Skip Hire and Permits

DE_612183

Looking for some advice - I want to hire a skip but the road I live on is "unadopted" - as it's a new build.

My local council want £50 for a skip permit for putting the skip on the "highway"

Is an unadopted road still a highway - or is it private land, and therefore as long as I get approval from the builders / management company it's ok?

Thoughts anyone?

Thanks

Section62

DE_612183 said:

Looking for some advice - I want to hire a skip but the road I live on is "unadopted" - as it's a new build.

My local council want £50 for a skip permit for putting the skip on the "highway"

Is an unadopted road still a highway - or is it private land, and therefore as long as I get approval from the builders / management company it's ok?

Thoughts anyone?

Thanks

Short answer - yes, an unadopted road can be "highway".

Has the development been finished, and is there an intention for the road to be adopted?

DE_612183

@Section62 - yes and yes

Section62

DE_612183 said:

@Section62 - yes and yes

In which case I think you will probably need to pay, unless you think it worthwhile arguing your case.

If the road will ultimately be adopted then the council have a legitimate interest in making sure the surface isn't damaged before adoption, and as highway authority they have duties such as public safety.

You may also need the consent of the developer as landowner(?), but if they have finished the development that may be less of an issue.

DE_612183

@Section62
Thanks - that all makes sense!

justwhat

if you are only using the skip for a day , i would not bother. And even if you need it longer you may get away with it. Can you not put it on your drive  and park the car on the road.(assuming you have a drive}

DE_612183

justwhat said:

if you are only using the skip for a day , i would not bother. And even if you need it longer you may get away with it. Can you not put it on your drive  and park the car on the road.(assuming you have a drive}

driveway is sandwiched between our house and next door - i can just about get my van on the drive and open the door!

Section62

justwhat said:

if you are only using the skip for a day , i would not bother. And even if you need it longer you may get away with it. Can you not put it on your drive  and park the car on the road.(assuming you have a drive}

I don't think the forum is meant to be used to encourage people to do things which are unlawful. If the council say a skip permit is needed then it would be an offence to put the skip on the highway without the permit.  Furthermore, reputable skip companies usually won't put skips on the highway without seeing evidence of the permit - they too can be fined, and potentially have the skip seized.

If I've understood correctly, the council is aware DE_612183 is thinking about getting a skip.  So that road may now be on the list of streets to visit if any enforcement officers are in the area.

DE_612183

@Section62
You are quite right - the skip hire company have insisted on the permit ( £50 ) I asked them the question and they referred me to the council who couldn't explain why I had to pay if the road was unadopted - hence my question to the forum.

Interestingly, the council charge £38 for a permit, but they charge me £50 - nice little £12 admin fee.

You have to be registered with the council to apply for a permit - so only businesses can!  

Section62

DE_612183 said:

You have to be registered with the council to apply for a permit - so only businesses can!  

Unless you live somewhere where local legislation allows that, I don't think that is lawful either.

Anyone can own a skip, it doesn't have to be a business.  Excluding private skip owners from placing a skip on the highway isn't supported by the Highways Act 1980. In fact S139(2) specifically refers to "a person".

I don't think it helps you much though - even if you could obtain your own permit the skip company would probably want the £12 admin fee to "check" it is a valid permit.

DE_612183

This is what is on their website...