TheaterFire

Can I get a dropped kerb for my driveway?

Posted by Fast_Baby_5803@reddit | AskUK | View on Reddit | 76 comments

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76 Comments

94dogguy@reddit

I've seen people near me just fit plastic ramps up to the kirb and drill them into the road. Always wondered if this is legal?
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Exotic_Lobster6039@reddit

No that isn't legal.
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EpochRaine@reddit

Unless it is on a private road (e.g. non adopted). If the road isn't adopted - it tends to be a free-for-all, that is, until someone does something one of the old timers doesn't like.
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yo_foamy@reddit

Yes. But it’ll be £1-2k for BT to adjust and for new cover, possibly build a new chamber, if the existing is single brick.
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acezoned@reddit

CATV is virgin media is it not?
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Iconic_Zebra@reddit

Yeah it's virgin, nothing to do with Openreach
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Not_The_Expected@reddit

CATV just means category 5 as in the type of network cable within, AFAIK it could be any supplier, though likely openreach
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pocketmonkeys@reddit

It looks like CAT5 but it's actually CAble TV. It's changed hands so many times that they stopped putting branded covers on but there's still a lot of Nynex, NTL, Virgin Media branded ones too. Open one up and you'll find shotgun coaxial cables and green duct
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DogeFather-Part2@reddit

CATV covers are certainly used on Virgin fibre optic chambers. Personally, whoever does the kerb and tarmac work should just incorporate setting this lids into it. I can't envisage a world where this would ever become a real world practical issue.
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Uklurker@reddit

Nynex, you're old like me! 😂
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_zerodayz_@reddit

Community Antenna Television* Otherwise known as Cable TV nowadays. So Virgin Media in the UK.
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Fast_Baby_5803@reddit (OP)

Was hoping to avoid that. As the cover is in the middle, can’t they do the drop kerb and lower what they need to by avoiding the cover? 
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EpochRaine@reddit

I would do a utility search and see what else is under there. It will cost you about £450. It will tell you who owns it and you can then contact them directly about it with a proper map of what you are talking about. As you have an existing utility there, you are going to need a search before commencing any works any way, because no one is going to touch it until you have checked for others (except cowboys).
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TheCarnivorishCook@reddit

The cowboy I nearly hired was really evasive whenever I mentioned the legal side of things Me "So you do all the legal bits" Them "Dont worry it" Thats suspiciously not a yes.... He wanted to start monday, and this was thursday, got me more than a little bit worried too, then the price dropped from £15k to £10k
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EpochRaine@reddit

Yeah I find asking for a copy of their public liability insurance is a good way to weed them out.
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TheRealFriedel@reddit

Could it also be the case that the BT chamber isnt rated for having traffic over it? I'm not sure that would be the case?
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retniap@reddit

If it's in the footway next to a road it'll be B125 loading class, which is also suitable for driveways.
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Jacktheforkie@reddit

TIL A15 exists, I only ever dealt with B125 D400 and F900
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Poonpatch@reddit

C250 and E600 exist too, but like you, I've only ever specced B125, D400 & F900.
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Jacktheforkie@reddit

Yeah, I’ve never encountered E600, think I did see a C250 once
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DogeFather-Part2@reddit

BT only use one lid type as far as I'm aware and they don't care if they are in a drive entrance or not. At least our regional inspectors. If it is a chamber in a private road or highway they do indeed spec them up to a D400 or equivalent
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TheRealFriedel@reddit

I love that whatever the topic, somewhere on Reddit is someone who is a complete specialist in that niche, and they will usually find you.
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Top-Lawfulness6711@reddit

Long and short of it, unfortunately no. The height of the pavement as it currently is will be reduced so this will change the dimensions of the chamber.
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Fast_Baby_5803@reddit (OP)

Ah right that makes sense. Alternatively was thinking of removing the flower bed to increase the width and then only drop 3 kerbs from the flower bed wall side to avoid the chamber 
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Top-Lawfulness6711@reddit

Great idea mate. All the best going forward
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carl84@reddit

Where's the access cover? /s
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WhiskeyjackBB11@reddit

I needed more angles tbh
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justbiteme2k@reddit

It's a shame OP didn't circle it or something
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thesaharadesert@reddit

r/uselessredcircle
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Live-Negotiation3743@reddit

Laughed out loud at this and woke my baby 😅
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firthy@reddit

It’s access covers all the way down…
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External-Piccolo-626@reddit

But you already seem to be parking over it? You should already have one.
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bacon_cake@reddit

Uh oh, reddit police!
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Glittering-Sink9930@reddit

This would fall under the remit of the actual police.
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ImpressNice299@reddit

What a helpful comment.
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zonked282@reddit

I'm going to guess the council have got in touch with regards to you already parking on there ? we have the same thing on the pavement outside our house, wasn't an issue with the dropped kerb, they just charged a little extra to lower those access points. ( and our area was much thinner than yours, they probably wont need to "drop" the whole section up to the covers, just the area nearest the pavement)
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Fast_Baby_5803@reddit (OP)

They haven’t yet, what council was yours? Hoping they do the same for me like they did with yours.  Yeah don’t see why they should drop the whole section when its only a part they should drop
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Commercial_Grand_662@reddit

I read that as dropped Kebab LOL!
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woowizzle@reddit

