SCOTHEDGE

In January 2001, then Justice Minister Jim Wallace responded to a 2000 Consultancy that legislation was probably needed to deal with the immunity of problem hedge owners from responsibility for damage to neighbouring residences. In 2003 Scott Barrie received approval from MSPs to launch a Member's Bill which never progressed.

We congratulate MSP Mark MacDonald for persuading the appropriate committee of MSPs to accept the overwhelming result of Fergus Ewing's 2009 consultancy "High Hedges and Other Nuisance Vegetation" which prepared the ground for the SNP manifesto commitment and wide all party support which now sets the course for a Bill presentation to our Parliament later this year. This is in accordance with the substantial Antisocial Behaviour Review which committed the Government to improving the quality of life in Scotland but was unable to deal with the hedge issue which was inspired by an underlying legal anomaly. In a then minority Government, Fergus Ewing's initiative was timely and welcome.

When the SNP returned in 2011 with a majority, this commitment was transferred to Mark McDonald MSP in a Member's Bill undertaking which is now firmly progressing towards a fit for purpose Scottish Bill with significant all party support and manifesto commitment by the SNP and the Scottish Conservatives.

There is now no political impediment to bringing Scottish residents, the protection already on the Statute Book for England,Wales and Northern Ireland. Scothedge looks forward to collaborating with Mark in an endeavor to make the most of over a decade of experience representing Scottish residents facing unprotected devaluation of their homes and gardens and quality of life.