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21 June 2005
The Greens successfully managed to get the City Council to agree to reduced fees for pursuing High Hedge complaints.
New regulations came into effect on 1st June 05. From this date, provided they have tried and exhausted all other avenues for resolving their hedge dispute, people can now bring their complaint to the City Council.
The City has some discretion on the fees that they can charge to process these complaints which has now been set at £450 - about the level recommended by Government. A planned reduction of 50% was to be introduced for people on benefits but, thanks to an amendment from the Greens, this was increased to 80%.
Says Green Councillor Craig Simmons: "This is a small victory but an important one for those on low incomes. It is a matter of principle and means that those on low incomes are less likely to be excluded from pursuing complaints under this new legislation."
FMI: Cllr Craig Simmons 0773 980 3047
High Hedges Complaints
The Government has an excellent web site at www.odpm.gov.uk/treesandhedges on which there is two leaflets: Over the Garden Hedge, which gives advice on how to deal with neighbours in a way more likely to lead to an agreed solution, and High Hedges: Complaining to the Council.
Before approaching the City Council mediation in high hedge disputes is available from Mediation Oxfordshire.
Address: Regal Community Centre, Ridgefield Road, OX4 3BY; tel; 01865 776789 or email: medox@btconnect.com or on the web www.mediationoxfordshire.fsnet.co.uk
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