Please keep your trees pruned!

When we purchased our home in Salt Rock four years ago one of our most important requirements was to have a really nice sea view and we were fortunate enough to find a property in our price range that provided one – we could even see the breakers and in an effort to make the most of this we invested a whole lot of money creating an entertainment area where we could enjoy it to its fullest.
Well, time has gone by and our neighbour’s trees have grown to such an extent that we now have what I can only describe as a porthole. Apart from the fact that our view has been replaced with that of a few untidy trees it has also negatively affected the value of our property and will continue to do so indefinitely until they are removed.
We have asked the neighbour nicely if it would be possible to remove or even cut back the offending trees but sadly despite an offer to “see what he can do” nothing has been done. To make matters even worse the trees are in the backyard of the property and serve very little if any purpose at all. It seems that people, when planting trees, are either oblivious to the fact that they could be influencing somebody else’s lives or simply don’t give a damn as long as they are alright. What has happened to good neighbourliness?
Surely there should be a by-law protecting one’s investment in a case like this? You aren’t permitted to erect a building if it obstructs an adjacent property’s view and I don’t see why it should be any different when it comes to trees.
Ultimately first prize would be that the neighbours put themselves in our shoes, consider the impact this has caused and do the right thing.
As for everyone who reads this – take note of what you plant and consider how it may end up imposing in the future. At the end of the day we all want to enjoy the same things in life which is why we chose to live here in the first place.
Living in hope.
KEVIN SELVAN
Salt Rock