Council trees overhanging garden

[SC00BY]

I have some trees overhanging my garden. I would like them either removed or cut back. I have had no joy whatsoever with the council.
A) How can I kill them?
B) If the council find out I have killed them what penalty could I recieve.

I am not a bad tree killer. They are blocking the light, dropping leaves all over the place. And as it stands my son cannot play in the back garden
Many thanks

[Kim A]

You need to actually find out who the land belongs to. you can go to your local council offices and ask to see the maps of your area in the planning department. If you find out the trees are on land that the council has responsibility for (if they cut the grass there, or it's a public open space, you've gott'em bang to rights!) they must send a Tree Protection Officer to inspect the area. You will need to prove that the trees are either dangerous, or could cause a potential fault in your house (like subsidence). it's unlikely that they'll remove them just because leaves drop in your garden. I'd not recommend that you try and kill the trees. If these trees have Protection Orders on them, you'll be in big trouble if the council can prove it was you! i don't want to sound like a killjoy, but when worked for a housing association, it was damned near impossible for us to get anything done about any trees in or around our estates - but then that was Arun district council for you, and they're rubbish!

[RATTER15]

You can legally cut off any overhanging branches as long as you return the branches. I should tell the council what you intend to do first.