Our neighbour has applied for a TPO (tree preservation order) on 2 trees in their garden and a tree in their neighbours, without informing either the neighbour or us. This is allowed you can ask for a TPO on any tree regardless of ownership.
Now the 2 in their garden are at the end of the garden but put our garden in the shade, we can’t cut them because they are too tall and to cut them means climbing them which we are not allowed to do.
I will object to the TPO but has any one else ever objected to TPO’s and have any advice, It seems daft to ask for a TPO on your own trees as no one but you can cut them any way, also it may well put people off buying their property with a TPO in force,.
The trees are not particularly good looking and are too close together so the facing sides are completely barren of branches, if one were to fall the other would have to be cut as it would be one sided and unstable.
Boadicea's Chariot 
A few photos would be helpful.
I can’t see your grounds for objection, you don’t own the trees and presumably have never asked for them to be trimmed or felled?
Why do you want them removed?
What are you going to see if they are removed?
Are you merely objecting to a TPO?
Personally with the hot smelly air south of London, I would have thought they would have been a Godsend!
Opposite opinion Rick,
Where I lived in S Shields we had a fantastic line of firs which secluded our back garden and gave us a wonderfull private space. We got home from work one day and the aerosol behind us had called in a bunch of tree fellers and cleared the blinkin’ lot. I wish I had known about these TPOs before hand.
I have nothing against the trees and would hate to see them felled, but the guy has no intention of keeping them under control, he thinks we should have a forest there and sod any daylight.
A TPO on your own trees is ridiculous as you are the only one that can fell them, but with a TPO you have to get permission from the council even to trim them and it costs every time you ask them about £85 depending upon council. Just making a rod for his own back.
These were on council ground between the two houses Rick.
Would he have put the TPO on them to discourage you from asking for them to be trimmed?
I would have thought that any overhanging branches on your property could be trimmed back to the property line without permission needed or payment?
What kind of trees are these?
What sort of control do they need?
If there are any overhanging branches that need trimming I would do it now before the order has been granted!
Short of that I would take the opportunity of making a nice shade garden bed against that fence line.
I presume that these lie to the south of your property?
If you really want to get rid of those trees nip round one night when they are out remove soil from roots and hammer in a few copper nails. They will be dead inside 5 years or so.
cover nails with soil!
Another thought. what is the diameter of the trunks?
There are all sorts of rules as to what is and what is not allowed to have a TPO, 6″ dia. being a critical measurement.
Cob once a TPO is asked for a temporary one is granted until it is confirmed to stop any removal of branches etc.We can then object and maybe have it removed.
At present about half the tree overhangs but I can’t lop it as it is too high. I could salt the grond on my side and that will kill the tree but I don’t want the trees removed just controlled.
They are 3 oak trees planted in the 1950’s
So what you really want is for the trees to be shaped up nicely and left there.
What about going round to the owner and congratulating him on the wonderful idea of a TPO and carefully saying that you think that they should be shaped, not trimmed, by a trained arborist, so that they will survive intact as a pair.
Offer to pay for the arborist for your side of the fence and get your cheque book out !
If they are quite nice oaks they need a trained man to get them looking good, it is no point just hacking at them, might as well do the job properly as you have to look at them every day.
More ways of skinning a cat than beating it to death with a brick!
Hey Rick, check out the theme for the next photo competition, give us a pic, your trees might just do the trick 🙂