Recently moved into house, dropped kerb application refused. What can I do?

Cakeguts

D6TMC wrote: »

Hi there I have a similar situation I've recently bought a house that needs a lot of work, parking is horrendous, I've created off road parking area at the front of my end Terrance house, I've applied for a dropped kerb and been denied, apparently my drive is 8 inches too short (200mm). The council claim new regs requires 4.8 meters. I'm going to appeal as all of my neighbors have dropped kerbs, I have the deepest drive out the lot, 5 doors up the road the rear end of cars partially block the foot path. Can anyone offer advice on how I should appeal.
Thank you

You bought a house that needs a lot of work but you didn't bother to check the rules on dropped kerbs BEFORE you bought it. Why not? Not all houses can have dropped kerbs anyway without the change of rules. Cars have got bigger over the years. Rules change. The best thing you can do is to sell the house and buy one that already has a dropped kerb.

EachPenny

KittenChops wrote: »

Different council, same rules.

Unless it is something which is specified in legislation, or very strongly recommended in national guidance, then each Highway Authority is free to set its own rules, and furthermore to make exemptions from its own rules if circumstances dictate.

I don't know the details of the two councils involved but it is possible that one applies "a not within 10m" rule and the other one doesn't.

I've never seen anything in legislation which would require a council to operate an absolute "a not within 10m" rule... but happy to learn something new if anyone can identify the source of that requirement.

spadoosh

I saw quite a novel solution to this.

Someone had bought rounded garden edging (like this) cut it in half and placed it where there wheels would go.

Well i say it was them, im guessing they happened to wake up one day and they had appeared. I dont think youd be able to it deliberately but you might get lucky and find some in front of your drive?

spadoosh

Cakeguts wrote: »

The best thing you can do is to sell the house and buy one that already has a dropped kerb.

Clearly best is very subjective. I would say the best thing to do would be to just drive up the kerb as opposed to risk losing thousands of pounds selling a house after i just bought it.

davidmcn

spadoosh wrote: »

Clearly best is very subjective. I would say the best thing to do would be to just drive up the kerb as opposed to risk losing thousands of pounds selling a house after i just bought it.

The trouble is you might not be able to "just drive up the kerb" if the council think the road is for other people to park on. Or if they stick a piece of street furniture in front of your "driveway".

mattyprice4004

While I can understand it's frustrating, I'm glad councils are clamping down on this.
The amount of tiny driveways around here with a stupid Audi Q7 / Range Rover / some long Mercedes blocking half of the pavement is ridiculous.

theartfullodger

the_midnight_Wolfboy wrote: »

My question is what can I do, not please give me condescending retrospective drivel....

What can you do? Deal with it. SUMO!
https://www.amazon.co.uk/S-u-m-o-Shut-Move-Straight-talking-Anniversary/dp/0857086227

Many times in my life I've found I've not be able to get what I want: I'm sure most people have. Hey, I'm very grateful for what I do have. Lovely family, wife, great kids, their partners & grandchildren, unlikely to starve (pensions), still able to do most things (age 69). Lucky, privileged me. I'm sure you have many wonderful things to be thankful for.

No offence but there are many much, much, worse problems facing many of millions people: Daily.

If this response appears to be condescending retrospective drivel, well, a learning point for me to improve on. I look forward to your feedback so I may learn from it.

AdrianC

mattyprice4004 wrote: »

While I can understand it's frustrating, I'm glad councils are clamping down on this.
The amount of tiny driveways around here with a stupid Audi Q7 / Range Rover / some long Mercedes blocking half of the pavement is ridiculous.

This, with bells on.

The 4.2m required minimum is not even long enough to park a current Ford Focus (4,358mm). It's barely long enough for a current Fiesta (4,040mm) - the OP's 4,110mm drive is going to allow just 70mm before the car protrudes. Who's planning on touch-parking their car every time? Nobody...

sheramber

cAn you set the drive at an angle to go along in front of the house, thus extending the length.

Aylesbury_Duck

sheramber wrote: »

cAn you set the drive at an angle to go along in front of the house, thus extending the length.

No. Councils don't permit this. The 4.8m (or whatever the applicable rule is for the council in question) is measured in a perpendicular fashion.