To expect the council to fix the pavement?

[username9988]

Live in a street off a main road that tends to be used as a rat run in rush hour. The other side of the road is terraced so has mostly parked cars along that side. My side all have drives.

The main traffic comes in along that side, so when a car comes along my side, they tend to drive up the pavement to pass.

As a result, the pavement at the end of my drive has been completely eroded to dust. There's even two potholes about a foot round. The grass verge between mine and next door is no longer existent.

I'm annoyed at firstly the damage to my car to get into my drive, even at minimal speed, it feels like you're off-roading to get into the drive and secondly that my drive is covered in mud the whole time as a result.

I've had the council out to look at it and they have given me two options. Pay for bollards to be installed in the "grass" verge, at £200 each; or have the area tarmaced over for just under £2000.

I know it's poor times and there are bigger issues...but really?!

Go and find some big rocks and place them either side of your drive at 2 foot intervals. Beaches are a good place to find them. Or your local garden centre. Drivers mostly won't risk driving over them. The grass will grow back.

They warned me about doing anything like that, as it wouldn't easily be seen and I would be liable for any damage caused. Also they wouldn't be able to mow the grass (that isn't there) 

Who owns the land?

Standard council set up of road and pavement.

You need to challenge the council again. I don’t know the set up if they are unitary they are likely to be the highways authority and are therefore responsible, unless your deeds show you own the land all the way to the road, and that’s not the norm. If they are not unitary then ask the district/county council who the highways authority is and challenge them

They have no maintenance budget, they will only repair it if its a road safety risk. Could be worth making that argument?

I wouldn't hold your breath though, there are probably road traffic incident blackspots that are more worthy of the limited resources.

I know. That's what I was thinking. But it's really winding me up. I even dreamt the other day that the hole had fallen in and turned into one of those sink holes!

I imagine it could be seen as a safety issue, in that cars treat our pavement as the road.