High Hedges legislation allows the council to investigate and, where appropriate, intervene when complaints are made by residents whose enjoyment of their own property is affected by their neighbour’s trees or hedges.
As such, Ms Valerie Bridgeman, of 4 Kents Lane, Standon, has been fined £380 by Stevenage Magistrates’ Court and ordered to reduce the height of four Eastern Red Cedar trees on her property, whilst East Herts Council has been awarded their costs of £3306.59.
The court has ordered Ms Bridgeman to cut the trees down to 7.5 metres high by Saturday, 27 February 2026. She must then cut them further, reducing them to about 4 metres high by Saturday, 27 February 2027. She must then make sure the trees never grow taller than 4.5 metres.
Ms Bridgeman was initially served with a Remedial Notice on Sunday, 5 May 2024 after reasonable attempts were made by their neighbour to resolve the issue without the council’s involvement, with the four Eastern Red Cedars deemed to be restricting light into the complainant’s nearby property following a council investigation. Ms Bridgeman failed to reduce the height of the four trees within 12-months, ignoring the legal notice.
Although Ms. Bridgeman was not present at the hearing, the council made a successful application to prove the case in their absence.
Cllr Vicky Glover-Ward, Executive Member for Planning and Growth, said, “I am grateful to the court for reinforcing the High Hedges legislation with this decision. It is disappointing that Ms Bridgeman did not take the opportunity to resolve this case before it was taken to court, however this does evidence the very real financial consequences that can arise when statutory notices aren’t taken seriously, as well as the diligence of our planning enforcement team.”
“Although these decisions and processes can take some time to fully resolve, I am pleased to have arrived at a long‑term solution that puts the public interest first and protects people’s right to enjoy their homes.”
*Defendant: Ms Valerie Bridgeman
- Fine - £330
- Prosecution costs - £3306.79
- Total – £3606.79