Peasedown St John’s parish council has vowed to take tough action against overgrown hedges across the village.
Last year, the authority received an unprecedented high level of complaints about untidy hedgerows across the area. But now, thanks to the creation of a new policy, the council is to take a more active role in liaising with homeowners and partner agencies who own each individual hedge.
Cllr Andy Larcombe, who has championed the new approach, said: “Keeping our village looking clean, tidy and presentable matters to a lot of people. It just isn’t exceptable for homeowners, housing associations or councils to allow hedgerows, trees or public spaces to look in anyway un-kept.”
The new policy involves following a similar line to that of Bath and North East Somerset Council who operate a 28-day notice period, informing hedge owners that they must take action, or face an invoice from the council.
Cllr Karen Walker is Chairman of the Planning and Environment Committee who has overseen the new development of the new policy.
She said: “Once the owner of the hedge is identified we shall ask them to cut it back. If they are unable to do so, they will be given the option to pay the parish council to carry out the work.
“It isn’t part of our remit to cut all privately owned hedges, but if residents have difficulty doing it themselves our groundsmen can carry out the work at a charge.”
Residents can contact the parish office for more details about the new policy.
