Roadworks are completely preventing vehicular access to/from our road - is this allowed???

[MrsCholmondleyWarner]

We received a note on Thursday last week saying that access would be "restricted" this week due to roadworks but the road is completely blocked (it's being resurfaced) and the workmen say that it will be impassable tomorrow too.

Have written a stroppy email to the Council as have had to cancel DD's hospital appointment (it's way too far to walk) and am a bit concerned that no emergency services would be able to access any of the houses on our road either

May post this in legal too although don't anticipate there's much that can be done about it now!

They can but it would be reasonable to give you notice to park elsewhere for a couple of days. They usually only block one carriageway at a time.

I think you just need to swallow it for the couple of days and park elsewhere. Thats what happened when our road was being resurfaced.

We're fine parking wise as it's not our road being resurfaced.

We're a sort of cul-de-sac and the truck road leading to us is impassable. You get to the end of the road and realise you can go nowhere.

I actually feel sorry for the other roads in the areas as parking is a nightmare at the best of times so will be chaos this week.

Right, best get on and cancel the Sainsbury's delivery then!

If they wanted to close the whole road then there's a procedure to go through - www.direct.gov.uk/en/HomeAndCommunity/WhereYouLive/StreetsParkingCleaningAndLighting/DG_10028508. If you're sure they haven't given proper notification then I'd get onto your council and whinge like hell.

At least 8 weeks notice must be given!!!!

Wow, I'll be on the phone first thing tomorrow, given that we were told on Thursday! Thanks nocake

I agree, if it's only for a couple of days, it's worth putting up with. Regarding emergency vehicles, how have they blocked the road? Around here, the road block is very temporary, sort of plastic bollard things, and any ambulance etc could get past with very little difficulty.

The (quite narrow) road is totally blocked in both directions with heavy machinery - huge rollers, diggers etc. There's not the remotest possibility that any emergency vehicle could get through.

As with all these things, I very much doubt there will be an emergency situation but it's hugely annoying to have to cancel DD's long awaited medical appointment because we couldn't flipping get out of the road!

I'm sure the Council will have lots of complaints in the morning...

We had a similar letter about out road resurfacing a while ago and it sounded like the entire road would be inaccessible to any vehicle for 5 working days, starting on a Thursday. We live near the end of the road and walking would have been fine if I hadn't been 7 months pregnant with painful, restricting SPD and a toddler, and hospital appts. I was so upset as I would not have been able to leave the house at all. Our letter gave us 2 weeks notice and a number to contact in case of concern and said they'd do their best to help with problems caused.

Like you I hassled contacted the council, registered my concerns and repeatedly asked for specific information about where we were supposed to park, whether occasional access could be arranged. Eventually, the day before the job was due to start and after some emotional blackmail I got to speak to someone who was in charge of the job (via 3 other useless conversations) who said they have to tailor the letter to the worst case scenario and that he'd make sure the foreman knew my situation and that he expected all the work to take 1.5 days max, starting at around 8 and ending at 5 and that we could then park on the road as usual overnight. He was right. What? All that stress and planning and phoning and it was really nothing in the end...

I hope the same is true in your case.

Aarrgghh - the Council say the resurfacing was an "emergency", hence why we weren't given any notice

And may go on for 6 weeks - they're going to let me know what provisions they put in place for refuse collection etc and apparently the heavy machinery "would be moved" if emergency access is required again...