Portslade woman angry as council won't cut back trees

Joy Faller, 81, has lived at her property in Portslade for 43 years and wants encroaching foliage from a neighbouring park to be cut back.

Joy lives in Park Close next to Easthill Park and has been asking Brighton and Hove City Council to cut back the trees which are growing closer to her house.

Joy wants the council to take action before the foliage takes over her driveway (Image: Joy Faller)

However, the council refused to prune the trees and instead recommended Joy do it herself.

She said: “They told me they wouldn’t be doing any pruning and said that I could do it myself.

“I told them there was no way I could do it myself and so they sent me a list of tree surgeons. I thought it was laughable.

“They won’t come to talk to me and I am getting very frustrated.

“It’s just gotten beyond a joke.”

Joy is concerned that the trees will impact her garage (Image: Joy Faller)

Joy is concerned that the trees will soon reach her garage, threatening her access to it and her guttering, which had previously been damaged.

She also told The Argus that her garden is full of dead branches, which is “soon going to cause a real problem”.

A spokesman for Brighton and Hove City Council said: “We have been in contact with the resident, but the council does not pay for trees to be cut back when overhanging a residential property unless branches are causing physical damage to the property.

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“Should the branches in this instance begin to cause damage – or look likely to – we will, of course, cut them back.

“In the meantime, the resident is welcome to cut back any growth overhanging their property themselves or via a private contractor – as long as it is from their side of the boundary and does not damage the trees themselves.

“We would also encourage any resident experiencing problems to email us directly at: cityparks@brighton-hove.gov.uk.”