Driveway hedge identification

I'm considering removing the hedge to replace with fencing to match the other side but I'm wondering how deep the roots go and how hard to remove?

The hedge has been there for 30+ years, we cut on down but didn't remove the stump a couple of years ago for access for the builders, the stump was 3" diameter. I was hoping to trim it totally and use the thick middle 'pole' to rock back and forth to loosen it.

And idea how deep and wide they go?

 

Privets are a walk in the park to remove compared to many other hedges.

If you intend to do the deed, cut the main trunk and side stems back to about 3.5ft high so that you can get some leverage on them. Using a pushing motion on the main trunk whilst twisting using the side branches, it's quite easy to rip out most of the surprisingly small, fibrous roots; bigger tap roots may need a spade to dig out or chop off - and they won't grow back.

But maybe I got lucky on past occasions and yours may have more substantial roots, for which a trench shovel is a Godsend

 

Well I had a go on the stump, it was alive as I have to saw of the new branches, I got my steel pry bar on it, it was 2ft long without much of a deep root system

 

Took about 20 mins

 

Well, it took about 4 hours to dig it all out and another 4 hours to install all the fences and posts! I'm glad it's all over, back breaker!