Engineering boss Robin Briggs lost his hedge battle with neighbours on Tuesday

A wealthy businessman lost a seven-year legal battle with his neighbours on Tuesday, as he was ordered to chop the 40ft trees on the grounds of his Scottish mansion in half.

Engineering boss Robin Briggs, 78, had been in a drawn-out feud with Clifford and Alison Jackson over the height of his leylandii trees, which separated their two properties in Burntisland, Fife, Scotland.

The Jacksons were outraged that Mr Briggs' towering hedges, which form a 135ft border around his property, obscured their view of the Firth of Forth.

They claimed in papers that the scenic view was one of the main reasons they purchased their home.

The couple took their complaint about Mr Briggs' trees to the Fife Council and he was ordered to cut the leylandiis, also known as the Leyland cypress, surrounding his mansion down to 25 feet.

Still unhappy with their view, the Jacksons appealed the decision to the Scottish Government, who agreed that their view was still impaired and ordered Mr Briggs to chop the trees to 20 feet.

The Scottish Government ruled the 78-year-old would have to cut his 40ft leylandii trees down to 20ft because his neighbours said the trees blocked their view of the Firth of Forth

Mr Briggs' towering hedges (pictured) form a 135ft border around his property called Nether Grange. His neighbours said the trees blocked their view of the Firth of Forth - one of the main reasons they purchased their home

The Jacksons had used high hedge laws in a bid to force Mr Briggs, who is the chairman of Briggs Marine and Environmental Services, to take action.

Mr Briggs' firm was part of the response team for the Piper Alpha disaster in 1988 and the Exxon Valdez oil spill in Alaska in 1989.

The neighbours' prolonged argument saw attempts at mediation involving council staff, which faltered in 2011 and a further attempt at reaching an amicable agreement failed in 2015.

The Jacksons had said: 'The fundamental reason for our appeal is that we believe that the issued high hedge notice height will not restore the views over the Firth of Forth and Pentland Hills from our property and therefore will not achieve the purpose in the reason for notice section of the High Hedge Notice.

'It has always been our position, as stated in the initial application and subsequent correspondence, that the views from our lounge and balcony were of primary importance to both the initial purchase of our property and the continued enjoyment of our property.'

Mr Briggs had challenged the Jacksons' claims and said the hedge was already in place at his mansion called Nether Grange when their property was built.

Pictured: Mr Briggs' mansion is called Nether Grange and is from the 20th century

The tall greenery separate the two properties in Burntisland, Fife, Scotland

The neighbours had been locked in a drawn-out legal battle for the past seven years

Mr Briggs' mansion is b-listed, which means it is a 'building of regional or more than local importance, or major examples of some particular period, style or building type which may have been altered', according to Historic Environment Scotland.

A letter from the businessman's lawyers to the government said: 'A view is a completely subjective concept and a legally binding notice cannot be based upon something which cannot be quantified.

'It is a personal opinion what constitutes a ''view''. One person may enjoy privacy, and think that plants which bring natural creatures and wildlife are a view, however another, as in Mr and Mrs Jacksons' case, might feel the ability to see the sea from their property is a view.

'However, it is not for Fife Council to decide what a good or bad view is in law.'

Government reporter Amanda Chisholm weighed in and said: 'The key issue regarding the appellants' enjoyment of their property is the effect of the hedge on their views over the Firth of Forth.

'In coming to a view, I must consider whether the height of the hedge adversely affects the level of enjoyment that they can reasonably expect to have.'

Mr Briggs' Nether Grange mansion is b-listed, which means it is a 'building of regional or more than local importance, or major examples of some particular period, style or building type which may have been altered', according to Historic Environment Scotland

Mr Briggs has until September to cut down the massive trees

The engineering boss had challenged the Jacksons' claims and said the hedge was already in place when their property was built

Ms Chisholm continued: 'This may not reflect the level of amenity that would be ideal or desirable from their point of view.

'In my view the hedge, at its current height, is out of scale with the area of the garden nearest to the house. This, together with its proximity to the house, makes it appear dominant and oppressive.'

She added: 'From its location and position it appears that it was designed to have a view, from the lounge and balcony, over Burntisland to the Firth of Forth and beyond, which the appellants contend was important to their initial purchase and continued enjoyment of their property.

'There is some dispute as to the date on which the hedge was planted. However, it is clear that it has been allowed to grow such that it now blocks the views from the appellants' property, as I observed at the site inspection.'

The work is to be carried out by September.

A letter from the businessman's lawyers said: 'A view is a completely subjective concept and a legally binding notice cannot be based upon something which cannot be quantified'