A dispute between neighbours over the height of a garden hedge has led to councillors narrowly voting to serve a notice against the hedge owner.
Fife Council’s north-east area committee voted by seven votes to six that a 12.5-metre hedge at 4 Spearshill Road, Tayport, should be cut back to 6.75m and that ongoing maintenance of the hedge should prevent it from growing higher than 7m.
The High Hedges (Scotland) Act 2013 aims to provide a solution when problems are caused by hedges which grow more than two metres tall and block out light.
In this case, an application for the service of a High Hedge Notice was submitted by the owners of a detached house at 8 Spearshill Road.
The applicant’s property sits to the west of the hedge owner’s property. The applicant’s garden sits adjacent to a public path, with the hedge sitting adjacent to the path.
East Neuk SNP councillor John Docherty, seconded by Tay Bridgehead SNP councillor Bill Connor, moved that the application be refused on grounds that the trees, which predated the houses, were on the other side of the footpath from the complainer.
But Lib Dem Tay Bridgehead councillor Tim Brett, seconded by Lib Dem Cupar councillor Margaret Kennedy, successfully moved approval.
The hedge owner now has the right to appeal the notice.