Drop Kerb Neighbour Dilemma

[JonnyT]

Got a dilemma with a neighbour across the street regarding use of their driveway. Basically they have a gated driveway but no dropped kerb entrance to it. They themselves have not got a car but they do have visitors reasonably often, & when that happens they put a note on their gate notifying people parking on the street that the drive is in use on these x days.

The street I live on is fairly densely populated, being a long street of terraced houses, especially with a lot of said houses being home (like mine) to several car-owning occupants. Parking is certainly at a premium in the evenings at weekends. They haven't had visitors too often but in the past two weeks this has happended twice, both for two days at a time.

Now, I was under the impression that use of a driveway without a dropped kerb in place was illegal? I've read some stuff on other local authority websites stating that the construction of the kerb and pavement itself is stronger to bear the weight of a car & other such vehicles.

Should I shop them to the local authority? The only downside to this would be that the street permanently loses a parking space rather than for a couple of days every so often.

 

[Wicksta]

I'm not sure what you're trying to gain here?

 

[SB118]

I don't think it's illegal, but it has no legal power. IE, you can't obstruct their driveway if you park in front of it as it's not a "legit" driveway. Whereas if there was a dropped kerb, they have a right of access to the highway.

 

[Dr Who]

Crossing an undropped kerb and driving accross the pavement is regarded as "driving on the pavement" and is illegal.

I was informed of such by a plod who decided to have me for doing just that on my motorcycle.

 

[Deleted member 66701]

I'd phone the council - one of the reasons for having to apply for a dropped kerb is they then check for underlying pipes etc that may be close to the surface and damaged when driving over them.

You don't want a cracked waterpipe when the neighbours go over their pavement in thier 4x4 do you?

 

[Vanilla]

I say leave them be. Sounds like they know about it and it quite nice that they put up a note on the few days they'd like it if people didn't park in front of the drive.

Remember it's often down to money - you have to get the council builders to drop a kerb and it's often a small fortune.

 

[miniyazz]

I say leave them be. Sounds like they know about it and it quite nice that they put up a note on the few days they'd like it if people didn't park in front of the drive.

Remember it's often down to money - you have to get the council builders to drop a kerb and it's often a small fortune.

 

[mejinks]

I bet living around you is lots of fun.

It is a bit of a grey area as RTA 1988 sects 2 & 3 as amended by RTA 1991 says:

145
You MUST NOT drive on or over a pavement, footpath or bridleway except to gain lawful access to property, or in the case of an emergency.

It does not mention needing a dropped curb, however, under section 184 of the Highways Act 1980 if you want to construct a vehicular access (also called a 'dropped crossing') to your property across a public footway and or verge then you need permission from the Highway Authority to do so. It is against the law for a vehicle to cross a footway other than via a properly constructed crossing.

Anyway, there needs to be a dropped curb installed before they can use their driveway legally.

Why can't you find somewhere else to park? Its not your god given right to park outside your home, especially when you have more than one car, thats just selfish.

 

[JonnyT]

I bet living around you is lots of fun.

It is a bit of a grey area as RTA 1988 sects 2 & 3 as amended by RTA 1991 says:

145
You MUST NOT drive on or over a pavement, footpath or bridleway except to gain lawful access to property, or in the case of an emergency.

It does not mention needing a dropped curb, however, under section 184 of the Highways Act 1980 if you want to construct a vehicular access (also called a 'dropped crossing') to your property across a public footway and or verge then you need permission from the Highway Authority to do so. It is against the law for a vehicle to cross a footway other than via a properly constructed crossing.

Anyway, there needs to be a dropped curb installed before they can use their driveway legally.

Why can't you find somewhere else to park? Its not your god given right to park outside your home, especially when you have more than one car, thats just selfish.

Put your keyboard away . I acknowledge that it is not my 'god given' right to park outside my property, but as I stated in my original post parking is very much at a premium down my street - especially at weekends - and for what it's worth I own only one car - the others are those of my housemates as I live in a shared house, as is the case with numerous houses down my street. Ultimately, there is a certain amount of resentment involved in being deprived of a legitimate parking space illegally because someone's too tight to pay for the proper access to their property.

