High Hedges (No. 2) Bill

The Bill contains provisions to create a new procedure for local authorities in England and Wales to deal with complaints by the owners/occupiers of domestic property affected by overgrown evergreen hedges on neighbouring properties that are over 2 metres high.

The local authority would be able to charge a fee for this service, to be paid by the complainant, and if they consider the circumstances justify it, can issue a notice requiring remedial action, known as a 'remedial notice'.

It also proposes rights of appeal against the local authority's decision and enables the remedial notice to be enforced through criminal prosecutions and/or by the local authority entering the land and carrying out the necessary work if the owner or occupier fails to do so.