Pribram.eu Život v Příbrami Životní prostředí a odpady Informace a zvířata Frequently asked questions about the environment
Živ. prost. a. Inform. a zví. Ča. ot. tý. s.
Frequently asked questions about the environment
5) Is it allowed to burn hay, leaves, branches or other plant matter?
6) My neighbour is bothering me with smoke. What should I do about him?
7) I’ve found an illegal rubbish dump. What should I do about it?
8) I’ll be at the Orlická Dam on holiday. Where can I buy fishing permits?
1) I want to prune one tree and fell another on my land. Do I need a permit, and who should I contact?
No permit is required for pruning trees, but pruning must be carried out carefully and during the appropriate growing season (which depends on the species), so as not to damage the tree.
As for felling, you may fell trees without a permit if, at a height of 1.30 m above ground level, their trunk circumference is up to 80 cm (i.e. a diameter of approximately 25.5 cm), provided they are not part of a tree-lined avenue or a significant landscape feature. You may fell dense stands of trees without a permit up to a total area of 40 m². If the trees exceed these parameters, you must obtain a felling permit in advance. Fruit trees are an exception; no permit is required for their felling, regardless of their circumference, provided they grow within a built-up area of the municipality on a plot of land registered in the land registry as a ‘garden’, a ‘built-up area and courtyard’ or ‘other area’ with the land use designation ‘green space’. In cases of doubt, we recommend consulting the nature conservation authority.
The felling of trees is authorised by the relevant local authority. In Příbram, felling is authorised by the Environmental Department of the Municipal Authority. Only the landowner, or a tenant or user with the landowner’s consent, may apply. Felling may be carried out during the dormant season; exceptions are possible in justified cases.
If the felling is on a larger scale, e.g. due to construction work, we generally require a plan for the future landscaping of the plot, which we use as a basis when prescribing replacement planting.
2) I live in a block of flats in Příbram and there is a tree growing in front of our windows which completely blocks our view (it is half-dead, is damaging the building’s foundations, etc.). Who should we contact?
Trees in public spaces in Příbram are generally managed by the Technical Services of the City of Příbram (address: U kasáren 6, 261 01 Příbram), which has established a Green Spaces Centre for this purpose (headed by Mr Petr Polívka). This centre also accepts requests from residents regarding the felling or pruning of trees in public spaces. It assesses these requests on a case-by-case basis, in collaboration with the Environment Department, directly on site. It should be noted here that, in disputed cases, requests can only be granted if the majority of residents of the building in question agree to the felling, or at least those directly affected by the tree. We therefore recommend that you attach to your request for felling, for example, the minutes of a residents’ meeting where this matter was discussed, bearing the signatures of the residents of the building, whether in favour or against.
3) A neighbour has a tree in their garden which is causing me a nuisance by shading my windows, and its roots are damaging my wall. I’ve had enough of it. Can anyone do anything about it?
This problem is not related to nature conservation but falls within the scope of civil law. A nature conservation authority may authorise the felling of trees but cannot order it. The authority cannot assist you in this matter. Our advice here is to come to an agreement with your neighbour. If an agreement cannot be reached, you may proceed in accordance with Section 1016 of Act No. 89/2012 Coll., the Civil Code: “If the owner fails to do so within a reasonable time after being requested by the neighbour, the neighbour may, in a careful manner and at an appropriate time of year, remove any shrubs or branches of the tree encroaching onto their land, provided this causes them damage or other inconvenience outweighing the interest in preserving the tree intact.” Of course, you must not damage the tree in the process. Another – and often the only – option is to resolve the matter through the courts.
4) We want to insulate our block of flats. I’ve heard there are problems with sealing the holes in the prefabricated panels, perhaps because of birds nesting there? Do we need any permission for this?
Tall buildings in older housing estates are inhabited by common swifts. They nest in ventilation ducts and other openings in the prefabricated panels. As a result of building repairs – particularly the sealing of openings and cavities when insulating walls, converting attics into living spaces and repairing roofs – they are losing suitable nesting sites. If such alterations take place during the breeding season, live chicks may be bricked up. The common swift is a specially protected species. The law prohibits, for example, any harmful interference with their natural development, disturbing them, or damaging or destroying their nesting sites.
The following procedure is recommended to address this problem:
- Do not carry out any building work at swift nesting sites during the breeding season, i.e. from 20 April to 10 August.
- If work has already begun on a building where swifts are nesting, leave a space of at least 2–3 storeys from the top edge, with ventilation openings, free of scaffolding, and only complete the work once the swifts have left the site (i.e. after 10 August).
- In exceptional cases, renovation work may continue even on the top floor, where swifts are nesting in the ventilation openings. In such cases, however, it is necessary to restrict work to approximately 9.00–15.00 each day so that the swifts can feed their young in the morning and evening. We recommend consultation with an expert.
- Do not block the ventilation openings (this deprives swifts of their traditional nesting sites; furthermore, if this occurs during the nesting season, all the birds present in the nest at that time will perish).
- Retain the existing profiles of the openings; to prevent rainwater from entering, metal canopies with an overhang of approximately 10 cm can be placed above the openings, or pipes cut at an angle can be installed. The edges of the openings must be reinforced to prevent damage by other species of birds.
- It is possible to partially brick up the openings, provided that entry slits at least 7 cm long are left uncovered.
- It is advisable to roughen the wall beneath the opening – by fitting a corner profile with mesh secured with gravel-filled sealant (which will enable swifts to grip better when landing) – though this is not necessary if the plaster is sufficiently rough.
No specific permit is issued for thermal insulation; however, where these birds are nesting, their presence must be respected, otherwise this will constitute a breach of the law subject to the relevant penalty.
