ESB lopped my trees

beer enigma

I saw an ESB truck at the top of my road yesterday along with a tree surgeon truck.

I got home today to find that the ESB had lopped 4ft of two trees in my front garden without even the courtesy of a letter. I was out at the time & they obviously just went ahead

Both trees were my side of a front garden wall & were about 1ft away from the power lines running along my road.

Can they do that without permission ? made a real mess of my contorted willow

brian_t

This would seem to suggest that you should have been notified.

http://www.esb.ie/esbnetworks/en/commercial-downloads/code-of-practice-for-access-to-lands.pdf





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5.0 Wayleaves Policy

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5.2 What is not to be Wayleaved

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Timber Cutting under lines is not wayleaved as only notification to the

occupier of ESB’s intention to lop the trees or shrubs is required.

looksee

Agreed, trees that threaten power lines can be cut back without permission. It would have been courteous to ask, if you were home, but you were not so they just got on with it. 1 foot from powerlines is a bit close, tbh.

magicbastarder

was what was lopped hanging within your property?
i'd say the only issue would arise if they caused any damage to your property or did an unprofessional job; if they did make a mess, write to them and ask them to return to do a professional job.

Mr. Presentable

Andip wrote: »

I saw an ESB truck at the top of my road yesterday along with a tree surgeon truck.

I got home today to find that the ESB had lopped 4ft of two trees in my front garden without even the courtesy of a letter. I was out at the time & they obviously just went ahead

Both trees were my side of a front garden wall & were about 1ft away from the power lines running along my road.

Can they do that without permission ? made a real mess of my contorted willow

1 foot! What about when the wind blows? If the growth is outside your property they can cut it. It may even be permitted for the ESB to enter your property in the interest of ensuring safe supply.

beer enigma

I'm just a bit surprised at having no notice & also the very poor job in cutting the trees. The contorted willow is especially damaged with strips of bark left 'torn' down the main stem.

We're not talking pylon height here, the power lines are only about 10ft from the ground, so it was only the wispy bits of the willow that came to within a foot - no real need to cut it back to 6ft.

Whats done is done - as I say, just a bit surprised

magicbastarder

Andip wrote: »

The contorted willow is especially damaged with strips of bark left 'torn' down the main stem.

definitely put in a complaint; that sounds like an amateur job.

swifts need our help!

Power lines 10 feet off the ground?

Northern Ireland Electricy is trimming trees all over my town. A friend who was thinking of removing conifers took advantage when they arrived. He asked them to cut them down which they did

Mark

beer enigma

swifts need our help! wrote: »

Power lines 10 feet off the ground?

Northern Ireland Electricy is trimming trees all over my town. A friend who was thinking of removing conifers took advantage when they arrived. He asked them to cut them down which they did

Mark

Sorry typo meant to be 18ft - same level as the roof guttering

I should probably think myself lucky compared to how they left my neighbours tree !! - I'll try to post a photo but it takes some believing

beer enigma

This is how they left my neighbours tree & yes,they have just chopped a chunk out of one side :rolleyes:

looksee

Andip wrote: »

This is how they left my neighbours tree & yes,they have just chopped a chunk out of one side :rolleyes:

That is totally ridiculous and hard to see how they could justify it.

Alun

looksee wrote: »

That is totally ridiculous and hard to see how they could justify it.

I agree, that's not tree surgery, it's tree butchery!

beer enigma

The neighbour who owns that tree actually laughed when I told him they had chopped my tree - the next day they went at his one. If it didn't make the road look so much of a mess it would be almost laughable !

brian_t

Smart Consumer: The ESB had to cut my tree, but I fear they've left it a safety hazard

http://www.independent.ie/lifestyle/smart-consumer/smart-consumer-the-esb-had-to-cut-my-tree-but-i-fear-theyve-left-it-a-safety-hazard-2311911.html


