In recent years, boundary disputes between neighbours are likely to have been aggravated by increased urban density and availability of low-cost and often fast-growing hedges, which have sometimes not been maintained over the years. While the problem affects relatively few people in Scotland, its impact can be severe.
In order to build a consensus around the most appropriate course of action, the Scottish Government launched a consultation on this issue. The consultation on High Hedges and other nuisance vegetation closed on Friday 13 November 2009. The formal consultation responses and the analysis have now been published. Fergus Ewing MSP, the Minister for Community Safety subsequently met with Scothedge and others.
In September 2010, the Minister held a successful meeting with other elected members, to garner cross-party support for the potential introduction of legislation in the next Parliament. Since then the Scottish Government has committed to providing a legal framework for settling disputes relating to high hedges. On 8 September 2011 Mark McDonald MSP announced his intention, with the support of the Scottish Government, to take forward a Members Bill to address this issue. A Bill will be taken forward during this Parliamentary term.
For more information on the legislative process in Scotland, please visit the Scottish Parliament website.