What do I do if I have a neighbour with a high hedge, and I want the council to take action to have it lowered?
The council can take action as a last resort against people who are the owners of high hedges, but there has to be evidence that a serious attempt has been made to deal with the problem by negotiation with your neighbour first. Action can only be taken under certain circumstances: • It has to be a hedge as defined in the Regulations (a line of two or more evergreen or semi-evergreen trees or shrubs rising to a height of more than two metres above ground level). • It has to be a barrier to light or access, and there are definitions about what this means that the council will have to take into account. Making a complaint does not mean that the hedge will have to be lowered – there will be a formal assessment of the situation, and a decision will be made in line with Government advice. This may mean that no action is taken. Also, as both parties will have the right of appeal against the council’s decision, it could be some time before a final outcome is known. Before making an official co
