Nuisance High Hedges: Have Your Say
10th August 2005

The Department is aware from a number of sources, including local MPs, MEPs and MLAs, that there are problems with nuisance high hedges in Northern Ireland.

In England and Wales new powers in Part 8 of the Anti-Social Behaviour Act 2003, enabling local authorities to intervene in hedge disputes, came into operation on 31 December 2004 in Wales and on 1 June 2005 in England.

The Department is therefore considering whether similar legislation should be introduced in Northern Ireland. However, while the Department accepts there is a problem here with high hedges, it lacks information on how many cases there are that would be actionable under such legislation and where they are. The aim of this consultation is to address this information vacuum and to enable the Minister to determine the way forward.

The decision on whether to introduce high hedges legislation in Northern Ireland will rest to a large extent on responses to this consultation. It is therefore IMPORTANT that you read the consultation paper and, if appropriate, complete and return the accompanying questionnaire.

We want to hear from you.

Associated Documentation
 

Document	Details
Ministerial Press Release: High Hedges	External
Public Consultation Paper	161 kb
Questionnaire	126 kb

The questionnaire is available in Microsoft Word format and can be completed on your computer and emailed to highhedges@nics.gov.uk.

Responding to this Consultation Paper

Please note that completed questionnaires should be received by the Planning Service no later than 26th October 2005.

There are a number of ways you can respond:

Post

Wilfrid Reavie Planning Service Headquarters High Hedges Consultation 3rd Floor Millennium House 17 - 25 Great Victoria Street Belfast BT2 7BN

Fax

(028) 9041 6960

Email

highhedges@nics.gov.uk