Tree cracking fence - next steps

This has clearly been happening for a while but keen to get some perspective on how to get around this.

The trunk is crossing the fence line and it’s made fencing and therefore privacy impossible.

Is there anything I can do to this tree to make space? Or do I have to find a solution that works around the tree?

thanks

 

Is the fence yours/neighbours or jointly owned ? If yours, then do you want to keep the tree or the fence ? If not yours , discuss the problem with your neighbour before taking any action.
Bit late in the day for you but the tree should never have been planted so close to the fence. Always sad to get rid of a tree but up to you and what you want. Good luck with a resolution anyway

 

Looks possibly a weed tree, sycamore?

Whoever owns it needs to get it cut down, its only going to become a bigger problem, literally.

 

Seems sycamore get more respect than they are due.....

 

Yes it’s sycamore - it’s by a road so no neighbouring property to concern me.
Sounds like this tree is open to removal? I’d be happy with that, but would I need to notify council and would it impact my foundations potentially?

Total novice here, apologies!

 

Just check to see if it has a preservation order, can normally find this out from their website under planning.
If no you are free to cut down whenever you like.
If yes you'll need to get planning permission to remove or trim. Probably include getting a report on the tree from an arboriculturalist.

 

Its not very big, and it looks like it self seeded in that position rather than planted, I doubt it has a preservation order but as Nigel says probably best to ask.
A reliable tree surgeon would have a good idea.

 

Update - no preservation order. Having it cut down and removed with a grinder.
We’ll look to plant a tree a little further in - something with good screening and easy to maintain.

recommendations welcome!

 

Any tree planted will grow, just like the one you are cutting down.
Have you thought of adding trellis along the top of the existing fence and growing evergreen climbers like clematis Armandii or ivy?. There are deciduous climbers which make dense impenetrable growth and screening, jasmine nudiflorum, tracherlospermum jasminoides etc. You would need to check what will suit your location and soil conditions etc.

 

Echoing what Goldenlily26 says above, I’d suggest some trellis and a climber if you want privacy without a tree. You can get clematis from pretty much any good garden centre and it grows quite quickly. Jasmine also.

There’s a clematis in our back garden which was huge when we moved in, now tamed, affords plenty of screening

 

Many years ago we had a similar issue with a tulip tree in our garden. We planted it in totally the wrong place but then we knew no better. As it grew (and it did flower) the trunk got bigger and bigger so much so that it was starting to destroy a garage. So we had to have it removed. A great pity as it was a beautiful tree and we have learnt to be more careful where we plant any trees.