospect House say the issue has gone on for years, with concerns ranging from blocked sunlight to large branches falling into gardens.

The comments come after a resident submitted a high hedge complaint to Bolton Council over trees at the Prospect Avenue property earlier this month.

The application was made under legislation allowing councils to investigate evergreen hedges which are more than two metres high and are alleged to unreasonably affect neighbouring properties.

One resident said: “It doesn’t actually bother us, I do appreciate it bothers everyone else. We’re on the other end but this is a mess.

“I think it’s been going on for a long time.

“It’s not bothering his property, it’s bothering everyone else’s. It’s not good.”

The neighbour said they had heard similar concerns from other residents living nearby.

They added that the trees “take all the light off the gardens” and described them as “a bit humungous”, claiming one neighbour had developed “bald patches” on their lawn because of the overhanging trees.

Another resident said branches regularly ended up in their garden during winter.

He said: “Branches in my garden at winter time.

“We had one at 10 foot long.”

The Bolton News previously reported that the complaint was submitted on June 9 by a resident of Prospect Avenue against Prospect House.

Under the Anti-Social Behaviour Act 2003, a high hedge is defined as a barrier formed mainly by two or more evergreen or semi-evergreen trees or shrubs that is more than two metres high and may adversely affect a neighbour’s reasonable enjoyment of their property.