Reed Welcomes Powers to Tackle High Hedges in Loughborough

Loughborough MP Andy Reed has welcomed news that local authorities will be given powers to tackle nuisance high hedges from 1st June.

The local MP has campaigned in Parliament to introduce the new powers, but they had previously been blocked by Tories in the Commons.

An Order has been made commencing Part 8 of the Anti-social Behaviour Act 2003 from 1 June. Around 10,000 people a year in the UK suffer disputes over high hedges.

Reed said:

“I am delighted that from June the powers will be in place to tackle nuisance hedges. So many people were disappointed when the Tories deliberately talked out the legislation on this subject and at last, no thanks to them, local people will be able to get satisfaction to address these problems in Loughborough.

“Despite the legislation being in place, a formal complaint should always be a last resort. People should have made every effort to resolve the matter amicably first, the local authorities’ role is to adjudicate, not mediate in hedge disputes. People will pay a fee to the local authority when they make a complaint and this will be set by the authority.

“If the Council find that a hedge is having an adverse affect on the complainant's property they can order the hedge-owner to reduce the height of the hedge and to maintain it at that level. If the owner refuses to reduce the height, the local authority will be able to take the matter to court and, on conviction, the owner may be fined up to £1,000.

“I will be discussing these issues again with Charnwood Borough Council to ensure that we can tackle these problems locally in June when the powers become active.”

-Ends-