How to get a fire hydrant sign moved?

GSDog

Hi all.

I would like to widen my driveway for several reasons but I can't do this because in front of the wall which I'd like to remove there is one of those yellow fire hydrant signs shown in the pictures below.

Who do I need to contact to have the sign moved?

It's located on a private road if that makes any difference. I've asked my local building control officer on the planning department and he's said I'd need to contact my local fire officer but I don't know who that is or how I contact him.

Here are the pictures of the driveway with the wall and hydrant sign:






Any help would be appreciated.

Dippypud

Are YOU responsible for the wall behind the Hydrant sign? Is it marked on your deeds?

You Do know that the whitish metal cover in the grass infront of the sign is a Hydrant cover, don't you?

slbhill

Fire officer can usually be contacted through your local fire station, or Fire Brigade HQ - check yell.com for your town. But as Dippypud points out, it's not just a sign, it's the hydrant itself (where they plug in their hoses if fighting a fire). I'm no great expert but I think the cost of moving that (if they will even consider it) would be a teensy bit more than just widening your drive. :eek:

From the pic it looks like you could widen the bit of the drive you park on without widening the gate if necessary - not as convenient, but do-able. We did something similar when we found extending the dropped kerb outside our house was going to cost ~£1k.

GSDog

Dippypud wrote: »

Are YOU responsible for the wall behind the Hydrant sign? Is it marked on your deeds?

Yes.

Dippypud wrote: »

You Do know that the whitish metal cover in the grass infront of the sign is a Hydrant cover, don't you?

Yes, and that would stay where it is. Although I would definitely be seeking advice from the fire service about it being there because it obviously can't be covered.

I'm not really sure how to go about doing this and whether it will even be possible? The problem is that the driveway entrance to the property is very narrow and just the other day a delivery lorry somehow managed to get stuck on the black post next to the wall. We've had a few people hit the wall itself as well as there's very little turning space at the end of the private road. I would like to remove the wall and hydrant sign to allow another parking space on my drive and easier access to the property which would benefit everyone. In fact it's what everyone else in the road has already done.

muckybutt

As stated google your local fire service hq and contact their office, I would imagine there will be a charge to you involved as they will have to alter the sign - not just move it !

The numbers on the sign relate to the distance from the hydrant and the size of supply pipe so the distance part will have to be altered.

But if ya dont ask you wont get.

Dippypud

I don't think the small triangle of land that the hydrant cover is on belongs to you.

I think it may be Public Highway, and as such you would need to contact both the Fire Brigade Station or HQ and also the Local Authority Highways Dept, if they deal with hydrants, or even your local water company.

GSDog

Dippypud wrote: »

I don't think the small triangle of land that the hydrant cover is on belongs to you.

I think it may be Public Highway, and as such you would need to contact both the Fire Brigade Station or HQ and also the Local Authority Highways Dept, if they deal with hydrants, or even your local water company.

That's something else I'll need to sort out. I don't think it does belong to me but I do know the entire road is privately owned. I don't know how to find out who owns it though.

Dippypud

GSDog wrote: »

That's something else I'll need to sort out. I don't think it does belong to me but I do know the entire road is privately owned. I don't know how to find out who owns it though.

There's 'privately owned' and 'unadopted', I don't know the difference but someone on here will.;)

muckybutt

GSDog wrote: »

That's something else I'll need to sort out. I don't think it does belong to me but I do know the entire road is privately owned. I don't know how to find out who owns it though.

Land registry, you can do an online search http://www.landregistry.co.uk/

GSDog

Dippypud wrote: »

There's 'privately owned' and 'unadopted', I don't know the difference but someone on here will.;)

Thanks.

I just managed to find a letter from my solicitor regarding this matter which may shed some more light.

I have received the local authority search which confirms that this part of **** road is not adopted and therefore is not maintained at public expense. Whilst the 1938 conveyance referred to on the title grants a right of way over the road to it's junction with the main part of **** road which is adopted there is a covenant in the conveyance by the then seller that she will make up and maintain the roadway until its adoption by the Highway Authority. Unfortunately, given the age of the conveyance it is doubtful whether this covenant can be enforced given the difficulty in tracing the sellers successors in title.
You should be aware in any event that as this part of the road is not adopted you may be called upon in the future to contribute towards the maintenance of the road together with the owners of the other properties fronting the road.

So I'm guessing that means it's unadopted? If that's the case then who do I need to ask for permission to widen my driveway and remove the grass verge? :think:

ormus

cant you just widen the drive upto the hydrant plate?
if need be, then move the sign 6 - 12 inches to the left. im sure no one will ever discover its been moved. by you.