Can I drop my kerb?

[Compostella]

We live on a street where there are terraced houses all with very small frontage. Parking is mostly on street.

I have worked out that if I removed the front "garden" we would just about be able to get our car on. i.e. create off street parking.

Question is, am I entitled to have the kerb dropped or is it decided by the council?

[pug100]

Hi,
you should contact the council about this. as they have the responsibilty for your street. You may even have to seek planning permission to remove ( pave over ? ) your front garden. This is because of recent concerns with flooding and lack of drainage as gardens soak up excess water and paved areas don't.

[Compostella]

Thanks Pug

I just did that and its good news. We can do it, we don't need planning and the area was paved anyway.

They said it doesn't even matter if we can't get a car on it, they will paint a white line outside and people shouldn't park across it.

[kwicky]

You must have an understanding council One of our relations had to pay the council �1000 to get their own workman to lower it. The get out for them was if someone tripped on you DIY job you could be sued.

[teag1rl]

you might not need plannig, but what about a vehicle access licence? Before you go digging up the highway you should consult the streetworks section and you will need to consult the statutory undertakers (elec, gas etc)

[Marijn]

I was told it cost �1,000. Are you getting yours done for nothing?

[Compostella]

Sorry,

We still have to pay to have it done, we just have to apply for permission. They said that they grant all the ones that don't require planning.

They do charge for the actual works.

[codger66]

I can only second what kwicky has said, as our council told me we would need indemnity of several thousands of pounds in case any one injured thereselves on it and made a claim, needless to say, we let the council do it, but i guess i was fortunate because it didn't cost anything like the prices being quoted here, but then that was twenty five years ago, and the sue everybody fever hadn't started at that time