An Angus campaigner has claimed a victory in her 12-year fight against nuisance hedges.
Pamala McDougall, from Inverkeilor near Arbroath, could finally see legislation created to enforce control of nuisance vegetation after the High Hedges (Scotland) Bill was lodged at Holyrood this week.
She founded the Scothedge group and fights for justice on behalf of people who have experienced issues with neighbours growing high hedges.
The members of Mrs McDougall’s group welcomed the bill, lodged on Monday by Mark McDonald MSP, and said it marked a turning point in a long struggle.
She said: “It has been a long haul. This has taken a lot of time and effort and it has taken a very strong group of people to get to where we are.
“The trigger for this was our own situation when we came to Inverkeilor 16 years ago and our neighbours had leylandii.
“When it became a problem our neighbours declined to engage with us about it and we tried lots of different approaches.
“We have worked hard to get so far and we are grateful to Mark McDonald for his private members’ bill which will give so many of our members respite and a lawful means of addressing high hedge problems with selfish neighbours.
“We remain hopeful that amendments will be made to include deciduous and single nuisance trees from which many of our members suffer, and that arrangements will be made by local authorities to keep the costs to a complainant to a minimum.”
It is hoped that the Bill lodged by Mr McDonald will promote “good neighbour” behaviour and help solve disputes when all other avenues have failed.
It defines a high hedge at two metres, formed by a row or two of evergreens.
Scotland does not have specific legislation governing this area but similar laws have been adopted in England, Wales, Northern Ireland and the Isle of Man.
Residents will have the power to complain to councils on the basis that hedges on neighbouring land are considered to have an “adverse effect on the reasonable enjoyment of domestic property”.
Councils aim to settle disputes and would get powers to issue an enforcement notice to hedge owners, requiring them to take action. Failure to comply would let the council go in and do the work, charging the costs to the hedge owner.
The document is expected to be debated at First Minister’s Questions next week.
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