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.

 

[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

 

[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?

 

[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!

 

[JonnyT]

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.

Certainly not! The reason I posted this thread was to gauge the opinion of other forum members on my experience earlier to see if my feelings were justified or entirely otherwise. It seems I may have over-reacted which I have already acknowledged in previous posts.

All I ask is such debate is reasonable and does not descend to the level of personal attacks or (sarcastic) comments about how I conduct myself in other aspects of my life

 

[JonnyT]

I do appologise, I'm being obnoxious tonight. I can see how annoying it is, as I have been in a similar position previously (one car and they had a garage and driveway to put it but insisted on parking it across their drive and ours) but realistically, they are being quite pleasant about it. I mean they could as suggested get it done properly and then the space is lost anyway.

You have to weight up whether a good relationship with your neighbour is more or less important than somewhere to park your car.

No problem, apology accepted . I guess I get a bit over-protective of my baby (car) sometimes (don't we all?).

Well the ground-swell of opinion in OcUK Motors has helped me see sense and of course I'm going to leave the situation well alone and be grateful for the fact that a) they usually allow parking across their driveway and b) they are being 'neighbourly' about it by leaving polite notices requesting that the drive be left clear on specific days, which in turn I will respect. God knows I've heard horror stories about other people's parking issues...

 

[JonnyT]

In the past, I have parked on my elderly neighbours drive as it gives them a little more security in that potential burglars might be dissuaded if they see the driveway being used by someone of my dap.

Maybe you could speak to your neighbour and do the same? Is it a case that you can park outside the gates mostly, but they ask you not to when they have visitors?

Good idea. Sadly my street suffers the beach towel/sun lounger type scenario but I do park there reasonably often. Who knows, it might even cause an outbreak of community spirit!