Dropped kerbs

ic

Why you need to check with the council first: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/7251333.stm

dick_turpin

Check with your local highways authority. Rules vary between different Councils but anyone working on a public highway must be accredeted to do so. Digging into the adopted street without consent is a criminal offence and may lead to prosecution. Also you could have a Notice served on you making it difficult to sell your property at a later date. All of these problems are so easily avoided by talking to the Council

DC

adandem

I asked our LA sometime ago if I could get my own contractor to do the work, with their permission, they said I could but needed to make sure that they were fully covered for public liability.
Personally, I wouldn't be happy if all my neighbours were getting any tom , !!!!!! or harry to dig up the pavement, it could end up looking a complete mess.

dander

I'm having one done at the moment. My local council (herts) don't allow you to get any other contractor to do it, it has to be done by the council. They charge £85 to come round and survey the place you want it dropped. If they decide it's ok, they'll send you a quote for doing the work, which will include £140 admin costs!!!

Obviously final costs can be hugely variable depending on depth of pavement, moving of street furniture or utilities etc, but mine has come in at around £1k altogether, which is more than it cost me to build the drive!

adandem

dander wrote: »

Obviously final costs can be hugely variable depending on depth of pavement, moving of street furniture or utilities etc, around £1k altogether, !

There is a loophole if there's a lamp post in front of your property, get the kerb dropped first and they have to move the lamp post at no cost to you as it's blocking your access. This happened to us at our last propery and saved us a fortune.

Sponge

adaze wrote: »

Its not just the kerbs that you are paying for, you are also paying for the strengthening of the footway to be able to take vehicles.

That would go some way towards explaining the cost of getting a dropped kerb, but it's not always true. My mother in law paid the best part of £500 to get a dropped kerb and the council did nothing to reinforce the pavement. :rolleyes:

CleoTheCat_2

adandem wrote: »

There is a loophole if there's a lamp post in front of your property, get the kerb dropped first and they have to move the lamp post at no cost to you as it's blocking your access. This happened to us at our last propery and saved us a fortune.

this is not true - If there is a lighting column within the width of the dropped kerb area, then you will be expected to pay for its relocation - assuming that there is somewhere suitable to move it to. I guess you were very lucky adandem!
CtC