Antisocial hedges law plans grow

PLANS for a new law to tackle the problem of nuisance high hedges have taken a step forward.

The Scottish Parliament’s local government committee agreed no further consultation was needed on SNP backbencher Mark McDonald’s members’ Bill to force householders to keep such hedges in check.

Mr McDonald told the committee there had been a Scottish Government consultation in 2009 on the idea of a law to deal with high hedge disputes.

The decision means he is now free to draft a final proposal and seek the support of at least 18 MSPs from at least half of Holyrood’s political parties, to take the Bill forward for full consideration in parliament.

Thousands of people across Scotland are affected by giant trees and hedges blocking their views or keeping their homes in permanent darkness.

Lothians Tory MSP David McLetchie had originally planned a members’ Bill on the issue, giving people the right to go to court for an order to force neighbours to cut high hedges down to size, but agreed to support Mr McDonald’s Bill when he won government blessing.