A MAN who is locked in dispute with football pundit Ally McCoist over 90ft trees that he “fears” could fall on his house has called on the Scottish Government to intervene.
Alan Tyers has claimed that Sycamores that belong to McCoist block light into his C-Listed property in Bridge of Weir, Renfrewshire, and pose a safety risk.
Tyers, a retired British Airways pilot, claimed that falling branches have damaged his property and the height of the trees also make it dangerous for him to go outside and use rooms that are “overshadowed” by the Sycamores when there are high winds.
The former pilot reportedly said he has tried to contact McCoist, a former Rangers and Scotland star, by email in a bid to come to an agreement to have the trees trimmed, according to The Times.
Tyers said he then contacted Renfrewshire Council to try and get the trees lopped under high hedge laws.
However, officials at the local authority ruled that the trees did not impact his property and the application was rejected.
He has now turned to the Scottish Government as he claims he is living in “real fear and risk” of a tree collapsing onto his house.
In an appeal letter, Tyers told the government that the upstairs rooms of his house are “unusable” during storms and days with strong winds due to being “overshadowed” by the trees that he alleges could fall on the house.
The letter reads: “These are fast-growing, very old sycamores which, combined with increased storm activity and high wind events over recent years in line with climate change, have meant that the problem has increased year on year.
“I am now living with the real fear and risk of tree collapse onto my house. During storms the upstairs rooms to that side of the house overshadowed by the trees are unusable for fear of tree collapse and by virtue of noise of falling debris.
“The trees overhang my rear door and block out light from the rear windowed door area, causing my rear hallway to be darkened.”
Tyers added: “In conclusion, I believe that I have outlined my reasons for appeal. I should be allowed reasonable enjoyment of my property without the adverse affects of a neighbour’s high hedge which had been unmaintained for decades to the point it impacts the enjoyment of my home through blocking light to a bedroom, rear doorway and causing damage and fear of injury.”
Council officials initially rejected Tyers's claim stating that the trees do not “adversely affect the enjoyment” which he can “reasonably expect to have”.
The officials said: “With consideration of the site as a whole, including the scale, nature and characteristics of the properties and their plots alongside the arrangement, make-up and characteristics of the trees themselves, it is not considered that the hedge in this case adversely affects the enjoyment to which an occupant of that property could reasonably expect to have.”
A reporter will issue a decision on the appeal in due course.
