News Statement

9 September 2004


THE 'HIGH HEDGES LAW' IS A GENTLE LAW.


The 'High Hedges Law' is a gentle Law.1 There is no wholesale hedge slaughter envisaged. Only those hedges which are clearly causing considerable nuisance to a neighbour will have to be reduced. Most hedges cause no serious problem and will not be affected. Even in some cases where a complaint has been lodged, the hedge will be judged to be causing insufficient nuisance to merit a height reduction ruling.

A very small percentage of hedges will qualify for scrutiny as most people are careful not to destroy their neighbours' amenity. There will be strict penalties for those people who are determined to continue to darken their neighbours' homes and to destroy their gardens but penalties 2 will only be imposed if the local Authority ruling is ignored.

A number of people believe that all hedges will be reduced to 2m. This is certainly a gross misunderstanding. A reasonable height for the hedge will depend entirely on where it is situated relative to a neighbours' property.

Only the very few determined hedge bullies need fear this law.


1 We refer of course to the new hedge law: part 8 of the Anti-social Behaviour Act, which was passed on November 20th, 2003.

2 Penalties for defying the local Authority ruling are fines, not prison sentences as in some other ASB offences.


Clare Hinchliffe
Policy Director for Hedgeline


 

About Hedgeline

Formed in 1998, Hedgeline (www.hedgeline.org) is a large lobby and support group with over 4,000 members. Its primary objective is the effective legislative control of problem hedges of all species in residential areas. The issues caused by high hedges include light deprivation, subsidence and many other problems that adversely affect people's enjoyment of their homes and gardens. Working through local groups across the United Kingdom, Hedgeline provides members with comprehensive advice and information by drawing on the practical experiences of thousands of hedge victims.


Hedgeline Photographs: www.hedgeline.org/photos.htm

Electronic text for this news release is at www.hedgeline.org/news.htm


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