That councils should help people install driveways

[Soontobeorange]

I'm probably being unreasonable.

I've lived at current address for 9 years and the last year parking has been not just difficult, but nigh on impossible. I often have to park 1 or 2 streets away. I use a lot of equipment for work so my choices are park on pavement to unload (so wheelchairs and prams have to cross over or go in the road) or make several trips lugging heavy electrical equipment. My front garden is up a slope so I have to carry stuff up the stairs which makes it slower and limits how much I can carry.

I guess the obvious solution is for more people to install driveways but they are so expensive and even if you can afford it, the council may not approve a dropped kerb. Aibu that local councils should help people to install driveways? Either financially or by making it easier to get permission.

Also I'm talking about a drive big enough for 1 car not paving over the entire front garden as that would be horrible for wildlife.

Using money from the public purse to subsidies home improvements certainly isn't a viable solution either.

I also live in a flat, I chose it for its location and pay a hefty mortgage for. My council tax is through the roof as it is without having it increased to pay for HA parking spaces thank you very much.

You don't like your parking arrangements move somewhere else.

Edit: aimed at the OP

Living in flats would mean them having to install multiple driveways or parking spaces surely?

Plus there are issues with drainage when all the garden spaces vanish to be replaced by parking spaces

For you and everyone else who lives outside the city.

Why do you think we should invest in personal driveways for individuals not better public transport for all?

No, the council should not be paying for people to have driveways and dropped kerbs.

They could however make the process of getting a dropped kerb installed easier.

Or better yet, ensure that when granting planning permission, parking provision is properly thought about and enforced. Ensuring purpose built flats are built with adequate parking spaces for the people who live in them. Not granting permission to turn family houses into HMOs or Victorian and Georgian houses into 3 separate flats, unless there is enough private land in front of the house for all the vehicles which would be associated with the property. Same also goes with new build estates. The planning department really should be cracking down on new build estates not providing enough parking for the housing they build, 1.5 car drive for 3 and 4 bed houses is not enough when most households have at least 2 cars.

Absolutely this, what do you think the council should cut to make life easier for homeowners?

Wouldn't it be better if the money was invested in public transport?

Like loft insulation and solar panels?

These upgrades result in lower energy bills and contribute to a reduction in greenhouse gases. That's quite different from providing somewhere for homeowners to park their vehicles..

Fair to say that op is a bit deluded!

I'm confused about your parking suggestion

You said you live in a flat so assume a block of flats

Are you suggesting a car park for all residents to use

Or just for the council to install and pay for a parking spot just for you?

Ban those unfit to drive by reason of conduct and much of the issue would go away. Follow up by having a separate category of car licence for SUVs and high performance vehicles, and their numbers would decrease, helping too.

Placing a car on a drive can be safer though

It's no longer in the way of cars using the road

Pedestrians now also have a clearer view when crossing the road

Also cars on roads (or half on road half on the pavement) are just in the way

Apologies haven't read the whole thread. More private driveways makes parking more difficult for the general public because they can't park over new dropped kerbs.

You want to the council to pay to remove a parking space outside your flat which anyone can park in, to allow you to have a dropped curb and your own driveway that just you can park in?

Erm, no. What a selfish attitude!

I don't have a parking space outside my flat. I did explain this.

There was a post earlier today bemoaning the mess “Reeves” is making of the economy. Without commenting on that, in this post you can see why our better services/ less tax/ fund my particular want approach doesn’t help.

Or public transport to encourage people from using cars and reduce environmental impact?

Seeing as reducing car use is a strategic government aim and all that.

Swap your HA property for one that does then.

Completely agree with this. Public transport is awful and expensive where I live.

More handouts, sure.

Let me guess - OP doesn’t pay full council tax.

But that doesn't solve the issue for everyone else on the street? Just passes the problem to the next tenant.

You're confident, but wrong.

If we banned SUVs we could park more cars roadside and wouldn't be having to repaint existing car parks with less spaces due to the size of them.

That would be more cost effective than paying for driveways and would ease parking issues.