tarmac driveway quote

AdrianC

thegentleway said:

Jeepers_Creepers said:

If that area is old - but solid - tarmac, tgw, then that could explain the low quote - it's chuck a fresh layer straight on.

As said by others, I can't see you getting away with putting a layer on a public pavement, tho'. And when the council go 'tsk tsk', imagine the fun in taking it all back up...

Best make sure you have permission for the pavement bit first.

I've applied for and got council permission for dropped kerb. Their quote for the work is more than private contractors.

The thing you need to remember is that you do not own the pavement. You cannot just get work on it done. You have to use council-approved contractors...

Unless and until you have a drop kerb, you do not have a driveway. You have a paved garden that you cannot legally park on, because you cannot legally cross the pavement with your car.

I'm surprised that you've got permission with that phone box there. Does the cost include removing it?

thegentleway

AdrianC said:

thegentleway said:

Jeepers_Creepers said:

If that area is old - but solid - tarmac, tgw, then that could explain the low quote - it's chuck a fresh layer straight on.

As said by others, I can't see you getting away with putting a layer on a public pavement, tho'. And when the council go 'tsk tsk', imagine the fun in taking it all back up...

Best make sure you have permission for the pavement bit first.

I've applied for and got council permission for dropped kerb. Their quote for the work is more than private contractors.

The thing you need to remember is that you do not own the pavement. You cannot just get work on it done. You have to use council-approved contractors...

Unless and until you have a drop kerb, you do not have a driveway. You have a paved garden that you cannot legally park on, because you cannot legally cross the pavement with your car.

I'm surprised that you've got permission with that phone box there. Does the cost include removing it?

Yes that's right. The contractor said he was council approved, showed me his council card (I have asked council for confirmation that he is approved).

Garden isn't paved, it's old broken up tarmac. I've just spoken to the contractor and he's confirmed he is just going to resurface and that in his opinion I don't need drainage. I'll check with council but no doubt they will tell me to apply for planning permission to find out - they tend to be very helpful...

Yes, I was pleasantly suprised as well. Most of the other driveways are dropped and I assumed mine wasn't because of the box. They are not removing the box, just dropping the kerb up to it. There's plenty of space to drive for two cars to get in and out with the box there.

FreeBear

thegentleway said: Understood, will look into drainage situation. Nobody has any on the street but I understand new work needs to be done to modern standards.

The requirement for drainage was introduced around 2008 (I believe). But if all you are doing is scraping off the surface and putting a finishing coat down, you could probably get away with calling it a repair. That would explain the low quote and also sidestep the need for planning permission.

Section62

thegentleway said:

Yes, I was pleasantly suprised as well. Most of the other driveways are dropped and I assumed mine wasn't because of the box. They are not removing the box, just dropping the kerb up to it. There's plenty of space to drive for two cars to get in and out with the box there.

The issue with the phone box is the sightlines (visibility), not the space.  You've been incredibly lucky the council haven't refused your request unless the phone box is removed (at your cost), because any decent safety audit would flag this up as a significant hazard.

So I'd play an absolutely straight bat with the council regarding your driveway now - you really don't want people asking questions about the drive... leading to someone noticing the phone box.

Also, there are different kinds and levels of 'approval' for highway works.  A contractor's card doesn't necessarily mean they have been authorised to carry out crossover construction.

thegentleway

Section62 said:

thegentleway said:

Yes, I was pleasantly suprised as well. Most of the other driveways are dropped and I assumed mine wasn't because of the box. They are not removing the box, just dropping the kerb up to it. There's plenty of space to drive for two cars to get in and out with the box there.

The issue with the phone box is the sightlines (visibility), not the space.  You've been incredibly lucky the council haven't refused your request unless the phone box is removed (at your cost), because any decent safety audit would flag this up as a significant hazard.

So I'd play an absolutely straight bat with the council regarding your driveway now - you really don't want people asking questions about the drive... leading to someone noticing the phone box.

Also, there are different kinds and levels of 'approval' for highway works.  A contractor's card doesn't necessarily mean they have been authorised to carry out crossover construction.

Oh I see, thanks for explaining.

No plans to play anything but straight (regardless of whether there is a phone box or not). Already had one builder tell me to just screw some rubber kerbs into the road when no-one is looking