Clause 10 - Offences
High Hedges Bill
11:15 am

Mr John Taylor (Solihull, Conservative)

If the Bill is to bring relief to hedge sufferers, it is essential that it has effective enforcement provisions that will exert pressure on recalcitrant owners to cut the hedge and keep it trimmed. I agree entirely with hon. Members who said that a general awareness that the provision is law will lead to a general improvement. The Bill might not make the problem go away, but it will diminish it significantly by reducing the estimated backlog of 3,000 extant grievances and establishing a heightened sense of responsibility.

Under the clause, failure to comply with a remedial notice will constitute an offence punishable on summary conviction before magistrates by a fine not exceeding £1,000. There is also provision for daily fines where the requisite work remains outstanding following a court order. In other words, defiance of the order by the offending party will be analogous with contempt and will be subject to a fine. I should point out that people will not be prosecuted simply for growing hedges. The provisions will come into play only where someone refuses to comply with the local authority's remedial notice.

Question put and agreed to.

Clause 10 ordered to stand part of the Bill.