Roadworks blocking drive - should we have been informed?

mikey72

I think the post may well be what happens when someones head had been banged into too many walls, by too many people.

photome

h.cowell wrote: »

Err, are you just trying to be argumentative?!

We are now parking a street away and walking - we often use our god-given legs

Thing is, we have a house with a drive and would like to use it!

Ignore him, he is always like that

I think they should have told you but it does seem that the Utility companies can do whatever they like

h.cowell

photome wrote: »

I think they should have told you but it does seem that the Utility companies can do whatever they like

Thanks

I'm very much getting the same impression about the Utility companies & roadworks. The law seems pretty vague.

In our area at least, the roads are starting to look very bad - I'm not sure how much more digging up/patching/resurfacing they can withstand! But I guess that's another thread

mikey72

I must admit, I thought they were obliged to give access, and to cover the holes up when they're not working.
So the steel plates laid down at night satisfy this, but they can remove them in the day if they are working.
They will usually put them back to get your car off the drive if you're a late riser, but aren't obliged to let you back on though.

h.cowell

Yes, i think they are probably doing all they can given the constraints of the road width, position of pipes etc. I could probably get the car back on the drive at the moment if I was prepared to take the risk, but the traffic's the problem (you wouldn't believe the impatience of some people - or maybe you would!). Strictly speaking they seem to be doing it all correctly.... I just wish they'd notified us beforehand! Oh well. I've learned a lot from this thread .

alastairq

In the past I have had to deal with problems of trenches cutting across my driveway....but have had nothing but sympathy and assistance from the contractors involved..

However.....I had discovered...in simple terms, something about 'obstructing access to or from one's property'...

namely...pedestrian access must not be obstructed....

vehicular access is different.....no-one must obstruct vehicular passage from/off a property....but there is no 'obstruction' if a vehicle cannot drive on to a property.

I suppose the thinking there is.....find somewhere else to park the vehicle for the moment.....

again, the latter did not happen to me.....at the time I lived very rural, and perhaps they thought I might return with a huoooooge tractor?

ROY47

vaio wrote: »

You normally find that traditionally the Electricity Board schedule cable replacement starting a couple of weeks after the gas board have finished.

If you are really luck you’ll get the “full house” and the water board will be along later to install new pipes too

that's normally because the gas board slightly damage the electric cable / water main and say nothing until it goes bang or leaks

h.cowell

alastairq wrote: »

namely...pedestrian access must not be obstructed....

vehicular access is different.....no-one must obstruct vehicular passage from/off a property....but there is no 'obstruction' if a vehicle cannot drive on to a property.

This explains a lot... when I came back to the house today there were barriers etc cluttering the pavement. But as soon as I appeared it was cleared up! Also, the men have been very helpful directing me off the property...

Oh, and I found the advert I referred to earlier - Heineken (not Carlsberg) - makes me grin
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6rFaoHf1lrI

masterlumps

h.cowell wrote: »

Err, are you just trying to be argumentative?!

We are now parking a street away and walking - we often use our god-given legs

Thing is, we have a house with a drive and would like to use it!

i get that you have a house with a drive and would liek to use it, what i dont understand is what difference it would have made if you had been given notice? surely the end result would be the same as the work had to be done so therefore your driveway blocked whilst work was in progress

alastairq

The difference is, if the householder needs to make any special arrangements whilst the work is in progress, and maybe creating the inconvenience?

Where road works impinge on a householder's enjoyment of their property, it is good policy for that householder to be kept in the loop.

Don't want to start digging, only for the householder to turn up booted 'n suited with lawyers and law suits....something the contractor doesn't want the hassle of dealing with?