Thursday August 26 2010

Martina contacted Smart Consumer with a complaint that may not be that common but one that's pretty serious, because it relates to the safety of a tree in her garden.
She writes: "I have a tree in my garden and some years ago the ESB asked if they could cut branches as it was touching their lines. I gave them permission.
"However," she continues, "they have come back again more recently and cut more branches, and the result is now that the tree is leaning to one side and is in a precarious position."
Martina says that she does not mind them cutting the tree, but she believes the tree is now unsafe because of the pruning they have carried out.
She asks: "Should they not prune uniformly so that the tree does not bear weight all on one side?"
Martina says: "On the last two occasions that they pruned the tree, it was done by the ESB themselves with their own staff and vehicle. The first time they used tree surgeons who were from an outside company."
Martina has already been in contact with the ESB but there was no resolution and she admits she "would be delighted if you could get them to improve the condition of the tree".
Well, Martina didn't pay for a tree-pruning service but nonetheless on giving permission to have the tree pruned she should reasonably expect that it is carried out with the necessary skill and expertise.
Needless to say, safety should also be a priority.
Smart Consumer contacted the ESB on Martina's behalf and following correspondence and a visit by the tree experts to Martina's garden, she is happy that "the offending tree was made safe".
An ESB spokesperson confirmed that: "In relation to Martina, ESB Networks met with her and resolved the issue to her satisfaction."
The ESB also made the following comment: "ESB Networks uses tree-cutting specialists to ensure that trees and hedges are kept a safe distance from the electricity network.
"This is vital from a public safety perspective and to ensure continuity of electricity supply. Nationally ESB carry out a planned timber-cutting maintenance programme.
"If members of the public have a particular concern, they can contact ESB Networks at 1850 372 999."
Irish Independent

Ophiopogon

Who is the tree surgeon they use?? Tbh I really didn't think it was going to be that bad but seriously someone got paid to that!!!

brian_t

http://pubs.cas.psu.edu/freepubs/pdfs/uh180.pdf

This is a Fact Sheet from Pennsylvania Urban and Community Forestry about Pruning for Utility Line Clearance.

I thought it was a very interesting read.


They have obviously put a lot of thought into it unlike the ESB who just cut away everything within a certain distance of the line and leave it at that.

beer enigma

The truck was marked Dermot Casey/ESB

brian_t

Andip wrote: »

The truck was marked Dermot Casey/ESB

http://www.dermotcaseyhireandsales.ie/TreeCare.html

“I found Dermot Casey Tree
Care very knowledgeable
with all aspects of
arboriculture and
tree surgery.

They are highly trained,
have great equipment
and do a really clean,
professional job.”

Charlie Wilkins
Gardening Journalist

Git101

Andip wrote: »

This is how they left my neighbours tree & yes,they have just chopped a chunk out of one side :rolleyes:

Is the tree in that photo in a private garden or on a public footpath?

Unfortunately, ESB contractors are hired to prune trees back from power lines -the effect of this is rather blatant in the photo - they do not get paid to balance/shape trees. Unless people complain this will remain ESB policy.

beer enigma

Git101 wrote: »

Is the tree in that photo in a private garden or on a public footpath?

Unfortunately, ESB contractors are hired to prune trees back from power lines -the effect of this is rather blatant in the photo - they do not get paid to balance/shape trees. Unless people complain this will remain ESB policy.

Its actually in his garden, his wall goes out further than ours, so the powerlines actually travel about 3ft into his front garden

Git101

Ophiopogon wrote: »

Who is the tree surgeon they use?? Tbh I really didn't think it was going to be that bad but seriously someone got paid to that!!!

They got paid for line clearance and they certainly did that :eek:

What I find strange is they cut trees on private property without permission.
This type of tree damage should not be allow to continue.

cora09

I'm sorry but the pic is hilarious, it looks like a pie slice was cut, taken away and eaten by a prim and proper tree eating giant... they went to the bother of making sure the lines were straight.. why didn't they just put the effort into making the tree look some way decent and safe rather than leaving it looking more like a tetris piece..

beer enigma

cora09 wrote: »

I'm sorry but the pic is hilarious, it looks like a pie slice was cut, taken away and eaten by a prim and proper tree eating giant... they went to the bother of making sure the lines were straight.. why didn't they just put the effort into making the tree look some way decent and safe rather than leaving it looking more like a tetris piece..

Is that supposed to cheer me up lol

Mr.Applepie

This happened to us last year. They came on to our property and cut back one of our trees that was close to a powerline without notifying us and made a serious mess of the drive and laneway beside us in the process. My wife rang them up to complain about the mess and they apologised and cleaned it up.

As mentioned above they do have to give notice but if they find a tree which they think is dangerous they have the authority to act without notice.

cora09

Andip wrote: »

Is that supposed to cheer me up lol

Well if it did cheer you up thats good, I don't agree with them cutting your tree w/o permission though, trees take a long enough time to grow into their true lovliness so you'd think they'dve taken more care in trimming it back rather than hacking away at it... seemingly with their eyes closed

swifts need our help!

