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ROCHDALE
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BOROUGH
COUNCIL
ECONOMY DIRECTORATE
PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT
Paul Moore BA (Hons) Dip URP MRTPI
Head of Planning Services
Number One Riverside, Smith Street,
Rochdale, OL16 1XU
Tel: (01706) 924305
Web: www.rochdale.gov.uk
Email:
development.management@rochdale.gov.uk
Enquiries to: Development Management
Dear Sir/Madam,
TOWN & COUNTRY PLANNING ACT
COMPLAINT - HIGH HEDGES
Use this form to submit a complaint to the Council about a high hedge, under Part 8 of the
Anti-social Behaviour Act 2003. It should be completed by the person making the complaint
or their representative. Before completing this form, please read the guidance notes sent
with it and the leaflet High hedges: complaining to the Council.
Please use BLOCK CAPITALS and black ink.
YOU MUST PAY A FEE WHEN YOU SEND IN THIS FORM. The current fee is £400.
The Council will rely on the information you provide so please make sure it is clear and
accurate.
1. Attempts to resolve the complaint
Please describe what you have done to try to settle this matter. Give dates and say what
the result was. Please provide copies of any letters that you mention. If you have not
tried all these steps, the Council might not proceed with your complaint.
1.1 Approached neighbour/hedge owner and asked to discuss problem
1.2 Asked neighbour/hedge owner to try mediation
1.3 Informed neighbour/hedge owner of intention to complain to Council
1.4 Anything else
2. Criteria for making a complaint about the hedge
2.1 Is the hedge – or the portion that is causing problems – made up of a line of 2 or
more trees or shrubs?
YES NO
2.2 Is it mostly evergreen or semi-evergreen?
YES NO
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2.3 Is it more than 2 metres above ground level?
YES NO
2.4 Even though there are gaps in the foliage or between the trees, is the hedge still
capable of obstructing light or views?
YES NO
2.5 Is it growing on land owned by someone else?
YES NO
Who can complain
2.6 Is the complainant the owner or occupier (e.g. tenant) of the property affected by
the hedge?
YES NO
Please delete whichever does NOT apply. Owner / Occupier
2.7 Is the property residential?
YES NO
If you have answered No’ to any of the questions in this section, the criteria have not
been met and so the Council cannot consider your complaint.
3. Grounds of complaint
Please describe the problems actually experienced as a result of the hedge being too tall,
and say how serious they are. It will save time and help your case if you stick to the facts
and provide all relevant information to back up the points you are making.
To help the Council understand your situation, please provide a photo of the hedge
and a plan or sketch of both the site where the hedge is growing and the property it is
affecting, with the hedge clearly marked on it.
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4. Previous complaints to the Council
4.1 Has a formal complaint been made to the Council before about this hedge?
YES NO
4.2 If you have ticked ‘Yes’, do you know the date and/or reference number of the
Council’s decision letter?
YES NO
4.3 What has changed since the Council last looked at this?
If nothing has altered, the Council might not proceed with your complaint.
5. Who’s who/The parties
5.1 Complainant’s contact details
Name……………………………………………………………………………………………………
Address…………………………………………………………………………………………………
City/Town……………………………………………………………………………………………….
County…………………………………………………………………………………………………..
Postcode………………………………………………………………………………………………..
Daytime Telephone No.……………………………………………………………………………….
Mobile Telephone No.…………………………………………………………………………………
Fax No.………………………………………………………………………………………………….
Email Address …………………………………………………………………………………………
Is the complainant content for us to contact them by email, at the address provided?
Yes No
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5.2 Address of the property affected by the hedge and name of the person living
there, if different to 5.1
Name……………………………………………………………………………………………………
Address…………………………………………………………………………………………………
City/Town……………………………………………………………………………………………….
County…………………………………………………………………………………………………..
Postcode……………………………………………………………………………………………….
Daytime Telephone No.……………………………………………………………………………….
Mobile Telephone No.…………………………………………………………………………………
Fax No.………………………………………………………………………………………………….
Email Address………………………………………………………………………………………….
Is the person named above content for us to contact them by email at the address
provided?
Yes No
5.3 Contact details of Agent or other person acting on behalf of the complainant (if
any).
Name……………………………………………………………………………………………………
Address…………………………………………………………………………………………………
City/Town……………………………………………………………………………………………….
County…………………………………………………………………………………………………..
Postcode………………………………………………………………………………………………..
Daytime Telephone No.……………………………………………………………………………….
Mobile Telephone No.…………………………………………………………………………………
Fax No. ………………………………………………………………………………………………
Email Address………………………………………………………………………………………….
Is the Agent, or other person named above, content for us to contact them by email
at the address provided?
Yes No
5.4 Address of the site where the hedge is growing and name of person living
there,if known.
Name
Name……………………………………………………………………………………………………
Address…………………………………………………………………………………………………
City/Town……………………………………………………………………………………………….
County…………………………………………………………………………………………………..
Postcode………………………………………………………………………………………………..
Daytime Telephone No. ………………………………………………………………………………
Mobile Telephone No. ………………………………………………………………………………..
Email Address………………………………………………………………………………………….
5.5 Name and address of the person who owns the property where the hedge is
situated, if different to 5.4 and if known.
Name…………………………………………………………………………….……….….
Address………………………………………………………………………………….……
City/Town…………………………………………………………………………….…….….
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County Postcode………………………………………………………………………….….
Daytime……………………………………………………………………………….…….….
Telephone No…………………………………………………………………………………
Mobile Telephone No……………………………………………………………………….
Email Address…………………………………………………………………………………
6. Supporting documents
6.1 Have you enclosed the following:
A photo of the hedge?
A location plan of the hedge and surrounding properties?
Copies of correspondence with your neighbour about the hedge?
Copies of any other documents that you mention?
(please list these separately)
7. Sending the complaint
7.1 I confirm that I have completed as much of this form as I can and that, to the best of
my knowledge, the information provided is accurate. (Tick) ……………………
7.2 I enclose the fee of £400. (Tick)…………………………………………………….
Name……………………………………………………………………………………
Date…………………………………………………………………………………….
7.3 POST THIS FORM AND ALL ENCLOSURES TO:
Development Management
Economy Directorate,
Number 1 Riverside,
Smith Street.
Rochdale MBC
OL16 1XU
Alternatively, you may email your form and all enclosures to:
development.management@rochdale.gov.uk
7.4. Please also send a copy of this form to all the people identified in Section 5
above.
Tick to show you have done this……………………………………………………..
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