Drop Kerb

keith969

I've been looking at getting a drop kerb put in place, which is proving not as simple as I'd thought.

Background: about 20 years ago the house was extended, and a second vehicle access to the road was applied for during the planning permission, and granted. The house subsequently had an 'in' and 'out' exit, with the original drop kerb on one of those exits, but the new one remained a normal kerb.

However, its a busy and rather narrow B road, and people park opposite, which means it is difficult if not impossible to turn right as there is no room to manouvre (ever tried reversing onto an opening with a 3" kerb?).

When I asked the county council, they indicated that I'd need to complete an application form and pay £100 for 'permission', plus contact the district council's planning office to see if I'd need planning permission.

Given that I already use the exit for 'vehicle crossing', I can't see why retrospective permission is required just to drop the kerb. It's not as if it was a new access.

Anyone had similar issues, and if so how did you deal with them? Thanks.

martinsurrey

keith969 wrote: »

I've been looking at getting a drop kerb put in place, which is proving not as simple as I'd thought.

Background: about 20 years ago the house was extended, and a second vehicle access to the road was applied for during the planning permission, and granted. The house subsequently had an 'in' and 'out' exit, with the original drop kerb on one of those exits, but the new one remained a normal kerb.

However, its a busy and rather narrow B road, and people park opposite, which means it is difficult if not impossible to turn right as there is no room to manouvre (ever tried reversing onto an opening with a 3" kerb?).

When I asked the county council, they indicated that I'd need to complete an application form and pay £100 for 'permission', plus contact the district council's planning office to see if I'd need planning permission.

Given that I already use the exit for 'vehicle crossing', I can't see why retrospective permission is required just to drop the kerb. It's not as if it was a new access.

Anyone had similar issues, and if so how did you deal with them? Thanks.

planning permission for a gap in a fence is not highways permission for a dropped kerb.

for all of these years you have been illegally crossing the pavement. If you'd caused damage to the kerb or pipes/cables under the pavement it could have worked out costly.

Advice on how to deal with them, fill in the paper, pay the money and see what they say (although in my area, new duel access is not allowed, so you may get rejected).

keith969

martinsurrey wrote: »

planning permission for a gap in a fence is not highways permission for a dropped kerb.

It's actually a gap in the wall but anyhow...

martinsurrey wrote: »

for all of these years you have been illegally crossing the pavement. If you'd caused damage to the kerb or pipes/cables under the pavement it could have worked out costly.

Illegally? It was approved by the district council when the extension was built and the additional road access granted 20 years ago (not by me - I have only been here 6 years). There is a comment on the approval stating 'Improvements to driveway - not caused any adverse comment from county engineer'.

martinsurrey wrote: »

Advice on how to deal with them, fill in the paper, pay the money and see what they say (although in my area, new duel access is not allowed, so you may get rejected).

I already have dual access, but the 'permission' document assumes there is no access yet, so does not seem relevant. But I'll follow it up with them, thanks.

Silver-Surfer_2

keith969 wrote: »

It's actually a gap in the wall but anyhow...



Illegally? It was approved by the district council when the extension was built and the additional road access granted 20 years ago (not by me - I have only been here 6 years). There is a comment on the approval stating 'Improvements to driveway - not caused any adverse comment from county engineer'.



I already have dual access, but the 'permission' document assumes there is no access yet, so does not seem relevant. But I'll follow it up with them, thanks.

Most likely yes as you've no dropped kerb. I'd bet there was a condition with the PP that stated a suitable dropped kerb must be installed. If that's the case then it would be a breach of the PP.

martinsurrey

Comments in red

keith969 wrote: »

It's actually a gap in the wall but anyhow...



Illegally? It was approved by the district council when the extension was built and the additional road access granted 20 years ago (not by me - I have only been here 6 years). There is a comment on the approval stating 'Improvements to driveway - not caused any adverse comment from county engineer'.

they approved the modifications to YOUR land, not the councils land Driveway=/Pavement



I already have dual access, but the 'permission' document assumes there is no access yet, so does not seem relevant. But I'll follow it up with them, thanks.

you have duel access on your land, but only single legal access over the councils land, no amount of planning documents will change that.

As said, talk to them, but be prepared for rejection if they are anything like my lot.

Furts

Planning Permission does not last forever. Plus Planning has nothing to do with the footpath which will be adopted land owned by the Council.

You wish to have safe access over the Council's land and it is irrelevant what you think may have been granted 20 years ago.

For accessing over this land the Council could have taken action against you years ago, so it is best to eat humble pie and pay for the process someone chose not to do 20 years ago.

There is far more work involved than just lowering a kerb, hence there will be costs with this process. Since you want this process done it is right that you should pay for it, and not all Council Tax payers.

keith969

Furts wrote: »

Planning Permission does not last forever. Plus Planning has nothing to do with the footpath which will be adopted land owned by the Council.

Planning permission was granted, and the work was implemented as per the application which I have a copy of from the council's own website. So if at the time the county engineer had no objections, does that mean that no-one considered the application?

Furts wrote: »

There is far more work involved than just lowering a kerb, hence there will be costs with this process. Since you want this process done it is right that you should pay for it, and not all Council Tax payers.

Never disputed that I expect to pay for actually dropping the kerb; just don't want to have to reapply for planning permission for work that was carried out to their approval in the distant past.

Furts

keith969 wrote: »

Planning permission was granted, and the work was implemented as per the application which I have a copy of from the council's own website. So if at the time the county engineer had no objections, does that mean that no-one considered the application?



Never disputed that I expect to pay for actually dropping the kerb; just don't want to have to reapply for planning permission for work that was carried out to their approval in the distant past.

When you, or whoever, sought Planning Permission, there would have been an additional procedure to get the drop kerb actionned. My home had approval for access to the highway, but I would still need to go through the motions to get this done. Planning and Highways are separate bodies, and separate procedures.

It appears this was never done, so is being done now. Fine, but I do not see what your problem is. Councils are short of money, austerity bites, and the request to pay £100 is a bargain to be snapped up before someone changes their mind.

keith969

OK that seems to clarify things. I'll risk the £100 and see what they say.

In the meantime, how much is the actual work likely to be? I assume it can't be just anyone, but one of the council's approved contractors?

Kiran

Also, you may need a New Road and Street Works Act (NRSWA) approved contractor to do the work assuming the road is an adopted highway. Not necessarily an issue but likely to cost you a bit more given that you can't just pick a man with a flatbed tipper bed and a roller. As above the money is spent doing the stats surveys etc to determine if it is possible. The usual culprit is street lighting cables not being the correct depth

Silver-Surfer_2

keith969 wrote: »

OK that seems to clarify things. I'll risk the £100 and see what they say.

In the meantime, how much is the actual work likely to be? I assume it can't be just anyone, but one of the council's approved contractors?

Budget for £1000 give or take a couple of hundred either way. But as we don't know which council it is no one can give you an accurate figure v