A neighbourhood row over trees, which a couple claimed left parts of their home like the 'Black Hole of Calcutta', has been settled by the Scottish Government. Nick and Morag Bishop insisted their lives were being ruined by leylandii belonging to David and June Turso in leafy Bearsden, near Glasgow.
They claimed a bathroom in the property resembled 'the Black Hole of Calcutta' and they were required to have lights switched on throughout the year. The couple turned to their local council under high hedge legislation in a bid to have the trees reduced in height.
The Tursos argued there was no loss of light and that the trees were a haven for wildlife and should not be touched. East Dunbartonshire Council officials ordered the leylandii trees be chopped down to 11ft, along with a hedge which runs along their property, which was to be reduced to 6.5ft.
The Tursos appealed the decision on the three 22ft leylandii to the Scottish Government, who have now ruled they can remain. However work will still have to be carried out to reduce the other section of their hedge.
In a letter, the Bishops' daughter Morag, said: "We have over many years asked if it could be trimmed but this fell on deaf ears. It is now out of control and a hazard making the side of the property so dark, when my mum has visitors and enter through her gate they have difficulty to see where to place their feet.
"Her bathroom is like the Black Hole of Calcutta and I believe it to be a danger and why should she have to use electric light all the time?"
In their appeal document, the Tursos said: "The trees do not cause loss of light in my garden as they are on the west side of the garden and both properties have a south facing back garden, therefore I was never aware this was a problem.
"The trees were planted many years ago and were never intended as hedging, they were planted at the back of the garden long before the houses were built. We live in a tree conservation area so the preservation of the trees should be enforced to save and protect the trees and the wildlife habitat."
Issuing their initial ruling, East Dunbartonshire Council said: "The council has decided that the hedge in question both constitutes a high hedge for the purposes of the act and adversely affects the enjoyment of the domestic property which an occupant of that property might expect to have."
Government reporter Ailie Callan said three trees at the Turso's property could remain after ruling they did not form a barrier to light.
She added: "I confirm the decision by East Dunbartonshire Council to issue the high hedge notice dated January 25, 2022, but vary the notice and issue a revised high hedge notice."
The work on the hedge alongside the property is to be completed by September.
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