PROPOSED SOLUTIONS TO PROBLEMS RESULTING FROM HIGH HEDGES IN URBAN AND RURAL AREAS:     Legislation to give Local Government the power to regulate hedge heights and nuisance hedges. This legislation could be along the same lines as the UK High Hedges Act. (http://www.opsi.gov.uk/acts/acts2003/ukpga_20030038_en_9#pt8) Such legislation would enable an independent authority (local councils) to find a balance between competing neigbours needs for privacy and solar access/views by requiring the hedge owner keep the hedge limited to a certain height. Such legislation could also include Development Control Plans that seek to protect rural views and vistas. Such planning powers would enable local government to limit extensive hedge plantings that eliminate public vistas in rural areas. Legislation to give property owners whose light and views are severely affected recourse to justice.This could be accomplished by modification of the Trees (Dispute Between Neighbours) Act 2006 to take into account severe loss of light and views. (As recommended in the Law Reform Commission report no. 88 Neighbour and Neighbour Relations)  This Act gives property owners recourse to justice when a tree on a nieghbouring property causes damage. The Act iis due to be reviewed in February 2009. Such a modification would enable an independent authority (in this case the Land and Environment Court) to assess whether the trees in question severely affect light and views. The Court could then issue an order requiring either the removal or trimming of the hedge according to solar access/view requirements. Education of property owners and the general public as to appropriate conduct with hedges. This could be accomplished via brochures, council websites etc. on proper conduct with hedges such as making sure your hedge is not a nuisance to anyone else by trimming the hedge regularly, both its top and all sides. This has been accomplished in the UK via a booklet issued by the Office of the Prime Minister entitled “Over the garden hedge”. The use of alternative plants for windbreaks and privacy. Native vegetation can be a far more effective windbreak than a dense hedge. Other hedges than the Leighotn Green Cypress can be used to provide privacy as long as they are kept to a decent height! Keeping hedges trimmed to reasonable heights! If only people would consider their neighbours by keeping their hedges trimmed to reasonable heights  no legislation would be needed!