MSPs to cut through plans to beat nuisance hedges

SCOTTISH Government officials are to be quizzed on how much preparation work has been done for a new law to crack down on nuisance high hedges.

MSPs who have taken an interest in the issue are due to hold a meeting within the next few weeks with officials and SNP backbencher Mark McDonald, who has won Scottish Government support to pursue a member’s Bill on the issue.

Lothians Tory MSP David McLetchie said former community safety minister Fergus Ewing had promised last year that the government would bring forward a Bill on the issue “at the earliest opportunity” after the election, but it had not featured in the legislative programme unveiled last month.

He said: “Some of us will want to know from the civil servants how much work did they do in the year since we were promised by Fergus Ewing that this was full steam ahead.”