Andy Burnham has been asked for help removing a ‘giant sycamore tree’ outside an Oldham resident’s house on his weekly radio phone-in show.
The program is broadcast weekly on BBC Radio Manchester.
Hosted by Mike Sweeney, the show sees callers put questions to the mayor.
One caller this week, named Trevor, lived in Oldham.
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The 80-year-old asked: “Outside my property I have a giant sycamore tree, I’ve been in my property 58 years and the sycamore tree wasn’t there, it was planted a couple of years after I moved in, as a little sapling.
“It is now way, way above the house top, over the roof, way up. The problem is I keep trying with the arbiter in Oldham to get this tree pruned or cut down or something done with it.
“It’s keeping the light out of my bedroom, even though in the morning the sun should be full on, I have to put the light on in the bedroom to get dressed etc.
“It’s now actually over my property, so it’s acting as trespass, but he refuses to do anything about it, he says it’s a lovely tree, but he’s not prepared to pay the £200 to clear the gutter each year.
“I just find it unbelievable, and his reply last time I spoke to him was ‘Oh you could cut it down yourself’.”
Trevor asked if Andy could do anything to get the tree altered or moved, which he said was on council property and overhanging his property.
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The mayor responded: “I used to deal with situations like this when I was a member of parliament in Leigh, so I know these types of situations well.
“The bottom line, Trevor, is: If it’s not on your property but it’s overhanging your property, the landowner of where the tree is has that responsibility to cut it down.
“So, they can’t just come and say to you ‘Sorry it’s lovely, just get on with it’.
“So, as far as I understand it, without knowing all the details of the situation, action does need to be taken to prune it. I don’t think chop it down, because I think most people would want trees to be kept.
“I don’t know if you remember in Sheffield, Mike, they cut down a load of trees and it went down really badly. I think keep it is what I would say, but prune it is what I would say, and that is their responsibility.”
The host asked for clarification as to how Trevor could get a resolution to his issue.
The mayor continued: “Well, when people have rung in, Mike, it often says they’ve not had the right response from officialdom, so Trevor leave your details with Mike’s team and we’ll pick it up with the relevant authorities now and hopefully they’ll get in touch with you and move things forward for you.
“If we can’t solve something like this on the Hotseat, Mike, it’s a poor show isn’t it?”
In The Hotseat: Andy Burnham broadcasts on BBC Radio Manchester weekly on Thursdays at 10am.
Catchup is available through the BBC Sounds website and app.
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