Tree Pruning (Over Hanging Branches)

[porkchop]

There is a row of Council trees planted on the street outside our houses. The branches have spread out on to the road and also over head into and over our front gardens. What is the situation if i take it on myself to cut the branches which overhang our garden?

[woofgang]

That depends on whether there are preservation orders on the trees or not. Have you spoken to the council?

[ChillDoubt]

If memory serves, you are entitled to cut anything that hangs over the boundary of your property however before disposal you have to offer the cuttings to the owner of the plant/tree/bush from whence they came.

[DSJ]

Personally, l would be wary about cutting back council-owned trees without consulting first.

[woofgang]

Chill, if the trees are protected (have a TPO on them) then you cannot touch them without council permission however they are growing. The fines for doing so are pretty high.

[bookbinder]

Ask the council if there is a Tree Preservation Order on these trees, and inform the council (at the same time) that you wish to cut the branches that overhang your garden.

[ChillDoubt]

I gave my answer on the basis that there was no TPO, as it wasn't mentioned in the OP.
Obviously there are instances where special circumstances apply, mine was given as broad spectrum.

[woofgang]

The OP may not have known that such things as TPO's exist. If there is a TPO on those trees, taking your advice could have landed them up the Swanee

[Prudie]

I'd ring the council and also expect them to come and cut it. That's what we did with a council owned tree growing in the verge outside our house. They were very obliging.

[ChillDoubt]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tree_preservation_order

Look at number 7 under Exemptions.

I'm pretty sure they'd have been fine woofgang, but thanks for the added drama.