They do certainly form a screen but I was speaking to someone last night who has been trying to cut back her bamboo...after various efforts she is now comnsidering a JCB. It is VERY invasive.

Leyland cypress are more manageable and grow quickly. Otherwise, a brick wall???

Hi Ka Ora
No problem here , we fully understand this. We have already planted a willow hedge which was planted at leasts 2.50 mtrs from the official boundary. The new lot of trees will be planted at least 4 -5 mtrs away from the boundary, so they will not be able to touch these, or attempt to poison them as my Wife reckons they have done to a few of the Willows.
We have found out recently they have bought their muddy little piece of 1.400 mtr terrain of another one of their mates for just ....... € 2.000.
The joke is with these people is there is a new house just finished at the bottom of their terrain, soon to be occupied by a couple of young girls. Apparently they were heard asking one of the girls if they could branch their electricity of them when it is installed. It turned out there is a new directive saying all electric work must be underground now, not overhead cables as they hoping for to branch their electricity off.
Having no joy with the girls, no use to them , so they plant a row of probably nicked leylandii right smack bang up against the girls fence, totally against the rules and regulations ............what annoys us is they cut all our damn trees down.

Hi Karlo

Sorry you're stil having problems! It may help if you get others to complain?
The woman below told me "we don't like strangers here" and he called us a**holes! After, I had gone for a walk and seen the mayor (not knowing they had already complained to him). I said hello to him and he totally blanked me and looked at me with disgust again. Hoping the mayor will now apologise to me but I'm not holding my breath! At least our mayor's wife talks to me, obviously he doesn't discuss the business or she's more objective.
We did find a group who can advise, memebership is 75€ for the year. They are http://www.unpi.org/index.php?action...eil&chambre=45
We haven't registered yet, but may still need them.
I've dug all my plants up in the garden and given them away. I now have my pots and window boxes as my garden. Hope your planting trees works, think maybe you need a stone/brick wall? just seen someone else has suggested that!
Keep fighting them, as a friend told me "the truth will come out in the end"
and another "they will get their come uppance". Hoping this comes true for you and us!!

Hi everyone
A brick wall would be nice , but the cost of putting up one to span approximately 100 mtrs is out of the question, financially

I was joking, but a stone wall maybe? You could ask all your friends in the village for stone contributions, and build at least the part nearest your house.
What about your local politician? are you registered to vote? maybe he/she could help if the mayor won't. Why do they have mayors here? they def don't want to do much.

All the local Mayors are going next year , you will have to consult the one in your nearest town in the future ......... might be better!

Going where?
I haven't heard/watched the French news today, but French OH says that all Maires may have to justify their public expenses, in Mr. Fillon's plan to economise, but the Maires will still be around...

Apparently, I have known this for some time , all the maires of the little villages are going, just the ones in the towns are being kept

sorry to have hijacked this thread, but I live in a little village and this is the first I've heard that Mme Le Maire is leaving....

Possibly another amalgamation of smaller communes to reduce efficiency and administrative costs further. Cant say I have heard anything about it mind.

I got our letter from the Maire last week and read something about joining with our local nearest town but hadn't understood that meant no more Maire..

both your stories are so similar to mine but my neighbour from hell was the local dentist and suprise suprise a big buddy of the mayor local gendarmes ect it was a no win for us from the start i loved living in france but after seven years enough was enough so we moved to canada french speaking but nicer neighbours lol im not trying to make light of your situation i was so stressed every day but i find if it is french against english especially in a small community you are going to wait a long long time for anything to change sad but true but good luck and i hope you both find an end to your horrible situations

For the reason Ka Ora! gives, our village has been part of a "Communauté des Communes" for several years, but each Commune still has its Maire and Conseil Municipal.
But let's get back to the original subject...

Thanks Puggirl

Great you have found a better life in Canada, good luck for the future.
I have had enough after four years! next year we will get there, one way or another.
Better get moving, off to exercise class soon. They have kept me sane along with all our great friends here.

Suzie there are many places in France where you will find really good neighbours. I can't remember if you speak French but that certainly helps.

Just one thing to consider maybe...just like anyone else the French live in their own country and have often (particularly in small communities) many ties including family by marriage etc. Incomers, even ones born in the country and thoroughly French, are not given the same weight. The maire may well have relied on certain votes to get his position and it is considered to be an important one...to be in the inner circle allows a much smoother ride than to be outside, even for locals. If you can't speak French, you may as well, just keep quiet. TBH there are many small British communitites which operate in exactly the same way.

Larger towns are usually more balanced since the maire can't know everyone as easily and groups have less influence in elections. Often they cancel each other out. Friends of mine have trouble with barking dogs in a kennel kept by a private dog rescue group of Brits...good enough sentiments but they are driving my friend mad. They are finally seeing something done when it was pointed out that in France you need a certificate, after 3 days of training, from the SCC in Paris to kennel dogs. None of the kennel admin has one. Perhaps in cases like yours, the only way is to go over the heads of the maire and resort to the law. But you then have relationships to consider afterwards.

If you love France, untainted by your situation, don't give up...see it as an opportunity to find a new home. This is our third house here and we have always been blessed with wonderful, generous French neighbours who had no axe to grind.

Good luck!