Could you use mediation?

MEDIATION services are available through Dumfries and Galloway Council for neighbour disputes. However, there’s not a great take up and officials would like to see more people regionwide using the service. Discussing it at a recent committee, Cllr David Ingles said: “While there might not be a high hit rate for mediation, when it does work it’s really welcome.” Meanwhile, manager Martin Ogilvie told members that locally of 87 offers of mediation made, ‘sadly only ten were accepted’. He added: “But when we do get people round together, generally we have a successful outcome.” Explaining more, he said: “Often these issues that spiral out of control start with pretty low level problems that neighbours sit on for years. They get frustrated but often the source is pretty straightforward and if that can be nipped in the bud, avoiding civil action or spilling over into more overt anti social behaviour, then we’ll take the win.”