Knowle: A Tale of Two Trees: Mr. J. Gladstone (Chairman) presided at Tuesday evening’s meeting of the Solihull District Council, when there was a further development of the dispute between the Council and Mr. T. M. Colmore, of Knowle, as to two trees on the grass verge opposite Mr. Colmore’s gates. It was alleged by Mr. Colmore that the trees prevented him from backing his motorcar out of his drive in safety, and at the August meeting of the Council he wrote that unless the Council cut down the trees he should do so himself. The Clerk (Mr. F. L. Thompson) now informed the Council that Mr. Colmore had carried out his threat and cut down the trees. After a consultation with several members of the Council he took legal opinion on the subject and found that Mr. Colmore was not entitled to interfere with the trees. Mr. Colmore had had an interview with Mr. Pinsent, the Council’s solicitor, when it transpired that he took counsel’s opinion on the matter a year or two ago; but since then, the position had changed, the District Council having obtained urban powers. Mr. Colmore also wrote to the Council as follows: “The Warrens”, Knowle, September 19th. “I have to-day had an interview with Mr. Pinsent, whose opinion has been taken about the trees on this road by your Council, and he informs me that though when the Parish Council had control of this road I had the power (with the consent of the owner) to take trees down as I did some years ago, I had no power to do so now, and the District Council had obtained (a fact of which I was not aware) urban powers, and in, remedy (if any) was by indictment for a nuisance. I shall therefore be glad if you will convey to the Council my deep regret at having taken the trees down, and to say how vexed I am at the occurrence, and further say that I have told Mr. Pinsent that I shall be happy to pay his costs, as I should not wish them to fall on the ratepayers. — Yours faithfully, T. M. Colmore.” … (the apology was reluctantly accepted) …
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