As it happens, I am mostly inclined to let sleeping dogs lie, as recommended by Vanilla and miniyazz, but I thought I'd see what the (mostly) respectable community of OcUK's Motors forum's opinion was. And yes I am fun to be around thanks

 

[lambda]

Got a dilemma with a neighbour across the street regarding use of their driveway. Basically they have a gated driveway but no dropped kerb entrance to it. They themselves have not got a car but they do have visitors reasonably often, & when that happens they put a note on their gate notifying people parking on the street that the drive is in use on these x days.

The street I live on is fairly densely populated, being a long street of terraced houses, especially with a lot of said houses being home (like mine) to several car-owning occupants. Parking is certainly at a premium in the evenings at weekends. They haven't had visitors too often but in the past two weeks this has happended twice, both for two days at a time.

Now, I was under the impression that use of a driveway without a dropped kerb in place was illegal? I've read some stuff on other local authority websites stating that the construction of the kerb and pavement itself is stronger to bear the weight of a car & other such vehicles.

Should I shop them to the local authority? The only downside to this would be that the street permanently loses a parking space rather than for a couple of days every so often.

.....

 

[mejinks]

Put your keyboard away . I acknowledge that it is not my 'god given' right to park outside my property, but as I stated in my original post parking is very much at a premium down my street - especially at weekends - and there is a certain amount of resentment involved in being deprived of a legitimate parking space illegally because someone's too tight to pay for the proper access to their property.

As it happens, I am mostly inclined to let sleeping dogs lie, as recommended by Vanilla and miniyazz, but I thought I'd see what the (mostly) respectable community of OcUK's Motors forum's opinion was. And yes I am fun to be around thanks

I can't its part of my laptop. Unlike you, I would also tell you the same to your face. So what if parking is a premium. Just because there isn't a lot of space, does it give you a right to park on the street?

Who is resentful? Only you, which is why you have to post on the internet for validation.

 

[JonnyT]

Last time I checked this was a forum and by definition I was under the impression that these were the place for reasoned (and reasonable!) debate and opinion no?

 

[Wicksta]

I think it's a bit selfish considering they have no car yet you have multiple cars in your household.

Living in a community requires a bit of give and take.

 

[Gaijin]

You sound like an absolute ****. I can only cross my fingers and hope I never move next to a ***** like you.

Whilst crossing your fingers, you should probably take some time to read the FAQ which will educate you that swearing and making personal attacks on here will make your stay a short one

 

[mejinks]

Last time I checked this was a forum and by definition I was under the impression that these were the place for reasoned (and reasonable!) debate and opinion no?

Yes this is a forum and they are places for reasoned debate. How very astute of you.

Are you suggesting that if someone doesn't agree with you, they are wrong? Sounds like it.

 

[stockhausen]

Whilst crossing your fingers, you should probably take some time to read the FAQ which will educate you that swearing and making personal attacks on here will make your stay a short one

Sage advice oh wise one. Would you care to express a polite, impersonal, not insulting view on the original question?

For my part, I know that there are busybody curtain-twitchers who will spend their entire lives measuring how far you have parked from the edge of the pavement or end of the road, tutting over the state of your hedge, checking what you have put in each of your bins and generally keeping an eye on you; I would happily not have such a creepy individual living near me.

 

[miniyazz]

You sound like an absolute ****. I can only cross my fingers and hope I never move next to a ***** like you.

Obvious troll is obvious.

 

[JonnyT]

I think it's a bit selfish considering they have no car yet you have multiple cars in your household.

Living in a community requires a bit of give and take.

Point taken and acknowledged . Hence why I'm leaning towares the laissez faire approach. Plus it would permanently deprive the street of a parking spot, rather than just occasionally.

I guess I just had a fit of pique this evening and came over all "but it's illegall!!!11oneone' this eve when squeezing my car into a space!

 

[Tinders]

Now, I was under the impression that use of a driveway without a dropped kerb in place was illegal? I've read some stuff on other local authority websites stating that the construction of the kerb and pavement itself is stronger to bear the weight of a car & other such vehicles.

.

In my experience all they do is to come and drop the curb and thats it, then they charge you a stupid amount of money to do it, close to £500 in Dudley for 2.5 kerb stones.

 

[mejinks]

Obvious troll is obvious.

Well he does disagree with the op. Therefore he is a troll? Also, you probably don't want to quote his swearing otherwise you might find you get a holiday too.