A Gateshead couple say council bosses are being "unreasonable" by refusing to cut back a tree they feel is spoiling their garden.
Susan and David Riley moved into their home on Goodwood Avenue in Bensham three years ago and say they have spent a lot of money on renovating the garden. But now the couple says their efforts are being spoiled by a large tree on Victoria Road and are calling on the council to take action.
But bosses at Gateshead Council say a tree surgeon and an inspector had visited the property but found the tree does not pose a health and safety hazard and would would not be carried out. A further inspected then came to the same decision and the council is now reviewing a further complaint on the issue.
Susan, 55, said the branches overhang into her garden causing fallen leaves and sap to clog the gutters and dirty the roof of the conservatory. The NHS receptionist said the sap from the tree is also killing off her bedding plants and that the birds nesting in the tree are pooing on the patio - which she believes poses a health risk to their dog.
"This tree is so high that the branches overhang into my garden," Susan said.
"This time of year is not so bad because there are no leaves and the birds aren't there, but in the spring and summer, we have all the bird droppings going into the garden. We also have a small conservatory and the branches and sap go onto the roof when the winds are up.
"I spoke to the council [last July] and someone came around and had a look but they said it is not an issue. They said we could escalate it to the Ombudsman, which we did, but then we heard back that it had been thrown out.
"We were told we could pursue it again so we sent another email but have had no response and that was last year."
Susan believes that other trees on the estate have been cut back by the council and has been left frustrated that nothing has been done to tackle the tree on her street.
"I feel very frustrated," Susan said.
"I am not asking for the tree to be chopped down, just for a few branches to be cut back.
"I feel like we are not being taken seriously - my husband is still waiting for a second response from them.
"We are prepared to pay for the council to do it. I think they are being very unreasonable."
Gateshead Council confirmed a tree surgeon and an inspector from the council's Environmental Services team had visited the address on separate occasions but found the tree does not pose a health and safety hazard.
A Gateshead Council spokesman said: "Following a request from the resident to cut back the tree, an arborist attended the address, and advised the resident the council would not be taking action as the tree does not meet the criteria for any works to be carried out, as it does not pose a health and safety hazard, and no overhanging branches were touching the resident’s property.
"Following official complaints from the resident, a further inspection was carried out by our Environmental Services team, who agreed with the initial assessment, and the complaints were rejected on this basis.
"We are currently in the process of reviewing a further complaint relating to the same matter, and if necessary we will carry out a further inspection of the tree before formally responding."
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