Dropped kerb without permission

scottyb84

Thanks for the replies

After researching, it's not a planning issue as doesn't cross any public path etc but it looks like you need permission to touch the highways kerb. This right?

unforeseen

The big danger of doing your own dropped kerb without council permission is that if work is carried out on the road there is a chance that the dropped area will be replaced with standard kerb stones.

One council, and there has been a thread on here about it, had an active policy of identifying dropped kerbs that didn't have permission and give the householders the option of paying to go through the formal process or lose the dropped kerb (at their cost)

nickcc

We needed council permission to extend our dropped kerb, cost nearly £200 for permission and nearly £500 for the council contractors to carry out the work, unlike the OP we also had a tarmac footpath to be resurfaced.

scottyb84

unforeseen wrote: »

The big danger of doing your own dropped kerb without council permission is that if work is carried out on the road there is a chance that the dropped area will be replaced with standard kerb stones.

One council, and there has been a thread on here about it, had an active policy of identifying dropped kerbs that didn't have permission and give the householders the option of paying to go through the formal process or lose the dropped kerb (at their cost)

I think she would be happy to pay the £200 to the council if that would be the end of it and peace of mind. Would the council not make the kerbs be taken up to check the work is sufficient?

Furts

scottyb84 wrote: »

I think she would be happy to pay the £200 to the council if that would be the end of it and peace of mind. Would the council not make the kerbs be taken up to check the work is sufficient?

The fact that the work was done by a "friend of a friend" suggests the work was dodgy and there is a likelihood the work is bodged. The Council should be expected to have a close look at matters - they employ Highways Inspectors who look into these types of issues. Ultimately if the work is dodgy the Council will be expected to put it right which is an unfair proposition to fellow Council Tax payers.

Running counter to this are staff cutbacks, so there are few council employees around to look into matters.

scottyb84

Furts wrote: »

The fact that the work was done by a "friend of a friend" suggests the work was dodgy and there is a likelihood the work is bodged. The Council should be expected to have a close look at matters - they employ Highways Inspectors who look into these types of issues. Ultimately if the work is dodgy the Council will be expected to put it right which is an unfair proposition to fellow Council Tax payers.

Running counter to this are staff cutbacks, so there are few council employees around to look into matters.

I have spoke with the friend of my mum's and was assured that the person who took out the work is far capable of doing the job correctly and has done many of driveways and dropped kerbs. He was trying to save money for her by not having to get the councils companies in and also permission etc because of the location. It is very unlikely that it would be spotted. My mum wasn't intending to sell, else would have gone through necessary steps, but she has been thinking about it now, so this is why she is trying to find a solution.

J_B

Furts wrote: »

The fact that the work was done by a "friend of a friend" suggests the work was dodgy and there is a likelihood the work is bodged. .

Isn't that a little 'judgemental'?

I certainly know that my friend's friend is very good at his job and so may this person's friend's friend!

brightontraveller

J_B wrote: »

Isn't that a little 'judgemental'?

I certainly know that my friend's friend is very good at his job and so may this person's friend's friend!

If they had done plenty they’d know the rules, regulations and if there willing to break the basics then whose to say they would do the rest or even know how too correctly the signs are they don't believe in rules or regs not that they do.....

This doesn’t effect just the householder aside implications that without the dropped curb permission it is not recognised in law as being a driveway meaning many services etc are entitled to place there box, drain etc there its also removing others rights.

I’m sure many would whinge away if someone parks infront of there drive but its ok to illegally drop a kerb irrespective of others rights to save a few quid... Two ways around it bite the bullet and get permission or ignore it and hope others don't pick up on it...

Furts

scottyb84 wrote: »

I have spoke with the friend of my mum's and was assured that the person who took out the work is far capable of doing the job correctly and has done many of driveways and dropped kerbs. He was trying to save money for her by not having to get the councils companies in and also permission etc because of the location. It is very unlikely that it would be spotted. My mum wasn't intending to sell, else would have gone through necessary steps, but she has been thinking about it now, so this is why she is trying to find a solution.

This is somewhat absurd. You have spoken with a friend of your mum, whose says the person doing the work was competent. How is that person qualified to judge if it was a correct job, and what guidelines are they judging by?

Further, have you get met anybody who says they do bad work and are incompetent? Everybody says they are competent otherwise they would not get any work. The proof of the pudding is if they are really competent yet this person evaded the procedures that would have shown that they were competent. That is why I suggested the work may be dodgy and it may be bodged. A shrewd, savvy and knowledgable poster like brightontraveller has picked up on this and given credence to my suggestion.

scottyb84

Furts wrote: »

This is somewhat absurd. You have spoken with a friend of your mum, whose says the person doing the work was competent. How is that person qualified to judge if it was a correct job, and what guidelines are they judging by?

Further, have you get met anybody who says they do bad work and are incompetent? Everybody says they are competent otherwise they would not get any work. The proof of the pudding is if they are really competent yet this person evaded the procedures that would have shown that they were competent. That is why I suggested the work may be dodgy and it may be bodged. A shrewd, savvy and knowledgable poster like brightontraveller has picked up on this and given credence to my suggestion.

I know a bricklayer that isn't qualified but has been doing it for 13 years. Does that mean that any house that he builds is wrong and bad work and not to the standard of someone qualified in a college?? No. He was trying to help her save a few quid and it was the friend I spoke to not the one who did the work so it's not him himself saying that he is competent, it was the friend who recommended him.