Verge. who owns it and how can i fix it

MSaxp

Hello!

Outside of our front hedge , there is a 2ft wide verge.

Because of the curvature of the road, trucks (especially the waste collection ones) tend to drive over it. When its wet, its muddy and we are left with very deep tyre marks.

We have repaired it a few times, but i dont know what to do to stop it from happening.

I am also not sure if it belongs to us and whether we could remove the soil and put something sturdier there. The land registry plan doesnt explicitly show the verge, just our plot and the road (so not sure if the road includes the verge or not)

molerat

Large rocks is the usual answer.

Carrot007

molerat wrote: »

Large rocks is the usual answer.

Or a bollard if you think people might move a rock.

MSaxp

Can i put rocks if the verge is council owned? I think the previous owners tried that, so i might go down that route.

Am i also liable if a truck is damaged because of hitting the rock, or is it their responsibility to stay on the road?

I dont think anybody would move it, I think they just find it easier to take a shortcut over the verge

Gloomendoom

The verge is just a part of the road that hasn't been covered tarmac.

Putting rocks or other obstructions on it leaves you open to claims for damages if somebody falls over them or damages their vehicle driving into them etc.

Davesnave

We have the same problem, but mainly with tractors and farm machinery.

Our verge definitely belongs to us, as the roadside hedge we own was grubbed-out to increase visibility at the end of our shared lane.

For the past 9 years I've mowed the grass on the verge and got it into reasonable condition, but the side by the road is subject to constant bashing and erosion, so it's never tidy.

In these litigious times, I wouldn't put rocks or other obstructions on the grass, but as I don't enjoy mowing it, I'm changing it slowly from grass to ground-cover of a type I use elsewhere.

First, I spray a section of grass with glyphosate, then a day or so later I start planting Iberian Comfrey, which is low-growing and fast-spreading. I have lots, so it costs nothing.
http://www.bethchatto.co.uk/s-z/symphytum/symphytum-hidcote-blue.htm
Something that can grow among this short comfrey is Geranium phaeum, so bits of that are poked-in too.
https://www.claireaustin-hardyplants.co.uk/products/geranium-phaeum-lily-lovell

I intend to try a few other other plants in this mix to see if they can fight it out with the other two, but in any case, the ground cover created will only need two passes with the brushcutter in the course of a year.

It remains to be seen if people will drive over 'flowers' as much as grass, but if they do, at least the bees and other insects will be better-off.

moneyistooshorttomention

molerat wrote: »

Large rocks is the usual answer.

This - if you own it.

Grit teeth and accept "That's how it is" if you don't own it.

Davesnave

The other problem with large rocks or other massive obstructions is that they could cause more serious injury to someone in/on a vehicle in an accident.

You might be immune from prosecution, but you could still regret defending your relatively unimportant piece of turf, if injuries to another party were deemed worse because of them being there.

Gloomendoom

Davesnave wrote: »

The other problem with large rocks or other massive obstructions is that they could cause more serious injury to someone in/on a vehicle in an accident.

You might be immune from prosecution, but you could still regret defending your relatively unimportant piece of turf, if injuries to another party were deemed worse because of them being there.

I naively put rocks out on the verge outside my house when there was building work being done next door. I removed them immediately after, by chance, I saw a partially sighted pedestrian trip over one. I subsequently checked the situation with the local council who confirmed that I had been effectively obstructing a public highway and could be liable for any injury or damage sustained by a third party.

Obviously, this only applies where the verge is owned by the highway authority. However, most are and it is a mistake to believe that the road only extends to the edge of the tarmac. Double yellow lines , for example, apply to the adjacent verge as well.

MSaxp

I agree, its just a silly verge, I dont want to go OTT about it. No pedestrians on that side though , as the pavement is on the other side of the road.

Maybe i could take the grass leftovers out and put something that doesnt turn into a sculpture every time someone drives over it. maybe this plastic hex web (not sure what its called)