Neighbour's row over 'gigantic trees' dismissed by ministers after 30-year battle

A 30-year fight between neighbours over “gigantic” trees and hedges near Kemnay has been dismissed by the Scottish Government.

Eamonn O’Connell and Brenda Holohan are at the farmhouse on the edge of the quiet village of Craigearn.

But next door neighbours James and Fiona Campbell say the green features at their address are affecting their property.

They lodged a high hedge complaint to Aberdeenshire Council in a bid to address the issue, which dates back decades.

The view of the trees from inside Mr and Mrs Campbell's home. — The view of the trees from inside Mr and Mrs Campbell’s home. LDRS

But local authority planners said the foliage wasn’t a “significant barrier” and didn’t believe any action was needed.

Not satisfied with this response, the Campbells decided to take the fight to the Scottish Government to let a top Holyrood official decide.

There has been a long history of communication between the two neighbours.

Letters have been sent back and forth about the hedges and trees, dating back as far as 1994.

One sent in 2020 revealed some of the couple’s concerns, particularly about a “gigantic” 25-metre tree planted near their property.

The couple revealed they fear storms and strong winds as the tree “sways from top to bottom” and “could put their lives in danger”.

They say that if it fell towards their home, it could “wipe out” their dog kennel and studio outbuildings, and “devastate the garden”.

The view of the trees from inside Mr and Mrs Campbell's garden — The view of the trees from inside Mr and Mrs Campbell’s garden LDRS

The letter added: “At worst, it is life-threatening with the potential to cause death to us or any person at our property or our two dogs and two cats.”

In recent years, the neighbours planted a common ash tree just three metres from the wall that separates the two pieces of land.

But the Campbells are worried the tree will take a significant amount of water out of the ground, causing the wall to crack.

They also spoke out against a beech tree that they say could grow up to 35m in height.

Specifically, they highlighted that seedlings will sprout from it and grow deep roots.

The couple revealed they had been troubled by “massive” seedlings in their gardens, driveway and paved areas.

They claimed that clearing the saplings causes them “significant nuisance, time-consuming maintenance, cost and distress”.

Meanwhile, they raised concerns about overhanging branches as well as drains and gutters being blocked by leaves.

But the problems didn’t stop there. The Campbells claimed the trees have caused a “mass amount” of moss and lichen to grow on their garden walls.

And they said the “out of control” high beech hedges and trees blocked natural light from reaching their home.

Meanwhile, they went on to say that one of the trees has grown so much it hides a 30mph sign.

The duo believed this was a “health and safety hazard” and an “accident waiting to happen”.

But after visiting Craigearn for herself, government reporter Sarah Foster sided with Aberdeenshire Council.

She noted at least three trees had been removed since the local authority’s ruling in September along with “quite significant” clearance works.

However, she believed the hedges “do not have an adverse effect upon the enjoyment of the domestic property that is occupants could reasonably expect to have”.

The reporter also said they didn’t cause a “significant loss of light to the house or garden”.