High Hedges
We can improve our gardens for Wildlife and by clicking on the link you can pick-up some ideas on how this can be done.
Hedges provide an attractive boundary, a wildlife habitat and a wildlife corridor from one area to another. However an over sized hedgerow can interfere with another person's pleasure. For this reason the government have introduced a new bill governing the height of evergreen and semi-evergreen hedges. This web page provides you with some information on the bill.
The first thing is a leaflet called Over the Garden Hedge. This is a guide about hedges and what to do if you have the wrong hedge for your garden.
One or two common questions about high hedges are:
1. Can we go straight to the council?
No. Involving the Council should be a last resort if you really can't agree a solution. The Council can refuse to intervene if they think you haven't done everything you reasonably could to settle your dispute.
2. What will the Council expect us to have done to sort this out between ourselves?
This will depend on how well you get on with your neighbours. But, before you contact the Council you should have tried the following:
- Have a quiet word with your neighbour about your concerns.
- Follow this up by sitting down with them so that you can get a better understanding of each other's concerns and try to figure out the answer.
- If this doesn't work, invite them to talk to independent mediators who can help you find a way forward. There is a Local Mediation Service for free and it can be contacted by ringing 01472 251054.
- If your neighbour won't talk to you or you are nervous about speaking to them, send a polite letter. it won't be enough to say your neighbour is not approachable.
- Keep a record of what you have done - eg. copies of letters or a diary. If nothing works, you should let your neighbours know that you will be making a formal complaint to the council.
3. My hedge dispute has been running for years. Am I expected to go through all this again?
The Council will expect evidence of a recent attempt to settle your dispute with your neighbour. If you rely on an approach you made more than, say 4 months ago, they could ask you to try again.
You never know, your neighbour could have had a change of heart. They might note welcome the Council getting involved and could be ready to compromise.
4. What sorts of complaint can the Council look at?
If you've been through all the steps set out above AND can answer 'yes' to ALL the points listed below the Council should be able to look at your complaint :
About the hedge:
- Is it growing on land owned by someone else?
- Is the hedge - or the portion that is causing problems - made up of a line of two or more trees or shrubs?
- Is it mostly evergreen or semi-evergreen?
- Is it more than two meters tall?
- Even though there might be gaps in the foliage or between the trees or shrubs, is the hedge still capable of obstructing light or views?
Who can complain?
- Are you the owner or occupier (eg. tenant) of the property affected by the hedge?
- Is the property residential?
Grounds of complaint:
- Does the hedge detract from the reasonable enjoyment of your home or garden because it is too tall?
5. What's a semi-evergreen tree or shrub?
It's something that keeps some live or green leaves all year round.
Depending on where you live, this could include privet. The further north you are, the more likely that a privet hedge will lose its leaves over winter.
It doesn't include beech or hornbeam hedges. The leaves that they keep in the winter are dead and brown.
6. Who do I contact in N. E. Lincs Council?
You write to Environmental Control, Origin One, 1 Origin Way, Europarc, Grimsby, North East Lincolnshire, DN37 9TZ or phone 01472 324770.
7. Is there a charge for this service?
There is a non-refundable fee of £300. For the disabled unemployed and low income the fee is £100 this is also non-refundable.
For more common questions and advice on High Hedges click on the link Complaining to the Council.
|