Visibility of road when exiting shared drive - advice please

batman2000

I’m very tired today, so hope I can explain this clearly!

I share a drive with my neighbour, which runs between the houses and between parking areas in front of them. The drive exits onto a fairly busy road over a narrow pavement.

My neighbour has built a log store against the front garden wall in front of his house. It’s made of slatted timber with a roof. It is taller than the existing front wall (taller than a wheelie bin) and about the same deep. 

My problem is that it significantly reduces my visibility of traffic coming from that direction when I’m sat in my car. The road is 30mph and the traffic flow is often constant. I’ve spoken to him about it (we’re generally on good terms) and he seems to understand my concern but has gone ahead anyway. I’m now forced to exit further out of the drive in order to see down the road (I used to be able to hang back and watch for a gap in the traffic). The road has two lanes with traffic from both directions, and nudging out can be tricky.

My neighbour drives a van so has greater visibility than me. I can’t see over the top of the log store, and I can’t see through it because it has wooden panels on three sides. He plans to continue the panelling between himself and his other neighbour which will take away completely what little I can still see.

I’m looking at this from a safety point of view and would appreciate (constructive!) thoughts on this. Thanks for reading.

Brie

Check if planning permission was needed and whether he obtained it?  I was told we needed permission to build a new deck over 1 meter above the ground so who knows what they'll say about a "small building" next to the property line.

Nobbie1967

What about fitting one of these? https://www.screwfix.com/p/mottez-300mm-convex-inspection-mirror-green/58225?kpid=58225&cm_mmc=Google-_-Datafeed-_-Safety%20and%20Workwear?kpid=KINASEKPID&cm_mmc=Google-_-TOKEN1-_-TOKEN2&gclid=CjwKCAjwrranBhAEEiwAzbhNtVKF-aNDCNXZZ_4zyxG7GK1uiP2QY-VXeDIwdFDctZkHzKLBzzjdahoCQCMQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

ThisIsWeird

Is it the Planning Dept who handle issues such as fence heights adjacent to highways that could affect visibility splays? If so, then I'd imagine they'd be the ones to contact for advice about this.

Sounds like staggeringly ignorant behaviour by your neighb.

FreeBear

Brie said:

Check if planning permission was needed and whether he obtained it?  I was told we needed permission to build a new deck over 1 meter above the ground so who knows what they'll say about a "small building" next to the property line.

I have heard of people being told to remove bicycle sheds from the front of their gardens as it was determined a breach of planning.

Is there any reason the neighbour can't have the log store behind the house ?

batman2000

Thanks everyone. I’ve considered a mirror but there’s no obvious place to put one. Need to have another think about that.

I’ve checked planning regs and the log store is considered an outbuilding? There isn’t any permission that I can find. It’s a dilemma for me - we get on quite well as neighbours but he ignored my concerns about visibility. If I report it, he’ll know it was me and we share the drive… 😬

bluelad1927

batman2000 said:

Thanks everyone. I’ve considered a mirror but there’s no obvious place to put one. Need to have another think about that.

I’ve checked planning regs and the log store is considered an outbuilding? There isn’t any permission that I can find. It’s a dilemma for me - we get on quite well as neighbours but he ignored my concerns about visibility. If I report it, he’ll know it was me and we share the drive… 😬

However well you get on as neighbours he has clearly shown no regard for your even after you highlighting a safety issue.

If you do get on I'd speak to him again focusing on safety. Don't mention anything else eg it's unsightly.

If he still dismisses it just say that you're going to have to check if it allowed as you don't want to have an accident as a result.

At least then if he is told to remove you can say you tried to be very reasonable about it

Section62

batman2000 said:

Thanks everyone. I’ve considered a mirror but there’s no obvious place to put one. Need to have another think about that.

I’ve checked planning regs and the log store is considered an outbuilding? There isn’t any permission that I can find. It’s a dilemma for me - we get on quite well as neighbours but he ignored my concerns about visibility. If I report it, he’ll know it was me and we share the drive… 😬

You'd need to ask the council for permission to put up a mirror, and some have a blanket policy of saying 'no'.

The planning authority would probably deem the log store to be an outbuilding, and there's no permitted development rights for outbuildings in front of the face of the dwelling adjacent to a road.  In addition there may be planning restrictions and/or covenants that prevent outbuildings in the front gardens.

Unfortunately unless you can persude the neighbour to remove the log store by dialogue, the option of involving the council for them to force him to do something is not likely to improve your neighbourly relationship.

batman2000

Appreciate the responses, since I don’t want to seem unreasonable so different perspectives help. I’ll live with it for a day or two to fully see what the impact is, and then have another word with my neighbour about safety. I actually like the look of it, so it really isn’t a problem for me other than the visibility. 

That’s a good point about possibly needing permission for a mirror, I didn’t realise that. Although I guess they can cause problems when the sun shines on them.

Section62

batman2000 said:

That’s a good point about possibly needing permission for a mirror, I didn’t realise that. Although I guess they can cause problems when the sun shines on them.

They can cause dazzle and distraction.  Unless they are put up by - or under license from - the local highway authority they are an unlawful obstruction of the highway.

If they are somehow involved in an accident (e.g. the dazzle means a driver couldn't see something) then the owner (and/or highway authority) could find themselves being sued.

This is why some highway authorities will just say 'no'.

batman2000

Section62 said:

This is why some highway authorities will just say 'no'.

I’ve checked online for my local authority and it’s a no-go, as you rightly say. It would require an application and review of the site by the council and permission is highly unlikely.