February 8, 2016 11.04 am This story is over 96 months old

Compromise reached as Lincoln pensioner’s hedge trimmed back

Hedge trimmed: The long-running dispute between Lincolnshire County Council and homeowner Roy Dowson over his hedge appears to have ended.

The long-running saga over a Lincoln pensioner’s hedge appears to have ended, with the bush being trimmed back following an agreement between the owner and council.

Burton village resident Roy Dowson was ordered to cut his yew hedge back by Lincolnshire County Council after anonymous complaints, as it hung over part of the pavement.

A petition to stop 89-year-old Roy’s hedge from getting the chop attracted the support of thousands of people from across the country, and even celebrities such as TV gardener Alan Titchmarsh waded into the argument.

Discussions were held with leading county councillors in order to reach a compromise, and it was agreed that Roy’s hedge would be cut back to leave one metre of footpath.

Cllr Martin Hill, Leader of Lincolnshire County Council, said: “Having visited Burton with Councillor Jackie Brockway, I think we have been able to negotiate a sensible compromise.

“We have written to Mr Dowson to say that he doesn’t need to trim the hedge right back to the boundary wall, and it is fine for it to overlap the footpath in places as long as there is space for pedestrians to pass safely.”

The yew, which was first planted by the Burton estate in the 1880s, was subsequently trimmed back on February 7.

Roy said: “It’s good news and I’m pleased that a sensible compromise has finally been reached.

“I can still have my hedge without it being destroyed and people will be able to walk along the path.”