About Scothedge

Formed in 1998, Hedgeline(www.hedgeline.org) is a large lobby and support group with over 4,000 members throughout the U.K. The Scottish Branch, Scothedge, was formed to lobby the devolved Holyrood Parliament in order to gain legislation to overcome the unfair power of high hedge and tree owners to ignore the impact of their excessive plants upon neighbours.

Scothedge provides members with comprehensive advice and information drawing upon the practical experience of thousands of hedge and tree victims throughout the U.K.

Electronic text for this news release is at http://www.pentlandhedge.colwat.com/rel_6.htm

Dr. Colin Watson, Campaign Leader, Scothedge.

2, Ravelrig Road,Balerno,Edinburgh EH14 7DQ.

Tel 0131-449-3037 E-mail docwat@colwat.com

Pam & James McDougal, Scothedge Organisers.

Havana, 3, Teapot Lane, Inverkeilor, Angus DD11 5RP

Tel.01241-830-238 E-mail scothedge@fsmail.net

The change of political scenario in May 2007 ends the casual use of the party whip to destroy minority bills not having the power to threaten the Scottish Executive. Scottish campaigners seeking third party arbitration when facing neighbours, unwilling to provide remedy to an excessive hedge, tree or bush sometimes vindictively deployed to harm them, have been shown similar inconsideration by their own Parliament for seven years. Like the Flying Dutchman they now have the respite of a visit to port in the hope that they will not be cast off yet again into the eternal frustration of inescapable torment.

When the Scothedge Campaign started, progress was swift. In 2000 the Scottish Executive carried out a Public Consultancy and in January 2001, the Justice Minister, Jim Wallace accepted that legislation was appropriate. In May 2002 PE 497 supported High Hedge Legislation and the Scott Barrie Bill proposal was approved for lodging by MSPs immediately. It seemed that the Scottish Parliament would introduce legislation before the Westminster Parliament where a single MP had wrecked three Private Member’s Bills. But then everything froze. There was no Barrie Bill lodged and his Bill fell in 2004 when the Parliamentary Standing Orders dumped some 40 Member’s Bills and cleared the slate for mandatory consultancies. The Barrie consultancy was never seriously prepared. In 2005 hopes were raised when 20^th May was agreed with Barrie for a consultancy launch. Scothedge participated in supportive radio and press promotion and members made arrangements to travel from all over Scotland to support the launch. Ten days or so before the event, the Petitions Committee ended their involvement having talked to Scott Barrie and when Scothedge attempted to contact Barrie to make final arrangements a few days before the date, it was found that there would be no consultancy launch. The authorities had asked Barrie to “Tartanise” his documents despite them having been finalised in March 2005.

The problem was said to be minor and would be solved in around 10 days. By 2006 there was still no consultancy and frustrated MSPs announced “probing” amendments to the Planning Bill. on September 14^th 2006 the Communities Committee backed the Barrie initiative and whipped against the amendments in the December 2006 Third reading. Mysteriously Barrie launched his consultancy 24Hrs before the Planning Bill third reading. In the event 55 MSPs voted for the amendments against 56 whipped Labour and Lib.Dem MSPs.

By this time in the dying days of the Parliament there was no possibility of a Barrie Bill and in the event, the May 2007 election saw Barrie lose his West Dunfermline seat.

Throughout this miserable history, victims of inconsideration and abuse by unsuitable hedge, tree and bush deployments have grown very bitter and frustrated. Through no fault of their own they have had to personally attempt face down unreasonable and often indecent behaviour by a neighbour.

The above Scottish Daily Express article by Nick Brownlee is not unusual. Unless fair arbitration is made available to ensure fair outcome, neighbours will run the risk of insoluble dispute with no guidelines and no final resort solution.

Just why the Scottish Parliament made such a pig’s breakfast of this matter is hard to diagnose. Could it have been that when Barrie became Labour Chief Whip, his hands were tied ? Did the Executive simply utter mantra to give the impression that they were serious about this matter whilst actually blocking progress. Whatever the true scenario it has been the victims and campaigners who have paid a heavy price. But then again so has the Scottish Parliament. MSPs and the Executive have lost credibility.

The new Executive has to end this sorry history of promises failed and telling incompetence.

We ask our friends in the press and media to ask why our members have received no more consideration by their own Parliament than from a vindictive neighbour ?