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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
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Who is responsible for cutting back trees or hedges or shrubs that encroach on or obstruct roads and footways)?
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Oxfordshire County Council (OCC) is the highways authority responsible for highways and their maintenance that includes verges and other areas classed as highway land. Highway land extends from the centre of the highway up to the boundary of adjacent property. Boundaries are defined as walls, fences, hedgerows and ditches. OCC defines their responsibility for trees and hedgerows (including shrubs) in the Highway Management Policy Manual as follows:
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1.HIGHWAY TREES ‘Trees growing on highway land are normally deemed to be the responsibility of the highway authority. Trees that overhang the highway from neighbouring properties are the responsibility of the individual landowners who must ensure they do not obstruct traffic, obscure signs or adversely affect forward visibility along the highway. Notice may be served on owners of private trees to remedy those that obscure or endanger the highway. In instances where they pose an immediate threat, the Area Engineer may carry out whatever work is necessary to avert the danger, and then reclaim all costs from the owner. Alternatively, the Engineer may elect to close or protect the road and serve upon the owner a notice to make safe within 14 days. The owner shall then be charged an appropriate sum in respect of the traffic management and administration costs. Any timber salvaged from the tree cutting operation remains the property of the landowner
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2. HEDGEROWS ‘With few exceptions, the maintenance of hedgerows is the responsibility of the owner whose land adjoins the highway. If they become overgrown to the extent that forward visibility is compromised then the highway authority may cut them back, and charge its operational costs to the relevant landowner.’
So if a tree hedge or shrub rooted on your land obstructs the highway or footway you must cut it back. In other cases contact a parish councillor.
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