dropped curb over verge?

Ginger-Menace · 26 Mar 2019 at 11:55

We have just moved in to a new home.
It has a drive way with a dropped curb that goes over the grass verge.

Who is responsible for the bit going over the verge and to our boundary?

I ask as we would like to lower and widen this bit so it is more flat.

Would we have to go to the council? or just crack on with the works?

I know you have to apply for a dropped curb but unsure what the process is when one is already installed.

See the attached images.

GM

jellybeard999 · 26 Mar 2019 at 12:23

I suspect it's the council. If it was added after the house, it would probably have been done by an approved contractor, in line with highway regulations/standards, so I doubt you'll be able to alter levels etc, as it is a highway/footpath and can't have eg steps or excessive undulations.

Ginger-Menace · 26 Mar 2019 at 12:35

here is a rough plan of what im on about.
The black line is the current drive over the verge. we are thinking to flatten it as the red line.

There is a very noticable hump and can be quite annoying when reversing on to the drive.

How much hassle do you think i will have from local authority to do this?

NoobCannon · 26 Mar 2019 at 12:36

Guessing you want to do this to stop people parkin so close to your driveway?

You would have to ask the council for if you
Could get 2 dropped kerbs installed but i doubt you own that piece of verge either side so unsure how that would go

Edit i failed at reading. Would still suggest that the council would own the verge there so would have to pose the question to them.

jellybeard999 · 26 Mar 2019 at 12:40

Ginger-Menace said:
here is a rough plan of what im on about.
The black line is the current drive over the verge. we are thinking to flatten it as the red line.

There is a very noticable hump and can be quite annoying when reversing on to the drive.

How much hassle do you think i will have from local authority to do this?

But is the hump the same as the grass either side? It might create a trip hazard if it drops down over the proposed new level? I'm only guessing the reasons as to why it might be like this - I'd speak to whoever is the contact for dropped kerbs and see what they think / get someone to inspect, as i guess it will be down to local policies, as well as legislation.

https://www.sheffield.gov.uk/home/parking/request-dropped-kerb

For clarity - the path etc is all still owned by the council, they just agreed to have someone alter it, in line with their policies and legislation, to allow you to access your driveway.

Ginger-Menace · 26 Mar 2019 at 12:43

That makes sense. will get on the phone, see how long it takes to get some one with some sense!

SeatIbiza · 26 Mar 2019 at 13:04

I can check for you on Land Registry, but it is 99% likely to be the council highways department.

Not sure, but looks ex-council? So there may be something in your deeds relating to this access over highway property to your land. It could get complicated (i.e. expensive) to modify that.

That being said, not sure I'd risk doing it myself without asking...

Ginger-Menace · 26 Mar 2019 at 13:22

It is ex-council, wouldn't do it myself would always to it the proper way. Just wasn't sure if it is already there if i would need permission or not. Got the council to ring me back, see what they say.....

andicole0 · 26 Mar 2019 at 13:23

You should have had a plan from your solicitor when you bought the property if you rent then the landlord should know. Land registry should have the plans but may cost you a few pounds to download.
If you don't have access to the land between your house and the road you could be land locked and potentially not allowed to cross that land.
Andi.

Skiddley · 26 Mar 2019 at 13:57

100% Council Highways.

Six6siX · 26 Mar 2019 at 15:05

Yup, definitely council highways, just contact them and ask for a quote for what you want and if it's permitted, they will arrange it all. Had ours widened from a single width to double width over a grass verge and the gradient smoothed - cost about 3k iirc. Think the max width might vary from council to council but not sure.

Steampunk · 26 Mar 2019 at 16:25

Six6siX said:
Yup, definitely council highways, just contact them and ask for a quote for what you want and if it's permitted, they will arrange it all. Had ours widened from a single width to double width over a grass verge and the gradient smoothed - cost about 3k iirc. Think the max width might vary from council to council but not sure.

It varies a lot. My council did our single width to three times as wide (also across a verge) and it cost £850-ish. If your drive is really old and knackered, they might take the price of the existing width off as it would come under maintenance (that's what they did for ours).

Some councils allow you to hire your own company to do it for you, but they have to be approved and have a lot of public liability insurance.