Hedge height could be capped
14 Sep 06
Ministers rule out Planning Bill controls but would support separate measures
Measures to tackle neighbour disputes over garden hedge sizes are likely to have Scottish ministers' support, but not as part of the Planning (Scotland) Bill.
Deputy Communities Minister Johann Lamont said yesterday that hedge sizes were often used to intimidate neighbours, but the new planning legislation was not the place to tackle this problem.
Ms Lamont was speaking at a meeting of Holyrood's Communities Committee which is currently considering the bill. MSPs John Home Robertson (Labour) and David Petrie (Conservative) each moved amendments allowing action to be take on any hedges, trees or shrubs which exceeded a certain height, but neither was passed.
Dunfermline West MSP Scott Barrie has started a fresh consultation on the issue and Ms Lamont said the Executive supported the move. Mr Barrie's previous private member's bill on the same matter failed.