BT Manhole PO box and dropped kerb

whiskywhisky

Hi All

I am exploring the option to have a dropped kerb, and the only place this can be done also currently has the water meter cover and large BT PO manhole (approx size = 60cm x 250cm).

I contacted BT Open Reach for more info and the only response has been to pay £200 for a survey. I could not even get a response like whether there is a workaround like having stronger man hole covers or moving the whole underneath bit to another part of the pavement or whether they will not even consider doing the work.

This may be a "how long is a piece of string" like question, but anyone had this done or know of anyone? If BT Open Reach will put stronger man hole covers or move it, anyone know the approx costs?

I am asking as I do not want to pay the £200 and be told that they will not do it or it will cost £10k and either way I will adandon my driveway plans.

Thanks

Kiran

Openreach have 3 different types of cover, a light duty footway cover, a medium duty vehicle cover which is meant for driveways/parking spaces (looks exactly the same from above) and a heavy duty vehicle cover for roadways which look like metal manhole covers.

The issue you will have is that the depths of the ducts and also the water stopcock may be left with insufficient cover if the tarmac around them is ramped down. Another thing to keep in mind is hidden services, despite having depths at which their services should be installed stats companies (especially street lighting) will put them in as shallow as possible to save on cost.

Someone with a NRSWA (which is street works) qualification will need to do the job and it will have to be approved by the council.

It's not impossible to do but I would suggest you speak to the local highways department who will come out and discuss/have a look with you and their visit is not chargable. Once they have advised you, you will be in a more informed position to speak to openreach

whiskywhisky

Kiran - thanks great help!

Just on the local highways department, so I just ring them and inform of my situation and they will visit for free and advise? Sorry if this is a silly question but I was under the impression that nothing is free in this world

Regarding the water meter, I guess I will today contact them. With the depth of the stopcock etc, I am hoping this may be ok as it is located to the very top left (looking from road) of the where I am hoping to have the dropped kerb. Therefore this level should not need to be lowered much.

Thanks

DUTR

Kiran wrote: »

Openreach have 3 different types of cover, a light duty footway cover, a medium duty vehicle cover which is meant for driveways/parking spaces (looks exactly the same from above) and a heavy duty vehicle cover for roadways which look like metal manhole covers.

The issue you will have is that the depths of the ducts and also the water stopcock may be left with insufficient cover if the tarmac around them is ramped down. Another thing to keep in mind is hidden services, despite having depths at which their services should be installed stats companies (especially street lighting) will put them in as shallow as possible to save on cost.

Someone with a NRSWA (which is street works) qualification will need to do the job and it will have to be approved by the council.

It's not impossible to do but I would suggest you speak to the local highways department who will come out and discuss/have a look with you and their visit is not chargable. Once they have advised you, you will be in a more informed position to speak to openreach

The OR planners would be qualified and the planning fee would cover all the OP requires , somewhere along the dropkerb fee the planning cost and council liason would be included in the cost.

System

For the manhole the only option is a stronger cover. To move it would mean replacing all the cables that go through it to allow for the joints to be moved to the new location which would be horrendously expensive and mean loss of phone to a large number of people for a few days.

maybe_tomorrow_2

BT have a set fee for a survey inspeciton before they will issue a cost for network alteration, so yes you will have to pay them the initial fee they have requested. It is unlikely your LA will pay for any of this.

BT have a range of access covers classes complying with BS EN 124, the class depends on the vehicle load and speed imposed on it. Check the cover for the BSI kitemark and BS EN 124 grade and see.

However, I disagree with the requirement for a stronger cover unless you are moving the manhole from the footway into the road. Openreach will check the depth of the manhole and whats inside (e.g. fibre optics?) and check the minimum covers can be acheieved with you building a drop kerb. See NJUG publications or reccomended depths of utilities.

Until uyou left the cover and find out whats in there and at what depth It is a "how long is a piece of string" cost in my opinion.

Also be warned, modifications to adopted highway, assuming your footway is adopted, may require a section 278 highway agreement. Given the scale of your works this is probably unlikely but the LA will advise on this. There will be fees assoiated with this also.

As mentioned above there may be other utilities in the footway, likely gas and electric and other telecoms. You can do a search to find out what is in the footway. Some companies offer plans for free alternatively you can use a search company, e.g. groundwise but at a cost. You dont want to start digging out the pavement and hitting something live!

whiskywhisky

Ok thanks - so I gather the solution usually is for BT to install a stronger cover if the required depth is there.

Not sure if it changes anyones opinion, but here is a picture (to the left is the driverway/dropped kerb for a business next door).

http://www.flickr.com/photos/93644042@N08/8509173857/in/photostream

Thanks

Kiran

From your photo its encouraging to see that next door has a drop kerb. That should mean that the services are all at the correct depth.

The cover will need to be reset to facilitate the drop kerb anyway so the introduction of the medium duty cover will be up to openreach

maybe_tomorrow_2

Yes they may insist on a stronger cover as yuo now plan to drive over it.

Looking at your picture, why do you want to install a dropped kerb anyway? Could you not just knock down your wall and drive up the kerb as it is, the upstand is very small. Councils usually require a 5mm upstand on a drop kerb. You kerb looks to be about 40mm (guess) or something which is very small for a standard kerb.

alternatively you may be permitted to just install a dropped kerb and not change levels over the pavement, just lower the levels at the tie in with the kerb, sort of like creating a small hump from road to footway. This would reduce risk of inadequate cover to utilities, needs agreed with council though. Who is your local authority?

Check what cover class the bt chamber is, should say something like BS EN B125, C250, D400.

If the cover is of an edequate grade you could just knock your wall down and drive into your driveway, unless someone complains I doubt anyone would notice and you wouldnt need to inform anyone. People park on footways all the time so chamber cover should be of sufficnent dtrengh to take a car travelling at extremely low speeds!

whiskywhisky

Thanks for the reponses.

The council is Rochester Medway and the kerb is very low, but unfornately it is on the main road in my town. Therefore just knocking down the wall I am fairly sure will result in me getting caught rather swiftly.

Avoriaz

I can't see any yellow lines or parking lines.

If the kerb is not properly dropped, there may be a risk of cars parking there and blocking an opened up entrance.