HIGH HEDGES

Early day motion 133, tabled 2 December 1999 by Lynne Jones (Labour). Signed by 208 members.

That this House welcomes the publication of the consultation paper on high hedges, which at last holds out some hope of action to protect those whose lives have been blighted by overgrown trees and hedges; believes that measures to promote mediation and provide better information on planting and growing of leylandii, and similar fast-growing trees, have a part to play in preventing and defusing conflicts between neighbours but will be of little assistance to those already adversely affected by a high hedge; recognises the efforts already made by local authorities and the police to find solutions to these disputes, but is concerned that valuable time and resources have been unnecessarily expended tackling a problem which, ultimately, they have no power to resolve; and, therefore, supports Option 4 in the consultation paper, which proposes to set up a new system of statutory powers to deal with complaints about problem hedges.

Signatures by party: Labour 131, Liberal Democrat 29, Conservative 27, Labour/Co-operative 8, UUP 5, Plaid Cymru 3, Scottish National Party 2, Independent 1, UKUP 1, Unknown 1.