MPs Agrees to Ban High Hedges
November 18, 2003 12:00 AM
Last night MPs agreed to introduce legislation to control 'anti-social' high hedges which have long been the blight of many tens of thousands of people across the country.
Local MP Annette Brooke, who backed the High Hedges Bill throughout its Commons stages with significant support from her constituents, welcomed the Government's decision to introduce legislation again. Speaking in the debate, Mrs. Brooke said:
"This has the potential to improve many people's quality of life greatly. High hedges are a serious problem for many of our constituents. These measures will put in place a statutory framework to address conflicts where they arise between neighbours and where they cannot be resolved by mediation.
"These measures will ensure that a balance can be struck between privacy for some and serious loss of light and amenity for others."
MP Stephen Pound's Private Member's Bill, introduced earlier this year fell at its 3rd Reading in June having been talked out by Conservative MPs. Subsequently, the Government took the decision to re-introduce aspects of the Bill during the Lords consideration of the Anti-Social Behaviour Bill which returned to the Commons for further debate yesterday.
The next step will be a public consultation on regulations and guidance for Local Authorities on how to deliver the measures contained in the Bill and it is expected that these measures will be fully implemented by autumn 2004. The whole Bill is expected to receive Royal Assent shortly after the New Year.
What would you like to do next?
-
Subscribe for updates
Follow the party's activity on...
- Twitter:
- Liberal Democrats
- Facebook:
- Liberal Democrats
- YouTube:
- Liberal Democrats