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.

Will the council fund that?

What makes you think you should be funded all the time?

I mean, its right there in the op...

Yeah, this, as a dropped kerb would just be needed too.

I fail to see how this would make parking overall easier

If the council (local residents) paid to covert the right hand side to one private parking each

Then those with two cars would just park on the left hand side as well making parking for them harder

The ones with no cars on the right hand side would basically now be taking up a space that the left hand side could use

Basically apart from making parking easier for the OP and people like her

This make everything worse for everyone else

And a massive bill for all the local residents

My council are reluctant to give permission for driveways in many parts of my town because of the increased risk of flooding.

I was thinking the same. Plus a large driveway would only be beneficial if you have two or more cars.

If garage builders and car manufacturers could get together to make sure the cars fit in the garage, that would be helpful. Our garage doesn't fit in a honda jazz let alone an SUV.

Would a realistic solution not be to ask the council to turn the area into a resident only permit parking

Depending where it is located that might cut down on the number of cars

This also could be realistic and affordable

I did wonder about this but I think its all residents. There are spaces in the daytime, but after 6pm the entire street is full, half the pavement is also taken up (illegally) by cars, and you're lucky to find parking within the next 2 or 3 streets as they all have similar set ups.

But you can't park on the right currently. So everyone on the right hand side is already parking their 2 cars on the left. Except the rebels that park over the pavement.

Why not campaign for controlled parking permits?

Realistically the council paying to turn the gardens into drives will not happen

If they did it for you it might become policy then they have to offer it to other people

Could they turn the right hand side into parking then make the street one way

Though that is probably not realistic

That only works if it isn't residents parking there, which OP says it is.

Its already one way and only wide enough for a single car so no room for parking on the right unfortunately.

I see your logic tbh especially in denser areas. Alternatively there needs to be more permit only parking although I did notice this is a thing in Reading when I was there the other week so assume its not a new idea in bigger towns/cities

Also I fully accept I'm being unreasonable. It was just a musing as I work up the energy to go and pack the car again for tomorrow. At least its not raining 🙂

@Flushitdown That is what I meant, residents’ permits, but I confess I hadn’t read ALL of the thread

Is this serious??
Councils can barely afford to meet their statutory obligations so no I absolutely do not think they should be paying for anyone to have a drive installed!!!!

*taxpayer.
No

The council don’t see it that way. They have active travel targets to meet and so are making it as hard as possible for homeowners to own cars. For instance where I live you can get residential parking permits to park on the street, except residents of any new development will never be able to apply for them as planning permission was granted on the basis that active travel will be encouraged and car ownership will be discouraged. If you have a car you’ll have to park it a mile away.

Like it or not most councils are doing similar, so no, you’re unlikely to get them to do your drive for you.

We have spent a fair bit requesting permission. Latest is that car needs to be parked at a right angle, so maybe a mini would fit. Other cars with driveways park at an angle - can’t see an issue with this personally. We ask council if we get a mini will they approve, but they say they won’t tell us until we prove we buy one first! We are sticking with on street as seem to be throwing good money after bad and chasing incessantly.

lol. You hit a car - it’s on you to find somewhere to store it.