Couple who want three protected 90ft Sycamores chopped down slam council trends now
A furious couple are stuck in a decade-long row with their local council over three 90ft trees hanging over their home which they claim are a danger to their grandchildren.
Brian Tempest, 73, and Susan Dickerson, 60, have accused Bradford Council chiefs of 'caring more about trees than humans' after refusing to fell the huge sycamores - despite the couple offering £5,000 to chop them down.
The couple say they are also unable to insure their £400,000 property against damage from the trees, meaning they are at risk of being left homeless if one was to fall and hit their home.
Two of the 'ginormous' broad-leaved maples sit on public land just 25cm from their boundary line and have branches that extend to within three feet of their home.
But the council has refused to cut the sycamores down due to a Tree Preservation Order in place to protect them.
Brian Tempest, 73, and Susan Dickerson, 60, have accused Bradford Council chiefs of 'caring more about trees than humans'
The base of the huge sycamore trees is just inches from the couple's garden wall in Bradford, West Yorkshire
Brian Tempest standing outside his house with the large trees seen in the background
And when Susan raised concerns that bits of the trees could fall and injure her six grandchildren, she claims council staff told her: 'Just don't let them play in the garden.'
Retired publishing industry worker Brian said: 'We’re just ordinary working-class people who earned some decent money over the years and always paid our council tax, and yet we’re just treated like s**t.
'They do treat us with contempt, and I’m really disgusted, to be honest with you, with the things they’ve said... We could be made homeless if a tree goes down.
'I’m afraid over these last few years, it’s just got worse and worse with people’s aggression. The care and attention have just gone out the window.'
Holistic therapist and beautician Susan added: 'We are at our wit's end, and we’ve even considered moving.
'Without a shadow of a doubt, I think the council care more about trees than humans.'
The couple live in a 60-year-old four-bedroom home in Bradford, West Yorkshire, which Susan originally bought in 1995.
Around 11 years ago, they began writing to their local council as the trees' roots began loosening rocks in their garden wall and later the slabs in their patio.
Brian with a picture of bird poo on his face from one of the trees overhanging his property
Council workers pictured on scaffolding repairing a wall in the couple's garden that was damaged by the trees a year ago
Falling branches from the trees have caused significant damage to the stones in the couple's garden
The couple say they are also unable to insure their £400,000 property against damage from the trees
The three sycamores overhanging Susan and Brian's garden are all covered by a Tree Preservation Order
The trees in the summer when they are in full bloom tower over the garden, which the couple says makes their garden appear gloomy
The couple live in a 60-year-old four-bedroom home in Bradford, West Yorkshire, which Susan originally bought in 1995
Susan says the massive deciduous trees have left them constantly stressed after they found out their home insurance would not cover damage caused by falling branches
The three sycamores overhanging Susan and Brian's garden are all covered by a Tree Preservation Order (TPO), meaning they can't be felled without written consent.
