My Tree & and a Overhead Power Line

[Ross365]

Right at the front of my garden is a conifer, ~25ft high, which has suddenly died, so needs taking down. Nothing else around it is troubled, so I don't think it's been poisoned.

A problem I've been putting off is that it's rubbing against and overhead powerline. The line goes over my land and it's supporting post is on my land, according to solicitors who keep writing to me saying I can charge them.

That apart, I suppose the first step in sorting this out is to call the local network (Scottish and Southern). Can I expect them to send men with a cherry-picker to come and take off the top so that what's left is well clear of the cable, so enabling my guy to cut the rest down? Are there any "sticky wickets" here?

 

[zzr1200]

It's probably a covered cable so little chance of electrocution, plus it would already be arcing/shorting out.

Do you have enough room to fall the tree away from the power cable?

Put a line in the tree, pre-tension in direction of fall and cut...

Pictures would help, here and possibly your location, if your close enough I'd fire a saw up for you....

 

[lincoln2013]

Had a similar situation. We spoke to the power company, they came out shut the power off & earthed the lines while we removed the tree. In our case the tree wasn’t a risk to the power line as it was leaning away so the power company wouldn’t actually remove the tree but didn’t charge for turning off the power.

 

[Gareth J]

Get them in. Ours are here now, came unrequested but presumably can be called in for dangerous tree rubbing. Tasked to clear 2m below linrs. They were pretty accommodating and would've dropped a tree if requested I'm sure.

 

[Migmac]

Power companies used to clear below the lines. In any case email them and tell them your plans. If you don’t and you damage the power line,it’s gets expensive

 

[sako243]

Power companies used to clear below the lines.

They still do around here, albeit farmed out to a local contractor. Trimmed a hazel that was under our house supply. Was very grateful they didn't need to get the chipper up the track to where it was as I had a bonfire ready to go next to them.

 

[8ob]

Hard to suggest anything without seeing it, can be a long winded bun fight trying to get overheads cleared if they are not really causing a problem. If the conifer has been previously topped off for line clearance and its only regrowth rubbing on the overheads get a climber in to strip it from the bottom up, then fell it or section fell it.

Bob

 

[Dev]

Can I expect them to send men with a cherry-picker to come and take off the top so that what's left is well clear of the cable, so enabling my guy to cut the rest down? Are there any "sticky wickets" here?

At the very least. They should come do that safely, at no cost.

If you pitch it to then that if they take it down completely they’ll never need to send anyone again they might do the job for you, no harm asking.

 

[fractured]

I had a tree near a power line. I got myself ready to do some trimming and when I got to the tree I thought what happens if the branch I cut hits the line? I decided to ring the power company first before doing anything and they categorically stated DO NOT CUT THE TREE, WE WILL COME AND INSPECT IT. You do not want a big blue flash with you involved!!!

Anyway, they came and subsequently felled the tree.

I would have liked the post moving off my land and wondered how much it would cost to do so. It was the last pole before the wires came to earth and under my garden too.

However, a few months later during some wet weather, we had a big flash and extremely loud bang when the electricity arced to the floor. Another call to the electricity company, they came to inspect, decided it was a priority to get it moved and said it would be done within months. About 18 months later, sure enough, they came and did the work - removed the pole, laid cable 50m underground to the main road, about 200m along the main road, 100m across a field to the next pole and all done! I dont think I could have afforded to get that work done!!!

 

[Craig-SM]

Get in touch with National Grid as they have a team that trim trees that interfere with power lines. I know a mate has had them trim back trees around his pub, with any luck they’ll take the whole tree down.

 

[Smallfry]

They used to trim trees back regularly here, not any more though. Some of the power and telephone lines are are heavily weighed on and rubbed when its windy. They only now cut back if the lines are uninsulated I'm told.

If its your tree in your garden, theoretically you could be charged if it damages the cables, and yes, you should get wayleave for the pole in your garden. This also means that they have to get your permission to do anything with it regarding maintenance and replacement.

Taking that conifer down should be no problem at all. Only problem is getting rid of the waste

 

[MetalMonkey]

Speak to your local DNO, they all do things slightly differently - they should come out and inspect the situation and will cut back any branches that are in contact or likely to become in contact with the cable - just to make it safe.
They are unlikely to take the tree down, but may, for example, cut the power off on the line so you can get your tree surgeons to remove the tree. It all depends, so best to speak to the guy when he comes out.

Things might get complicated if at the point they can isolate it the line, it is also feeding other properties. In addition, if there is a road nearby the tree you may need to arrange a road closure which will become very expensive.
If they do cut the power for the tree to be taken down you will typically only have a window of a few hours, so your guy will need to be on it.

 

[500e]

Say you want the overhead moved to underground as there is no way-leave you are in a strong position

 

[Bladevane]

I recently took down a 20’+ Leylandii using a battery powered chainsaw and my grandson. The tree was a multi-trunk tree so nothing was greater than about 6” in diameter and could be taken down from the bottom upwards. All cut off bits could be manhandled to the ground, side bits cut off then cut to size or run through the chipper. We now have a large open space, a 1 metre builders bag full of chippings and plenty of wood for the chimenea. Result all round. Although with your overhead cable situation I would definitely involve your local power distribution network. They can get very twitchy about overhead lines and proximity of humans. Rightly so.

 

[Farside]

Right at the front of my garden is a conifer, ~25ft high, which has suddenly died, so needs taking down. Nothing else around it is troubled, so I don't think it's been poisoned.

A problem I've been putting off is that it's rubbing against and overhead powerline. The line goes over my land and it's supporting post is on my land, according to solicitors who keep writing to me saying I can charge them.

That apart, I suppose the first step in sorting this out is to call the local network (Scottish and Southern). Can I expect them to send men with a cherry-picker to come and take off the top so that what's left is well clear of the cable, so enabling my guy to cut the rest down? Are there any "sticky wickets" here?

Local power company here will do it for free, as they should have been checking growth over the years anyway.

 

[Blobber]

Local power company here will do it for free, as they should have been checking growth over the years anyway.

Same as that, they have been a bit lax lately, a couple of years back they took a big old tree down for us, had to close the road for that, the bits that werent rotten kept us warm for a winter!

 

[Barking Mat]

Get them in. Ours are here now, came unrequested but presumably can be called in for dangerous tree rubbing. Tasked to clear 2m below linrs. They were pretty accommodating and would've dropped a tree if requested I'm sure.

Dangerous tree rubbing, is that a sport ?

 

[Kram]

They will have locally contracted teams for trees and vegetation. Provided its not a massive job that can be done in a day, you should have no problem getting them to remove it, particually if recently dead.

Power cables often need a gap, its not enough to just be clear of it, so will still present a hazard to a normal arborist who is not trained for working with power. I would climb most trees but not near power.

If by a road, you dont always need a road closure, provided its not a very busy road. The tree I was up on Monday was right over a reasonable road.

 

[Ross365]

Pic attached. Quite a while ago, 2 firms of solicitors wrote to me saying the pole (not in the pic) is on my land and I could claim some payment for it - it wasn't much and it just got put on the "to do list" and it's still there. It's a pretty quiet road. I'll give Scottish and Southern a call.

 

[Robotstar5]

Dangerous tree rubbing, is that a sport ?

And when you get good at it you move on to extreme tree rubbing.