A woman who insists her “picturesque” view of the Firth of Clyde is being blocked by her neighbour’s trees has taken her fight to have them cut to the Government.
Margaret Glancy retired to her “forever home” in Gourock, Inverclyde, near Glasgow, and created a garden terrace to enjoy the views over the river.
Gourock, Inverclyde, near Glasgow
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However, she claims the vista has been ruined by 32ft trees along her boundary, insisting the trees block light to her property, limiting the growth of plants and leaving her unable to dry her washing outside.
Ms Glancy was told by the daughter of the previous owner of the trees that she would be allowed to trim overhanging branches, but is now retired and is unable to afford to have the branches lopped.
Ms Glancy went to Inverclyde Council under high hedge legislation in a bid to have the trees reduced in height.
The council rejected the move, and she has now appealed the decision to the Scottish Government.
In an appeal letter, she wrote: “The reason for my appeal is I believe the tree canopy of mixed species does affect the reasonable enjoyment of my property.
“I bought this house in 2018 as my forever home to retire in. I paid over the asking price to ensure I had a better chance in securing the property.
“A large part of this was because of the picturesque view over the River Clyde.
“There is no way I want to invade anyone’s privacy or indeed lose my own but would like some of my view back again.
“I do not ask for any of the mature trees to be cut down but would like some sort of management of the offshoots that have sprung up over the years and will only grow taller.
The row was taken all the way to Holyrood | GETTY
“It has been a very distressing, expensive, time consuming and a long process to get to this point and the thought that it is only going to get worse is very depressing”.
Her neighbours told the council there would be a loss of their privacy if the trees were reduced in height and also highlighted costs of lopping them.
The council said: “The hedge does not adversely affect the reasonable enjoyment of the property in terms of light to the garden beyond that which an occupant of this property could reasonably expect to have”.
A government reporter will issue a decision in due course.
James and Fiona Campbell have been locked in the feud in the village
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Elsewhere in Scotland, a couple embroiled in a three-decade neighbour row over towering trees have had their appeal thrown out.
James and Fiona Campbell had been locked in conflict with Eamonn O’Connell and Brenda Holohan since 1994 over vegetation at the neighbouring farmhouse near the village of Craigearn, close to Kemnay in Aberdeenshire.
The Campbells argued the greenery cast their rural home into shadow and submitted a high hedge complaint to the local authority seeking action.
However, Aberdeenshire Council determined the foliage did not constitute a substantial obstruction to light entering their property.
Dissatisfied with this outcome, the couple escalated their fight to Holyrood, requesting a senior Government official review the decision.
That appeal has now been rejected, bringing the lengthy neighbourly feud to a close.