The Sunday Times - UK (2022-05-22)

22 May 22, 2022The Sunday Times

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approval will be needed from

your local planning

department to cut back the

tree or remove it.

If the tree causes damage to

your property, you could take

action against your neighbour

for the cost of repair to your

property. However, court

action takes time and can be

expensive, so it would be best

to resolve the issue amicably —

pointing out to the neighbour

that you feel the tree is

dangerous and could cause

damage to your property.

When discussing the issue,

make sure that you put it in

writing and keep a record of

all correspondence and

conversations, so you have

evidence that you have tried to

resolve the issue, should court

action be necessary.

Importantly, check whether

you have legal expenses

insurance, which should cover

the cost of any court

proceedings.

It may also be necessary to

employ a tree surgeon and get

written professional advice on

how dangerous the tree is and

what action should be taken.

This would strengthen your

argument for action to be

taken before the tree causes

any damage, and ensure any

costs relating to the tree are

borne by the neighbour. You

should also notify your council

that you think the tree is dying

and becoming dangerous. The

responsible department will

look into this.

Linda Kirk, director at

Adkirk Law

Send questions to

homehelp@sunday-

times.co.uk. Advice given

without responsibility

MY

NEIGHBOUR’S

TREE COULD

FALL ON MY

PROPERTY

Q

My next-door

neighbour has a

huge ash tree

that has ash dieback. There

are several large limbs

overhanging my garden,

greenhouse and sitting

area. If it continues to die,

which is almost a certainty,

it may fall on my garden and

house. Every time we have a

strong wind, small branches

fall over my garden and

courtyard area.

I have asked my

neighbour to deal with it,

but I know he won’t. I asked

him for six years to cut back

his leylandii trees, which

are within 10ft of my

window and were making

my living room dark. I had

to arrange to do it myself in

the end. The man who cut

them down to a reasonable

level threw the branches

onto his garden and they

are still where they landed,

three years later.

I wonder where I stand

legally with his ash tree as

this could eventually

become a danger to me and

my property.

Anonymous

A

It can be awkward dealing

with difficult neighbours,

but this is a common

problem and you certainly

have options. First, you should

check whether the tree is

under a tree preservation

order. If not, you can cut the

overhanging branches back to

the boundary between you

and the adjoining property. If

it is subject to an order,

HOME

HELP

READERS’ CLINIC

ANY RECOMMENDATIONS FOR GETTING

RID OF MOTHS?

Keith C Mace

We’ve used

Trichogramma

parasitic wasps to

control moths

(pestfreegardening.co.uk).

The National Trust uses

these too. They must be

used every few months, but

they reduce numbers.

Vanessa, Newcastle

upon Tyne

We’ve used Carpet Moth

Killer from rugremedy.com

with notable success.

Dr B and Mrs A Anderson

Small moths breed in

vacuum cleaner bags.

Change regularly.

Tom Frost

I’m installing two low-energy

LED bulbs in my dressing

room, which I will leave on

24 hours a day.

Mecano

Hoover on the

underside of the

rug. That’s where

they gather.

RoTor

Lakeland’s zip-seal

clothes storage bags.

Maria Duff

Smoke bombs keep them

(mostly) at bay. Fortefog

Fumers. I do it twice in

spring, a few weeks apart.

Alexandra Westcott

FUTURE QUESTIONS

lHow do I get rid of insects

caught in my pleated

conservatory ceiling blinds?

lWhat’s the most efficient

way to stack Tupperware

in a dishwasher? They’re

awkward to slot in.

Send tips and questions to

homehelp@sunday-

times.co.uk. Advice given

without responsibility

TIME AND SPACE THE WAY WE LIVE NOW

MARCUS BRIGSTOCKE

The comedian on purple splashbacks,

chameleons and a plant called Lazarus

GREG BALFOUR EVANS/ALAMY

mine, so I had about 30 big

black-and-white pictures of

comedy legends on the

main wall of the living area.

Now the wall is a deep

burgundy and it has a load of

framed Blue Note jazz album

covers all over it. Above the

piano, Rachel has framed old sheet

music with quirky 1920s’ drawings.

The house is quite colourful. The

sofa’s grey, but I’ve got velvet cushions

in three different shades of plum. The

splashback behind the cooker is also

purple and I have three purple

enamel lights. All the purple makes

me sound like Marie from Breaking

Bad, but I stand by my decision.

Any pets?

A chameleon called Roy who lives in a

5ft by 2ft vivarium next to the kitchen.

He’s very slow and reminds me to do

things bit by bit. I’ve found him

dangling off the curtains a few times.

Where did you grow up?

First it was a lovely house in Elstead,

Surrey, that was covered in so much

ivy that it looked almost round. Then

we lived nearby in a very grand house

with a stunning garden. But I left

home when I was quite young. I was

an addict and none of us understood

what was wrong. There are some

happy memories but it has taken a

long time to feel a sense of hope.

Your greatest indulgence?

My huge vinyl collection. I want that

experience of holding it in my hand

and turning it over halfway through.

I’ve got five different copies of Kind of

Blue by Miles Davis.

Other favourite possessions?

I’ve got a huge sword hanging by the

back door that I was given when I

played King Arthur in Spamalot.

We’ve also got a lot of houseplants. We

have a huge plant in our bedroom

called Jane Fronda. On the landing

there’s a plant that we didn’t water for

about a year then it came back to life,

so that one is called Lazarus.

How obsessive are you about food?

I like very good food but I’m quite

good at setting limits. My food

addiction caused me terrible

emotional pain for a long time.

Now food brings me enormous

pleasure, though I often wish I

was a bit thinner. When I buy really

good vegetables, cheese or meat

and fish that I know Rachel or my

kids will enjoy, I feel like I’ve killed

a mammoth.

Interview by Caroline Rees

Marcus Brigstocke’s The Red is

available to watch online at

originaltheatreonline.com

W

e live in Balham,

which is the most

fantastic part of

London, halfway

between Clapham

and Tooting commons. I know my

butcher and greengrocer, and never

manage to walk up the high street

without bumping into someone I

know. I think our terraced house got

bombed and rebuilt because it’s more

modern than the others in the street.

I like open-plan living, though my

wife [the comedian Rachel Parris]

likes having space to herself,

especially with two teenage

stepkids and a baby.

How has the baby changed your

routine?

Billy is a smashing lad, but babies and

the life of a comedian who works at

night are definitely not compatible.

But we’re figuring it out. I wouldn’t

normally get up before 10am, then

I’d do lots of pottering and plug into

the world around me. I like to have

the radio or a record on pretty much

all the time. With a baby it’s up at

around 6am and get a bottle into him,

but, when you turn your back, he

screams with a passion that will

break your heart.

What’s your decorative style?

I’d describe it as hotchpotch. For a

long time the house was very much

From top: the comedian’s pet

chameleon Roy; his home’s jazz

wall; Balham, south London

*