Sharp branches on public path

ModelWhy · 23-08-2023 5:27pm #1

Quick question, but if you have thorny brambles and spikey holly overgrowing on the public path outside your house, can you be in legal trouble if someone was to get injured by it?

My neighbour is terrible for this and my own kid got scratches from the holly. But the neighbour INSISTS that it's "the councils" problem not hers as it's hanging over as public path.

Is she liable in the case of an injury or not? I said she is but the wagon ignores everyone on the estate!

Jim_Hodge · 23-08-2023 5:32pm

The home owner is responsible in that case.

Charles Babbage · 23-08-2023 5:38pm

I am unable to help the OP, but councils are not very proactive on this matter as I can think of one place near me where half the footpath is unusable owing to vegatation coming from private premises.

phormium · 23-08-2023 5:45pm

Unless it varies by council but I had a hedge that overhung path, due to complaint from someone who was annoyed by how far out it was (really wide path, plenty of room really) the council called to me and asked me to get it cut. Certainly weren't intending doing it themselves, my responsibility I'm afraid and rightly so in my opinion.

elperello · 23-08-2023 7:20pm

Your best course of action is to report your neighbour.

Furze99 · 23-08-2023 7:27pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121018140#Comment_121018140

Would you not just get the shears out and cut back a few of the offending briars. Take a small fraction of the time.

ModelWhy · 23-08-2023 10:30pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121018140#Comment_121018140

Who do I report her to, the Guards? Don't want to bother them with something so trivial.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121018167#Comment_121018167

I'd do it myself but the last guy who did, she came out like a bull shouting at "how her property was being vandalised" and making a scene. Not worth the drama. She's a horrible person, completely self centered and self isolating. Everyone hates her but nothing seems to get through.

elperello · 23-08-2023 10:33pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121018894#Comment_121018894

Local authority.

Jim_Hodge · 23-08-2023 10:49pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121018894#Comment_121018894

Contact the council about her impeding pedestrians.

phormium · 24-08-2023 3:16pm

You report it to Local Authority/County Council whichever operates in that area. They called out to me pretty quick after getting a complaint! I wouldn't even have considered it as annoying as sharp branches but they were out like a bullet! Now it was also within the prohibited time for cutting hedges which I mentioned to the official and said I'd get it done when that was over but they said they would prefer it done sooner and the rules didn't apply where there was a complaint.

Jim_Hodge · 24-08-2023 3:27pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121021556#Comment_121021556

Those laws don't apply to gardens for a start, and safety measures were always allowed.

magicbastarder · 24-08-2023 3:30pm

she came out like a bull shouting at "how her property was being vandalised" and making a scene.

f* her. if she's saying it's not her responsibility in the first place she can't complain when someone takes responsibility.

Squiggle · 24-08-2023 3:34pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121021556#Comment_121021556

You can cut hedges in a garden setting at any time of the year. You can also cut hedgerows during the prohibition period IF road safety is a concern.

phormium · 24-08-2023 5:11pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121021627#Comment_121021627

True and I know that but what harm would it have done to wait, it is a hedge where birds nest and it wasn't a safety concern at all, personally I would have preferred to wait for the few months just in case. To be honest if I hadn't done it straightaway I'm not sure there was much they could do but wait anyway!

Sharp branches on public path

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