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HEDGELINE HISTORY :
On March 1st 1998 Michael Jones, from Birmingham, and a small group of less than 200 people formed the Hedgeline organisation as a vehicle to lobby for legislation to control high hedge problems, where one neighbour plants a fast growing shrub such a Cypress Leylandii
The founding member became famous after a five year court case legal battle with his neighbour was accorded much media attention. Some 200 people contacted Michael as a result of the exposure. Some of the original supporters with key skills helped Michael to set up Hedgeline and gave their time free of charge to this worthwhile enterprise, their contributions are listed below.
Michael Jones thus triggered the formation of the group. He was the winner of the famous Stanton v.Jones 5 court case, which cost over one hundred thousand pounds. He won the case on a technical point relating to the covenants applying to his land.
Michael Jones - Founder Member
FIVE KEY MEMBERS :
Max Ayriss, (Nuneaton) - Membership database and the strategies for building our regional network.
Dennis Harris, (Dudley) - Public relations with both Local Council and Local Newspaper.
Clare Hinchliffe, (Birmingham) - Legal drafting of the campaign's concepts, publications and website development. Later on she became the campaign manager.
Derek Glew, (Bristol) - Technical adviser.
Typical nuisance Leylandii - 30ft high
Objectives
Primary Aim: The legislative control of problem hedges.
In addition:
1 - To bring about further changes in public attitudes towards
the growers of problem hedges. 2 - To provide 'fellowship in adversity' for all Hedgeline members: sympathy and a listening ear to any hedge victim and informed support for those resolved on actively confronting their problem.
Please note, the Hedgeline group is not specifically against the Leyland Cypress, or against harmless high hedges in suitable places. We are against all problem hedges, regardless of the plant species involved.
Please also note that the operators of this site are in no way connected
with the Hedgeline organisation. We are however, following
progress of the new legislation and hope to be able to report successes
and failures of the system, as new caselaw is made. Our concern is
that with Council's in the loop, favours and the like will be introduced
in the equation as with the planning system.
Nuisance hedge neighbour
Why Join Hedgeline ? Tel.
0870 24 00 627 or contact Max
to join them (Include the word 'Hedgeline' in the
title of your email, write your name address and postcode in your
email message, and you should be sent a welcome pack. You could also
usefully include your telephone number).
Please note that if you are no longer useful to the organisers of Hedgeline, they may advertise your details in such fashion as to seek to embarrass you, or accuse you of imitating them, when in fact you may simply be reporting the facts to a wider audience. In this event you are likely to receive numerous unsigned emails from person claiming to represent the Hedgline organisation, but refusing to identify the sender. As Hedgeline is neither a company, charity or other bona fide organisation with a written constitution, it will be difficult for you to seek legal redress under the law.
You may of course lobby your MP independently, as some of our group have chosen to do.
Hedgeline Contacts
Ring local Area Organiser, Regional Contacts.
Media and MP's For the campaign, the Current political situation and details of the Hedge-Hedges Bill: Tel 0121 449 8330: Fax. 0121 449 2664, or email: Clare Hinchcliffe
R.I.P. Leylandii Monday, 9 December, 2002
LEYLANDII,
the fast-growing conifer which has been at the root of bitter
neighbourhood disputes, has been cut down to size.
Unlimited height hedges
While
chainsaws and secateurs have taken their toll, the fatal blow has been
dealt by a bill set to make its way into law. Local councils could soon
be granted new powers in dealing with the so-called curse of the
Leylandii.
Few,
bar those who value their privacy, will mourn Leylandii's passing, for
it has variously been branded a menace and a grotesque green
giant. Few would have foreseen such a notorious adulthood in the
tree's early years; it was always somewhat precocious but trouble came
from the remarkable speed at which it grew - up to a metre a year.
Ever controversial, Leylandii was blamed for sucking the goodness from soil, plunging gardens into shadow, and turning good neighbours into the worst of enemies. Councils received hundreds of complaints from people saying their views and light have been blocked by the trees. Some disputes have even escalated into protracted court battles.
Surprise
offspring
For
those familiar with just such a "hedge from hell", it will
come as no surprise that the conifer is not a naturally occurring plant.
Opponents lobbying
Cupressocyparis
Leylandii was born in south Wales in 1888, the unplanned offspring of
Monterey Cypress and Alaskan Cedar. The proud parents had long
since given hope of producing any progeny, as attempts to interbreed
conifers rarely succeed.
But a success it was, and the hardy, fast-growing Leylandii was soon adopted by homeowners in need of windbreaks, sight-screens and property boundaries. However the very qualities that made it ideal for such tasks ultimately led to its demise. The death has been engineered by the Labour backbencher Stephen Pound, whose High Hedges Bill will be introduced to Parliament this week. If it becomes law, a special force of hedge-busters are to be set loose on any Leylandii that top two metres in height. No flowers.
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