News Release

18 November 2003

New high hedges law praised by Hedgeline

    Hedgeline, the national lobby and support group for the victims of high hedges, has praised the
Government for rapidly pushing through high hedges legislation as part of the Anti-Social Behaviour Bill.
Announced by the Government last month,  the new law passed the final stages in the House of Commons
yesterday evening. Due to come into force during 2004, it gives local authorities in England and Wales new
powers to intervene in high hedge disputes.

    "This is the best possible news for tens of thousands of hedge victims. After six years of repeated
    disappointments, Hedgeline was delighted at the Government's announcement to include high hedges
    within the Anti-Social Behaviour Bill last month.  Having passed through Parliament, the new law will
    come into force during 2004. We urge the anti-social hedge bullies - those people who have repeatedly
    ignored their neighbours' reasonable requests over many years  -  to cut their hedges down to size now or
    face the consequences of a public enforcement procedure that includes heavy fines and criminal
    prosecution. However, the owners of well-maintained hedges that don't cause problems to their
    neighbours have nothing to fear, " said Clare Hinchliffe, Policy Director, Hedgeline. 

    Hedgeline has received only one report [this hedge victim is willing to talk to the media - contact details
below] from its 4,000 members of a nuisance hedge being reduced in size as consequence of last month's
Government announcement. Hedgeline therefore expects that many thousands of hedge victims will be
filing complaints with their local authorities as soon as the new law comes into force. Over the next few
months, the Government (in consultation with Hedgeline, local authorities and others) will be drawing up
detailed procedural guidance.  Hedgeline intends to offer practical advice to its members including how to
make an official high hedges complaint and the recovery of any associated costs from the hedge owner
through the small claims court.  

Media Enquiries Only (Telephone numbers not for publication in the media without permission)
    
    Clare Hinchliffe, Policy Director, Hedgeline Tel: 0121 449 8330 E-mail: clare@hedgeline.org
    Information about Hedgeline: www.hedgeline.org 

    Victim - Richard Davis Tel: 07966 322330  E-mail: richarddavis53@hotmail.com  Richard Davis took
    part in a feature about high hedges on Jeremy Vine's lunchtime programme on BBC Radio 2 in late
    October. After suffering problems from his neighbour's hedge for 19 years, Richard called his neighbour
    a "hedge bully" live on air. Two days later,  Richard's neighbour reduced the hedge height by eight feet
    but, according to Richard, it's still too high at 12 feet.