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Original poster

Can't Park on my own Drive!!

237 replies

TwinkleTwinkleLittleCat · 07/07/2023 17:48

Let me set the scene, we are a 2 car family, car parking on the street is awful. One side of the road is mainly double yellow lines and most houses have 2 or 3 cars.
We are terraced houses but each have a front driveway and garden.
Half our driveway has a dropped kerb so one car can easily get on the drive.
The other car (mine) can also fit in the front, but I use rubber ramps to get up the kerb. Have done this for 20 years .
Today I had a letter from the council telling me I should not park on my own drive as I am damaging the kerb every time I go over it, and the ramps cannot be used as they might harm another vehicle.
I'm fuming!

OP posts:
getafringenotbotox · 07/07/2023 17:49

Can you apply for a dropped kerb?

getafringenotbotox · 07/07/2023 17:50

I know it's not the point and I would be fewming also.

Vitriolinsanity · 07/07/2023 17:51

Do you have a drive and a patio with aspirations?

Saw this on a thread ages ago Grin

Interested in this thread?

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Driving & parking
WaxhamSeals · 07/07/2023 17:51

It’s not a drive if you are bumping up the kerb.
Pay for your dropped kerb to be extended

HopelessEstateAgents · 07/07/2023 17:51

Just ignore it or ask them for proof

Oldraver · 07/07/2023 17:51

Surprised you got away with it for 20 years, just see if you can apply for an extended dropped curb

SoupDragon · 07/07/2023 17:51

The council is right. You are only allowed to drive over the pavement using the dropped kerb.

Marmite27 · 07/07/2023 17:51

But you don’t have a dropped kerb there, so shouldn’t be driving over it?

endofthelinefinally · 07/07/2023 17:52

Unfortunately they are within their rights to tell you not to drive over the kerb. We had the same situation and had to apply for a dropped kerb and pay for it. It was worth it though because it stopped people parking right up to the edge and therefore halfway across the drive.

NoWordForFluffy · 07/07/2023 17:55

Those rubber things piss me off as they can really get in the way on roads where it's tight for space.

You'll have to get a dropped kerb installed.

GeriatricMumma · 07/07/2023 17:56

Someone has told them....

Pissed anyone off??

I'm confused about the driveway, is it a long driveway or are you using the drive and a paved area?

Flossflower · 07/07/2023 17:57

Apply and pay for the council to drop more of the kerb. The council might not let you but you can ask. You should not be driving across a pavement unless the kerb has been dropped. It will weaken the pavement. You cannot put down rubber ramps as you do not own the road and someone may damage their tyres on them.

NerrSnerr · 07/07/2023 18:00

Is there any way that the first person on the drive goes up the dropped kerb then parks on the other side?

Have you applied to get both sides dropped?

Yarnorama · 07/07/2023 18:00

Why are you fuming?

You've got away with it for ages, now either park on the road or apply to drop the kerb.

NerrSnerr · 07/07/2023 18:01

Also why is it your car that needs to go up the non dropped side? Wouldn't it be first come first served?

maddiemookins16mum · 07/07/2023 18:04

I may be being a bit slow here, but are you using your ‘garden’ bit as an extended driveway? Or is your actual driveway a double driveway?

Original poster
TwinkleTwinkleLittleCat · 07/07/2023 18:05

I'm fuming because the council say I'm damaging the kerb. My argument is the roads in our area are like third world roads, full of huge pot holes. Drains overflow as they're not cleaned. There are weeds growing in the gutters. The pot holes cause far more damage to cars than I cause to the kerb.
We have a driveway and rest of the front garden is tarmacadam. Half the garden has a dropped kerb. I can get on the driveway via the dropped kerb if I get there before my DH if not I use the ramps.

OP posts:
Original poster
TwinkleTwinkleLittleCat · 07/07/2023 18:06

@NerrSnerr my car is tiny so fits better on that part of the drive

OP posts:
Mapples · 07/07/2023 18:06

The council are right though, apply for a dropped kerb they then check there aren't vital cables or infrastructure underneath that section and appropriately reinforce it. The rubber ramps also look crap!

NerrSnerr · 07/07/2023 18:07

Just because the roads are shit doesn't mean that you should damage them further! You need to either get a system with your husband so you can both use the dropped kerb (why can't he park the other side if he gets there first) or apply to get both sides dropped.

maybebalancing · 07/07/2023 18:08

You did pretty well to get away with this for decades, unless this is some kind of reverse.

Can you apply for a dropped kerb for the other side of your driveway?

GeriatricMumma · 07/07/2023 18:08

TwinkleTwinkleLittleCat · 07/07/2023 18:05

I'm fuming because the council say I'm damaging the kerb. My argument is the roads in our area are like third world roads, full of huge pot holes. Drains overflow as they're not cleaned. There are weeds growing in the gutters. The pot holes cause far more damage to cars than I cause to the kerb.
We have a driveway and rest of the front garden is tarmacadam. Half the garden has a dropped kerb. I can get on the driveway via the dropped kerb if I get there before my DH if not I use the ramps.

The state of the roads are no excuse for making the damage worse.

Sorry OP, sounds like you've unofficially made a driveway for yourself and now you've been caught out.

You'll need to go legit and request a drop kerb.

Original poster
TwinkleTwinkleLittleCat · 07/07/2023 18:09

One house on our road has no dropped kerbs and uses 6 ramps!
I honestly had no idea it was illegal to drive over the pavement to get on your property!

OP posts:
massiveclamps · 07/07/2023 18:09

A dropped kerb isn't just a dropped kerb. The area underneath a dropped kerb is reinforced so vehicles can drive over without damaging the utilities beneath.

Sirzy · 07/07/2023 18:10

You can’t just claim part of the road as a drive though which is what you have effectively been doing. Pay to get it dropped