Clause 2 - High hedges
High Hedges Bill
10:30 am
Ms Caroline Flint (Don Valley, Labour)
I do not wish to impede progress. Clause 2 refers to:
``two or more adjacent evergreens''.
A number of my constituents have mentioned that the problem of light being blocked out by trees and shrubs arises because they live in small houses with relatively small windows. In some cases, the planting of a single leylandii in a particular place may effectively block out light completely. My constituent, Mr. Birkett, is involved in such a case. All the light has been blocked to his kitchen window, which is side-on to the neighbouring house. Perhaps the other provision to which the Minister referred will deal with complaints not covered by the Bill at a later date. For people living in relatively small houses with relatively small windows, just one triffid-like shrub or tree—whatever one wants to call them—can effectively shut out all the light from a person's home or rooms, without even forming a barrier.