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General => General discussion => Topic started by: WadGTI on 15 August 2011, 23:51
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Hi folks,
Looking some advice here. I have a huge driveway, however the problem is the pavement isnt lowered. Over the years my cars have taken the toll in regards to the bushes being worn out quickly. Years have gone one and I think I need to address the problem now.
I have rounded concrete kerb stones (like the ones around pathways) on the road used as a sort of help for getting the car up into the driveway.
Now I have the golf which is lowered too, I really don't want to ruin it. I know I could pay for the pavement to be lowered but there is a big cost, planning permission and inspections associated with it.
I have seen houses with the small metal ramps, however I am having trouble finding anything online about them or what they are actually called.
Any suggestions on what I should to do to assist the car, anyone know of these mteal ramps?
Thanks
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Go to homebase and get some 4x2 planks, 3 or 6 dependant on width of the driveway.
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kerb ramps possibly?
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http://www.theramppeople.co.uk/kerb-ramps
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http://www.theramppeople.co.uk/kerb-ramps
hmm...I will need to measure up I think from the pictures, my pavement kerb is higher and the price is £150+. Bearing in mind they look appealing to steal. Pern fixing kit will cost.
Wondering if I will get away with lowering the kerb without telling the council. All other houses have there lowered, would doubt anyone would notice. Plus polish builders accross the road...could et a good price.
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If your kerb is not lowered, your drive is not legal and you absolutely should not lower the kerb to facilitate access yourself.
If you do, you may face a hefty bill from the local council to put the correct height kerbs back in.
Apply and get permission, it's a road and pavement, not your road and pavement. If you make unauthorised alterations to it and someone trips then the liability for any injury could well be on your shoulders. Do you actually own the house?
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Agree with DH here. We redesigned our driveway a year or two ago now and ended up with one side coming out onto a high kerb. Phoned the council and spoke to them about the options and was told the following:
1) Buy some ramps but risk of removal if obstructing the road too much.
2) Apply for a lowering of the Kerbstone
3) Lower the Kerbstone without permission, but when the house needed to be sold the kerbstone would need to be reinstalled at original height.
We just got the inspector out and got the kerbstone lowered. It was a bit trickier than usual because our driveway straddles a speed bump so the pavement goes up to match the bump in the middle.
All done and dusted it looks great. And it's all approved so complete peace of mind.
If you can stretch to it, seriously look into getting it lowered legitimately. Otherwise, ramps are you're best option.
Apply and get permission, it's a road and pavement, not your road and pavement.
This pretty much sums it up
HTH
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Leaving big chunks of metal sat at the end of the drive to save money? I give em a week. :lipsrsealed:
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In Scotland they may do things a little differently!
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it cost me less than £500 all in to get mine lowered.
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get a few peices of wood and stick them there to make a ramp then get onto the council.
any expensive metal ramps will just be niked.
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You cannot leave anything by the roadside, be it ramps or pieces of wood. We had our kerb dropped by the council, due to the width of our drive it came to just shy of £800. Next door has paved some of their front garden to park cars, they did not drop their curb and just left wood to step up to the pavement which never stayed flush against the curb once driven over. They have since been slapped by the council for intentionally leaving an obstruction on the road or something like that. be warned.
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Thanks for the replies.
Yeah I own my property - think I might try and get some metal ramps built and bolt them into the road. I mean, I travel through Edinburgh alot and you see these everywhere - not too sure about legislation in England - but in Scotland - I dont think having ramps is a problem.
I have got about an acre of land/garden which is in need of some serious maintance which is going to cost me, plus some gutter/roofing work is need so I really dont have the expense to go down a LA process and pay to get the driveway lowered by the book.
Thanks for the advice anyway. I have been told that it better to reverse a car up a kerb rather than drive forward up it - dont know how true that is.
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Carry two to four small planks of wood in the boot. Hop out, make a little stairs up the kerb, drive up, put the planks back in the boot. Works for my Vento :grin: