Road closed

[abstibus]

Do private developers have the right to put up a 'Road closed' sign on a one-way adopted road and effectively bar residents access to their garages for twelve hours a day? What kind of permission do they need?

[buildersmate]

They need a Road Closure Notice, which they may be able to get by applying to the Council. But as a close resident, you'd have found out about it.
All is explained here (scroll down a bit).
http://www.midsussex.gov.uk/page.cfm?pageID=23 17

[abstibus]

Thanks, buildersmate.
I think the 'Road closed' sign does the rounds - it's a bit battered and I am sure I've seen it before. Did you mean in your mail that we should have been notified of the closure?
From experience, we can expect this sort of disruption for some time - it wouldn't be so bad if the road wasn't narrow and one-way. They'll be at it for flipping months.
Should I contact our local council?

[buildersmate]

I'm not sure but I believed such notices of impending hassle got stuck to lamp-posts before it happened. And yellow diversion signs get put out if the job is done properly (but maybe that's just for certain categories of road or bus-routes.
Worth ringing Highways Dept at the council to enquire.

[abstibus]

Thanks - I'll do that in the morning. I'll let you know how I get on.

[abstibus]

Thanks , buildersmate.
I got notification on Friday that the one-way road would be closed on 15 and 16 October; I called the Roads Department, who said they would investigate. Today, there was a diversion sign in place and the one-way restriction has been temporarily lifted. A small victory for the small man!