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High hedges
Part 8 of the Anti-Social Behaviour Act 2003 which gives local authorities powers to deal with complaints about high hedges came into force on 1 June 2005.
As long as you have made reasonable attempts to resolve your dispute, you can bring your complaint about your neighbour’s evergreen hedge to us. We will then decide whether the hedge is adversely affecting the reasonable enjoyment of your property. If we agree it is, we can require steps to remedy the problem. However, we cannot require the hedge to be removed; only reduced in height. Further information is available on the Government’s web-site.
If you wish to make a formal complaint about a High Hedge, you should email dev.control@bolsover.gov.uk or telephone us on 01246 242424 to request the relevant application forms.
You will need to pay a fee of £390 if you make a formal complaint. This is needed to cover the cost of the work in dealing with your complaint. You should also be aware of the following.
The Act applies to a complaint which:
- is made by an owner or occupier of a domestic property; and
- alleges that his reasonable enjoyment of that property is being adversely affected by the height of a high hedge situated on land owned or occupied by another person.
"High hedge" means so much of a barrier to light or access as:
- is formed wholly or predominantly by a line of two or more evergreens; and
- rises to a height of more than two metres above ground level.
A line of evergreens is not to be regarded as forming a barrier to light or access if the existence of gaps significantly affects its overall effect as such a barrier at heights of more than two metres above ground level.
"Evergreen" means an evergreen tree or shrub or a semi-evergreen tree or shrub. Complaints are considered by a High Hedges Committee, which meets as required.
Last Updated on Monday, 07 February 2011 15:34
