Dodgy dropped kerb?

[Kentlane]

Hi just wondering if anyone knew much about dropped kerbs?

The house we are buying was flagged up in the survey for not having a dropped kerb. Looking at the photo it seems to have a tiny bit of dropped kerb next to the alleyway and the rest is a slightly lower pavement.

I've looked at my local council's site and it says they don't allow dropped kerbs within a metre of lamp posts which it is.

I've asked our solicitor to raise it but it's taking ages and seems to be the main thing holding everyone up.

Anyone have any idea if it counts enough as a dropped kerb? I'm conscious they may be updating the road to improve it for bikes and have read the horror stories on here of councils creating parking spaces in front of drives that don't have official kerbs.

What would you do in our situation? Push for them to get a council licence but risk opening a can of worms in case they reject it?

Stressed and confused so any opinions appreciated 🥴

That's not a dropped curb.

Assume it is not a dropped kerb and the council will not allow one. Would you still buy the house?

not a driveway
the kerb is dropped for the footpath/alley to help with bin collection it seems.

I'd stick to your guns and get proper answers. It's illegal to drive over an undropped kerb.

To me, it looks like the curb is dropped for the alley and they just took it slightly further than they should.

I would open the can of worms if you wouldn't buy it without an official dropped curb.

If there was one it would be completely in line with the driveway which is not shown in the picture.

Thanks for the quick responses, we wouldn't have considered the house if it didn't have parking so we'll keep on and ensure they get permission.

Thanks mumsnetters 🙂

The dropped part is for the alleyway cyclists, prams, mobility scooters. It is not for the drive.

Either ask the council if they would allow one if you moved in, or continue with the purchase assuming you can never use that drive for vehicles. You cannot legally drive over a pavement without a dropped kerb.

It the Council say they won't allow a dropped kerb within a meter of a lamp post then they won't allow it if this is the case.
All sorts of reasons, but damage to cables serving the lamp post, risk of damage to the lamp post and restricting visibility for both the vehicle using the dropped kerb and for pedestrians.

It actually looks like whoever installed the "driveway" bent it round deliberately in order to make it line up with the "dropped curb" so only one wheel would have to go up the actual curb.

You take your chances basically. My guess is that they know it is not a proper dropped curb and they are stalling hoping you will drop it (pardon the pun). If they or you contact the council then you are right it could open a can of worms, especially for them as from that point they don't have the ability to deny knowledge to any future buyer (or if they do they are lying and if that can be proved it's a serious issue for them).

I suppose this is becoming an increasing issue as people get more cars and turn random bits of front gardens into parking spaces.

As others have said that house doesn't have a dropped kerb, the lowered kerbs next to the house are what's known as a pram crossing for pedestrians/accessibility. Therefore, if they are putting their car on the drive in front of the house, technically they are crossing the highway illegally and the local authority could take enforcement action.

When a vehicular dropped kerb is installed, the pavement is reinforced to ensure that the surface and what is beneath it (cables/services) are protected from the impact of vehicles crossing over it.

As you have said, the Local Authorities policy is not to permit crossings next to lamp columns. But if I was really set on the property I would phone the council and ask to speak to the relevant highway officer and just clarify what the situation would be with this particular property. They should be able to give an indicative answer and this could help inform your decision on whether to proceed/ask for a reduction/pull out.

Use that bit if you can both get off it ok?

Sorry didn’t understand stand that, so disregard what I’ve said

This is an interesting one.
The fact that there is already a dropped kerb beside a lamppost, which the council will have created for the pass through lane, there is already precidence, it is difficult for them to refuse something they've already done themselves. On appeal they'd lose IMO.