A final piece of advice – plan your insulation work for a suitable time of year and bear in mind that if the presence of birds is confirmed (or is known in advance), you will not be able to seal all the openings on the building’s façade.
5) Is it permitted to burn hay, leaves, branches or other plant matter?
The Clean Air Act states that only dry plant matter may be burnt in open fires, and such materials must not be contaminated with chemical substances. It is therefore not prohibited to burn well-dried hay, leaves and other plant materials in an open fire, provided that fire safety principles are observed. The relevant local authority with extended powers may monitor and impose penalties for breaches of this provision of the Act.
However, the relevant municipality may, by means of a by-law, lay down more detailed conditions for the burning of dry plant material; such burning may even be prohibited if the municipality provides an alternative method for its disposal. The town of Příbram has not established any more detailed regulations.
If you intend to burn a larger quantity of material, it is advisable to notify the Central Bohemian Region Fire and Rescue Service operations centre in advance via email at http://hzssk.webrex.cz/. Only in exceptional cases should you ring the operations centre directly on 950 870 444. When reporting, you must state the location and time of the burning, the person responsible for the burning (including their contact details), and the fire safety measures taken.
6) My neighbour is bothering me with smoke. What should I do about it?
Section 1013 of Act No. 89/2012 Coll., the Civil Code, states, amongst other things, that: ‘The owner shall refrain from anything that causes waste, water, smoke, dust, gas, odours, light, shadows, noise, vibrations and other similar effects (emissions) from entering the land of another owner (neighbour) to an extent disproportionate to local conditions and substantially restricting the normal use of that land”. Anyone who feels aggrieved by the aforementioned conduct of a neighbour may seek redress in court.
7) I have found an unauthorised rubbish dump. What should I do?
Please report any fly-tipping within the town of Příbram to the Environmental Department of the Příbram Town Council (tel. 318 402 476) or the municipal police (156, 318 620 162). If you see anyone disposing of waste outside of waste bins or designated areas, call the municipal police for immediate action. To facilitate further proceedings to impose a fine or, where necessary, to have the fly-tipping site cleared, please note down the vehicle’s registration number, colour and appearance, the date and time, and, where possible, the type of waste, and take photographs. Your testimony will help to resolve the issue.
8) I’ll be at the Orlická Dam on holiday. Where can I buy fishing permits?
According to our information, for example: ČRS – Štědronín Centre, Štědronín 7, 397 01 Písek, tel.: 382 289 160; 606 925 186, email: stedronin@rybsvaz.cz; Hotel Zvíkov, 397 01 Zvíkovské Podhradí, tel.: 382 285 659, e-mail:recepce@hotelzvikov.cz; U Cvrků Restaurant, 398 07 Orlík nad Vltavou, tel.: 382 275 124; 777 160 515; Oldřich Vala, Chrást 12, 398 55 Kovářov, tel: 382 596 818; 721 944 231; František Pták, Chrást 45, 398 55 Kovářov, tel.: 382 596 812; 739 084 916; Ing. Jiří Kraml, Podskalí 212, 262 35 Klučenice, tel.: 318 853 134; 603 187 672; Anglers’ Paradise, Národní svobody Avenue 436, 379 01 Písek, tel.: 777 244 605.
9) There is an animal keeper in our village; his animals are emaciated, and I suspect they are not being fed and are living in poor conditions.
Please contact the relevant veterinary authority; they are the only ones who can assess whether an animal is actually being abused. In extreme cases, this authority will take steps to arrange alternative care for the abused animal.
10) I have bought a plot of land near the forest and want to build a family home on it; I will need some assistance from you.
If you are planning to build within 50 metres of the edge of the forest (as shown on the land registry map), you must obtain a binding opinion on the location of the building before the relevant planning permission is granted. This opinion is issued by our department.
11) I have a garden by a stream (river, pond) and I want to use water from the stream to water my flower beds. Can I?
No abstraction permit is required provided that no technical equipment requiring an energy supply is used to abstract surface water. Otherwise, you must obtain a permit from the water authority (Municipal Office for the Environment). Your first steps should be to contact the watercourse manager, who must give their opinion on your proposed abstraction. You can find the relevant administrator at: http://www.voda.gov.cz/portal/cz/, or the water management authority will provide this information directly. For watercourses with low flow rates, you must request data on water flow rates at a specific profile of the watercourse from the Czech Hydrometeorological Institute (address: Na Šabatce 17, 143 06 Prague 4 – Komořany). You then simply need to complete the relevant application form and submit it to the relevant water authority. Please note that the granting of a permit is not an automatic entitlement. For watercourses with low flow rates, a minimum residual flow, which must be maintained in the watercourse, is determined as part of the administrative procedure.
12) Is it of any significance to me that I will be abstracting water on the basis of a permit issued by the relevant water authority?
The need to hold a permit should not be seen merely as an obligation, but also as a means of protecting your water source. If someone in the vicinity diverts a spring from a person who does not hold a valid permit, that person has no recourse. However, if they do hold a valid permit for groundwater abstraction, they are entitled, under current regulations, to the provision of an alternative water source or to a one-off compensation payment for the loss of water from their well.
13) I bought a green turtle and an African grey parrot for my children. The shop told me I have to register them somewhere. Is that true?
These are CITES-listed animals, which must be registered in accordance with Act No. 100/2004 Coll., a process administered by the Central Bohemian Regional Authority, Department of the Environment and Agriculture (Zborovská 11, Prague 5). The Příbram Municipal Authority does not handle registrations.
Updated: 19. 3. 2014 v 08:19:00