There is a tree near me that has a hole cut in the branches that allows the cables to pass through. It looks like a green doughnut

Mark

moceri

That tree has been badly pruned. All the weight is now on one side and the tree will be stresssed. It may be dangerous in storm conditions. ESB may only carry out work where there is an Imminent risk to the network. However, in order to cut costs, their programme is a systematic overkill, up to 4 meters cutback from the line so that there is at least a four year cycle between prunings.

You should establish in writing from ESB as to liability should the tree become unsafe consequent to its pruning. If Dermot Casey was doing his job properly he would have done a balanced pruning and not scalped it on the side with the powerlines. He is acting purely in ESB interests. ESB have been successfully challenged on this issue. They are damaging ameneties in residential areas by exceeding their maintemance remit.

beer enigma

moceri wrote: »

That tree has been badly pruned. All the weight is now on one side and the tree will be stresssed. It may be dangerous in storm conditions. ESB may only carry out work where there is an Imminent risk to the network. However, in order to cut costs, their programme is a systematic overkill, up to 4 meters cutback from the line so that there is at least a four year cycle between prunings.

You should establish in writing from ESB as to liability should the tree become unsafe consequent to its pruning. If Dermot Casey was doing his job properly he would have done a balanced pruning and not scalped it on the side with the powerlines. He is acting purely in ESB interests. ESB have been successfully challenged on this issue. They are damaging ameneties in residential areas by exceeding their maintemance remit.

That's actually a very good point...if the branch now hanging over the pavement breaks due to stress & lands on someone, liability will be an issue.

Geraldine C.

Am very interested in this discussion as our County Council have informed us that the ESB have requested them to remove two mature trees from our estate as they are a hazard to power lines. We are at a loss as previously pruning was carried out without any issue. We are thinking that it is the Councils answer rather than the ESB as by removing them there is only one cost, while pruning will incur future costs. The trees are beautiful, were planted twenty five years ago and we are at a loss as to how we should procede.

paddy147

Geraldine C. wrote: »

Am very interested in this discussion as our County Council have informed us that the ESB have requested them to remove two mature trees from our estate as they are a hazard to power lines. We are at a loss as previously pruning was carried out without any issue. We are thinking that it is the Councils answer rather than the ESB as by removing them there is only one cost, while pruning will incur future costs. The trees are beautiful, were planted twenty five years ago and we are at a loss as to how we should procede.

Dublin City Council were going to be uprooting/removing mature trees on Lennox Street.

http://www.herald.ie/news/councils-bright-idea-to-save-these-trees-from-damage-28849572.html

magicbastarder

that lennox street issue was not as clear cut as the herald were making it out to be. should anyone be surprised about that.

paddy147

Interesting letter from DCC to residents of Lennox Street

http://www.dublincity.ie/RecreationandCulture/DublinCityParks/Documents/SEAC_Dec_2012.pdf

magicbastarder

DCC are being constantly threatened with legal action over damage 'their' trees pose to private residences, so it's a damned if they do, damned if they don't situation.

Sonnenblumen

Andip wrote: »

That's actually a very good point...if the branch now hanging over the pavement breaks due to stress & lands on someone, liability will be an issue.

Who owns the tree? That's where you find responsibility.

Too many homeowners fail poorly to take proper control over maintaining trees in a safe condition not to mention nice order. The general public are generally too tolerant and owners can expect little sympathy if authorities have to intervene for public/utility reasons.

Overhanging tree/sprawling shrub branches onto footpaths and all the consequential problems arising would not be tolerated in any other country.

Keeks

Git101 wrote: »

Unfortunately, ESB contractors are hired to prune trees back from power lines -the effect of this is rather blatant in the photo - they do not get paid to balance/shape trees. Unless people complain this will remain ESB policy.

Part of the problem here is that this work is contracted out and s such is done on a price. The more they do in a day the more they get paid, so time is of the essence and will only prune enough to make sure that trees don't come in contact with bare wires.

Branches just touching bare wires can cause faults to the supply.

The ESB do have a policy the tree surgeons are supposed to follow which i can't seem to find, but unless people complain about these contractors the ESB will just let them get away with it.

Don't talk to ESB personnel on the ground s it is unlikely to go any further, phone the customer complaints line1850 372 757. That way you are sure the complaint is logged.

SpaceTime

They trimmed back trees in our garden a few months ago and they knocked a few days beforehand and explained what they needed to do and did a very professional job of it. You'd hardly notice they were trimmed at all.

It beats being left in the dark if the trees were to grow into the power lines and do damage during a storm or something.