Dropped kerb and property access

[BaJ]

How do,

I live in a traditional terraced house with your usual on-street parking affair going on outside the front. However all the houses have a small front garden/area that some in the street use as parking, with a dropped kerb to allow access.

Last year I applied to the local council to grant permission to install a dropped kerb outside my property, however, it was turned down as the garden area was deemed smaller than the minimum required size for off-road parking.

I now own a fairly small car (Mini Cooper-S) which would fit on the front area without protruding on to the pavement area or anyone else's property boundary. This is not the case however for those neighbours with dropped kerbs already, there's a Zafira a few doors up that overhangs by about a foot at least.

I want my dropped kerb damn it! Does anyone have any experience of the best way/angle to go about this?

1) Try to appeal in some way? Point out that neighbours have similar installations that even block some of the pavement when cars are parked on - however I don't really want to snitch them in as such. Could I say I was going to park a couple of motorbikes on it or something?

2) Get some local contractor to install a dropped kerb without council permission. Could end badly?

Any ideas or experiences?

 

[ubersonic]

Unless you live in some kind of conservation area you don't need the councils permisson to drop the kerb you just need to notify them and ensure you have it done to building regulations, gimmie a sec ill find the info for you.

*EDIT*

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/HomeAnd...StreetsParkingCleaningAndLighting/DG_10026223

 

[BaJ]

I was reading the same page earlier, but it states towards the top:

"Approval is also required for the work to install the dropped kerb from the relevant highways authority (usually the county council)."

So I think I do unfortunately!

 

[ubersonic]

From what I remember (did this 2 years ago) they don't have to approve you having it done, they have to approve the work has been done to sufficient standards, iirc what we did was to contact the council and inform them we would be dropping the kerb to our property as per our rights and could they recommend a council approved builder to undertake the work, the council were very happy with this and it was pretty cheap.

 

[BaJ]

Interesting point actually, thanks. That page contradicts itself mind and is a bit vague and confusing. Towards the bottom it states:

Your council has the power to close or remove a vehicle crossing or dropped kerb if it has been installed without permission.

But then right below:

The crossing or kerb must:

• be certified if it is built over a public footpath
• be strong enough to take the weight of the vehicle
• not create a hazard for pedestrians and other footpath and road users

It won't create a hazard and I'm sure it can be made strong enough, so that just leaves the certification, which it gives no details for. But if it passed that then it's game on surely.

Hmmm, confusing.

 

[Delboy]

Sometimes it's better to beg for forgiveness than to ask for permission.

 

[waso_dude]

Do what i've seen around here, bit of 2"x2" next to the curb, works the same

But on getting it done, hassle them, we had to when we went from a 1 car drive to 3car.

 

[Skeeter]

Can you not build some small ramps and not worry about the curb? Its what my parents did as they turned the end of the garden into a drive but the pavement curved and it was just easier to use some ramps that faff about dropping the curb.

 

[Maccapacca]

Don't use neighbours wrongs to justify your application, re-apply or appeal the decision, a one car drive does not reduce on road parking as the drop kerb takes up one space, if you could fit more than one you'll get a better response.

 

[ubersonic]

Can you not build some small ramps and not worry about the curb? Its what my parents did as they turned the end of the garden into a drive but the pavement curved and it was just easier to use some ramps that faff about dropping the curb.

You can, however if the kerb isn't dropped its an offence to drive over the pavement and if seen by a copper in a bad mood he could end up with points/fine. Also if its not dropped it isn't legally a drive so anybody can park in front of it and the is nothing you can do (except politely ask them to move ofc).

 

[BaJ]

Sometimes it's better to beg for forgiveness than to ask for permission.

I like your style

Don't use neighbours wrongs to justify your application, re-apply or appeal the decision, a one car drive does not reduce on road parking as the drop kerb takes up one space, if you could fit more than one you'll get a better response.

Yeah I was unsure about pointing out the wrongs of others, I don't want to be the street snitch. No chance of fitting two cars on there though and if i do re-apply the circumstances haven't changed so surely it would get refused on size grounds again.

Also if its not dropped it isn't legally a drive so anybody can park in front of it and the is nothing you can do (except politely ask them to move ofc).

This brings me on to another point. Those with dropped kerbs have a white line painted in front, what's the deal with this? I've got some Dulux gloss in the shed somewhere...

 

[MrMoonX]

councils have been known to put in posts to stop people using their unauthorised vehicle accesses so tread careful