Mediation is often used to resolve disputes between neighbours to prevent the dispute escalating but will only be successful if both parties are willing to take part. We will contact a local mediation service to make contact with both parties to discuss the situation and organise a 'face to face' meeting.

Below is some useful information on mediation:

• Mediators are impartial and help people communicate with one another. They will encourage people to tell your side of the story - being listened to can make you feel supported. It allows you to admit how upset you are - many people cope with conflict by pretending they do not care.
• Mediators help people identify their needs, clarify issues, explore solutions and negotiate their own agreement.
• It allows people to be heard. In many cases, a simple apology from either or both sides is all that is required to put the situation right.
• It is an empowering process that encourages people to put forward their own suggestions and ideas.
• It is less intimidating than legal procedures, and people represent themselves rather than having someone speak for them.
• It provides solutions that the parties themselves have decided on, giving them all a sense of ownership of any agreement. As a result, agreements reached in this way last much better than solutions handed down by courts or an arbitrator.
• The process is confidential and no report of any discussions will be reported to us.
• The mediation will tell us if an agreement has been reached or not.
• We will pay for mediation