Author Topic: Trees and overhead electricity cables (Read 6369 times)

MAK · « **on:** November 17, 2014, 04:38:10 pm »

If you have trees on your land and their branches are within 2 metres of an electricity cable whose responsibility is it to cut the branches back? EDF supply the electricity.
also - what if your trees overhang a public lane - all be they 6-8 metres above the lane.

shygirl · « **Reply #1 on:** November 17, 2014, 04:51:11 pm »

when ours and our neighbours trees were too close to the wire, the electric company (Scottish hydro) came and cut them down, at their expense and paid compensation. except we didnt know about the compensation bit so never asked but our neighbours did and got tree saplings as a replacement.

we have electric overheads right across our land and while we have to offer access after 3(?) days notice, they are responsible for keeping trees away from them.

Fleecewife · « **Reply #2 on:** November 17, 2014, 04:57:23 pm »

Scottish Power cut ours back, but never again. They were very helpful, and left us with the wood for our wood burner, but their idea of a pollard was horrible. We coppice our own now. It's only when they get to within a couple of feet of the wires that they get insistent.
We had a giant Christmas tree getting ever closer to some wires - we cut it back once but it never looked right, so we removed that one completely ourselves.

As for who 'should' do it, well, if your trees damage your power line then you pay for the repairs. If it's a larger wire supplying others then I don't know.

As for the lane, usually the branches are kept back by lorries driving through, making a tunnel effect. We have a tree which has branches projecting horizontally towards the road low down, so we will be dealing with them this winter, for safety. If the Council do it, they take the wood.

spandit · « **Reply #3 on:** November 17, 2014, 05:32:58 pm »

Ours were cut and they left bloody great ruts in the grass and butchered a lovely oak tree that now looks completely lopsided - I just hope it survives...

Bionic · « **Reply #4 on:** November 17, 2014, 05:50:15 pm »

Western Power got a local company to come and cut back the trees that might cause a problem. The men came round a few weeks beforehand to say what they were going to do. It wasn't a problem and they cleared up completely afterwards.

Anke · « **Reply #5 on:** November 17, 2014, 08:37:25 pm »

In the UK it is the electricity company that comes round and does it - I think they would rather NOT have Joe Public anywhere near their cables...

Not sure about the road, the lane next to ours is private and the owner comes round and cuts the overhanging branches and I feed them to my goats! It is usually just the oil company that complains about access height.

MAK · « **Reply #6 on:** November 18, 2014, 05:16:12 pm »

Thanks all.EDF returned today but this time with chain saws !! No charge and they stacked up the branches of one of our walnut trees for us. It is unclear who owns the land alongside the lane to our hamlet but they cut back a few trees under their cables.
After much discussion my neighbour said it is best if we cut the trees that are on the bank at the side of the lane. Unfortunately I think that he thinks that we are felling them rather than taking a few branches off. He has plans to get others to help close off the lane and move the timber,Suits me.