The Sycamore Tree.

I have lived in my home decades. At the bottom of the garden, just the other side of my fence is a sycamore tree. Over the years, this tree has grown and grown. Twenty years ago, I went to my local civic centre and asked, “Can someone could come and look at it, as I want it to be cut down.” I was informed, “Before anything can be done, first you will need to pay £70 for someone to check that this tree is protected or not.” Well, I did not have £70. So, I tried to ignore the tree.

Sadly, the tree continued to grow and ten years ago I went to visit the three tiny little houses that is just next to the huge tree. I knocked on the door and an old age lady came to the door, I introduced myself and said, “I am Maxine the other side of that fence is my garden, that horrible tree is over hanging in my garden, the leaves bother me and it blocks out all the light.” She introduced herself and said, “I am Lesley, “That tree has been the bane of our lives, for me and my two other neighbours.” Lesley went on, because of that tree, it is as you can see on top of our roofs and we have no signal for our broadbands.” I asked Lesley, “Can’t you speak to your landlord?” She said, I am new to this house, and I do not want to rock the boat, I did mention it, but they did nothing, as these are not council houses.”  I replied, “Oh dear, well not to worry I will ring them and asked them to come and cut down that tree!”

I made phone calls including adding, “If that huge tree falls on those three little houses, people will die.” Various promises, were made to me, but nothing happened, the tree continued to grow.

Four years ago, my brother gave me some money for my birthday, it was quite a lot, so I had a lawn put down by a gardener, the beautiful lawn was put down under the huge tree. I asked the gardener, “How tall do you think this tree is?” He replied, “Seventy feet high.” I was shocked, I had not thought it was that high. It was VERY wide all the way round! That Autumn, when the leaves fell off, my poor baby grass could not be seen, my grass was ruined, it had all been a waste of my money, and the gardener’s hard work!

Over the years I have taken many pictures of the damn tree! With and without leaves, my lawn and the millions of leaves covering it. It has been soul destroying.

Many emails and phone calls have been sent. Last year and the year before, I rang again, after I had again been round to speak to the old lady that lives three yards, from the monstrosity of that tree, and I have said to her, reassuringly, “If I can’t get them to cut down that tree, then my name is NOT Maxine!” I will not be ignored! It was then Lesley told me, “Last week, a work man, came and where he stood, he cut off a few branches and then drove off.” I replied, “How daft is that!”

A few weeks after that I rang the Council again, for the Council, when I had rung them, they passed me from pillar to post, and eventually, someone said to me, “They have a duty of care,” So although the Council was saying, ‘it is not on their land,’ it is outside Lesley’s house.” That day when I was passed for person to person in different departments, I was at work and my lovely manager was in the office, my mobile was on loud, as I had that last conversation. So, my manager compiled a letter to the Council and telling them, “You have a duty of care, to Lesley and the two other residential, people who are living under the shadow of the huge tree.” He printed off the letter for me, it was dated and I signed it and I sent it registered, first class signed for post. They did not reply.

I rang them again, after this and said, “Please come to my home, I want someone from your department, to stand under that tree, for when I stand under it, starting from my fence, I can walk thirteen steps away from my fence and still be underneath the tree.” He asked me, Are you a council tenant?” I replied, “No, I own my own house,” He said, (the first time), I need to speak to the tenant only, who is next to the tree,” I replied, “She has rang you, but all her phone calls have been ignored,” The second time another of his colleague said, “What is your name and address?” I gave it to her. No one contacted me. It was a wasted, pointless exercise!

Something always, drives me, my next-door neighbours, they told me at different times, “I am sick of that tree, so many leaves from it come into our garden,” I replied to them both, “Can you imagine how I feel, for seventy percent of the leaves falls into my garden.” They could not deny it, for they had both seen, the leaves pilled up high on top of my precious lawn.

Yet again I rang, and to my horror I was told, “You cut the tree down.” I will tell you this, “If this many tons, worth of wood, fell onto those three little houses, they would all die, they wouldn’t know what hit them,” This is what I told the Council.

If those houses were not there, I would put something down everyday to poison and kill that damn tree! If it fell and landed in my garden, it still would not reach my house, as my garden is long.

I went to Lesley and told her what the Council had told me, she said, “The Council has told me to cut the tree down.” I was livid! She is an old age pensioner, how on earth do they expect her to do that! She went on, “The Council has said, ‘it is not our tree but yours,’ I told them, “I didn’t plant it, it is not in my tiny garden.” Looking at Lesley’s very tiny two yards by three yards garden, I was speechless! That takes some doing, me been speechless!!

It seems WE had Lost!!! The Council Won.

:o( Me

:0( Lesley

Her TWO neighbours, Jakkie, and David who I have also spoken to

:0(

:0(

My two next door neighbours

:o( 

:o(

I have watched lots of Judge Judy, and there are lots of Cases to do with trees and neighbours. But in our case, the Council refuses to cut down THEIR tree.

SHAME ON THEM!