I’m fuming as ‘soulless’ neighbour reported my beautiful lavender bush – now I’m being forced to PAY council to prune it
A WOMAN has revealed she is being forced to pay to trim her lavender bush after her “soulless” neighbour reported her.
Outraged Louise Farrell, from Brighton, was left in shock after receiving the letter from the council.
The beautiful lavender bush is loved by locals who walk pass Ms Farrell’s home in Hollingbury.
Louise, 52, said residents enjoy the fragrant smell of the “beautiful” plant – which is also used by insects for pollination.
She said: “I have got quite a few lavender plants here that came with the property.
“This one we wanted to keep because the bees love them and so many people stop and stare at them and smell them.”
But she was left astonished when a letter from Brighton and Hove City Council forced her to pay to chop the overgrown bush by August 24.
The order came after someone nearby complained the long stems of the plant were blocking the pavement.
Louise said: “I got back from holiday and found a letter from the council saying they had had a complaint about them.
“No one has ever approached me about them. I think everyone is just a bit shocked. It’s not dangerous.”
However, she took her revenge against the person who reported the innocent lavender.
Fuming Louise put a note on the bush branding the person “soulless, mean spirited, spiteful person” and thanked those who supported her.
But the homeowner is now worried it might die if she trims the long stems – because it’s not pruning season.
She said: “I thought they must have really grown while I was gone but they haven’t.
“I don’t want to dig it up, especially in the summer. I think if I did it would kill it.”
Louise slammed the council and said “there are more important problems” in the neighbourhood.
She fumed: “Of all the things that are around the neighbourhood this seems to be quite hard to understand when people enjoy it so much.
“It is a bit hypocritical of the council when they are not tackling weeds.
“This is just soft lavender, I can’t understand what the problem is.”
In response, the council has now agreed to cut the bush at the end of September.
Councillor Alistair McNair said: “We emailed the council to say we understand the need to keep pavements clear but can we preserve it until after the flowering season.”
The council has also promised to provide special machinery to get rid of obstructing weeds.
A council spokesman added: “Lavender is lovely, but the bush in question clearly needs cutting back.
“However, we recognise the value of such bushes to bees and other insects.
“So we’ve told the property owner that the bush doesn’t need to be pruned back for a few weeks until the bees aren’t pollenating as much.”
It comes as another cheeky gardener was ordered by the police to cut his “obscene” bush.
Richard Jackson, from Warton, Warksput up an x-rated topiary that angered neighbours who ended up reporting him.