I really wouldn't bother when its only going to drop 1cm unless your trying to park a steamroller on your drive.
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PleasantAbalone1851@reddit

Not enough pictures 
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svecccc@reddit

Hey, I far prefer that to people who post and offer a single, terrible quality image.
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DildoIsWayToBig@reddit

Can't see the cover I need at least 3 arrows and a shocked face
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badger906@reddit

Curb looks really low as it is! only half my drive has a dropped curb, was told it would be 2-3k. Decided I’ll put up with pulling in at a weird angle
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utukore@reddit

Yes. Worst case it'll need some reinforcement. Did the same last year
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Weak-Employer2805@reddit

you basically already have a drop kerb tbh with the height of the current one. would just save yourself the faff and money and leave it
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TinkerTailorSoulja@reddit

As it is anyone can legally park in front of the drive. Drop kerb stops that happening
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markvauxhall@reddit

All well and good until the council paints a parking bay on the kerb there, whacks in a lamp post or bollards, or a telco puts in a telecoms box. 
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Important_Highway_81@reddit

Will need to speak to openreach for a network adjustment. It won’t be cheap.
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Visible_Nothing_9616@reddit

CATV is Virgin, not openreach. Openreach boxes have GPO, BT, Telecoms or Openreach/OR on them.
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Important_Highway_81@reddit

Well spotted, I didn’t actually look at the box marking
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Plumb121@reddit

Depends on the classification of road, any calming measures and proximity to signs and trees. Most councils have different rules and regs strangely.
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GT_Pork@reddit

The driveway next door looks like it reaches the same height as your side by the time it reaches that CATV access point anyway. So surely you’ve got nothing g to worry about if you do the same?
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throwuk1@reddit

This is the answer 
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Exotic_Lobster6039@reddit

Ask the council about it. They usually charge more if you want your own contractor to do it. Ask and that should provide a quote for the whole job.
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Desi_Eng@reddit

What about adding an incline to the kerb edge to make it smooth to go up the kerb?
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Wonderful_Fun_2086@reddit

There seems to be two parts to the process of a dropped curb. Planning permission & getting the curb actually dropped. In my case I applied for a dropped curb paid for it and the council dropped the curb. The council then decided I didn’t have permission and raised it again. Fortunately I didn’t have pay for it to be raised. After that I gave up the idea. It’s too much hassle. OPs curb doesn’t look high. My curb was F high but I just drove up it. They could do nothing about it. It was an absurdity.
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joeschmoagogo@reddit

I have a dropped kerb on my car port but it doesn't stop people from parking and blocking me in. Annoyingly. So it's not a guarantee if that's the sole reason you're getting it.
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Caramel-Foreign@reddit

If in and blocked just call police. At some point they will send someone to remove it and will make it costly for the ones blocking you in
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sp4m41l@reddit

The police don’t remove cars parked across driveways
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Big_Lemon_5849@reddit

Depends on your police, I had them out a few times because I was blocked in, they’d spend about 20mins trying to find the person and then ticket and arrange a tow.
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Caramel-Foreign@reddit

https://www.askthe.police.uk/faq/?id=fd44bff7-756e-ef11-a671-0022480771c1
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bacon_cake@reddit

Could try the council though? Some as useless as a chocolate fire poker but mine are really good, they'll send someone out in a van the same day.
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Dans77b@reddit

Sorry for the unhelpful reply, but what is wrong with driving over the curb? Is it so you can get the white H no parking bit?
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m3e92@reddit

Because technically you can get fined for doing that. If you don't have a dropped kerb, you're not allowed to just drive over the pavement to park your car. Sounds stupid but i've actually gotten a fine for parking outside my house without a dropped kerb. Apparently it causes damage to the pavement, it's dangerous for pedestrians and the actual dropped kerb is there to strengthen the road for you to be able to drive over it. It's all just a scam to charge you a few grand and make you wait 1-2 years for someone to come and do the job within a day.
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Magic_mousie@reddit

I would be applauding the people near me who want to park on their drive instead of blocking the priority system for 500 yards like they do now! Should be made cheap and easy
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Mr_Bumcrest@reddit

That's an offence
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CwrwCymru@reddit

It's illegal to drive on the pavement, without a dropped curb you could be done for it. Also nothing to stop anyone parking along OPs driveway, without a dropped curb it's a fair parking space. Repeated hits driving up the curb wont be doing the car any favours either.
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JoeyJoeC@reddit

Isn't it illegal without a vehicle crossover?
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Wondering_Electron@reddit

A dropped kerb gives additional protection to prevent people parking there.
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Chlorophilia@reddit

I assume it's to stop people parking in front of it. 
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Yamosu@reddit

Can't see any reason why not. Those chambers aren't much bigger than the lids
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Obvious-Challenge718@reddit

The council will get a quote from the provider for resolving the problem. It is possible that BT might just refuse if they can’t resolve it. The access chamber will have to be moved/rebuilt and that will not be cheap. It also depends on what is under that cover. Some major cables will costs tens of thousands to move.
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Thejerseyjon609@reddit

You could put in a dropped kern and then a slightly steeper slope to the cover in the middle. The slope from the dropped kerb doesn’t need to slope all the way to your actual parking spot.
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levinyl@reddit

Should be fine you'll just have to keep the access to the drain there
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Wondering_Electron@reddit

A dropped kerb gives additional protection to prevent people parking there.
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