Forum Topic

Driveways - question over legality

I have lived in Ealing for 7 years and outside a CPZ. Now everyone has the same problem with limited parking, but I've noticed over the last couple of years that more and more houses in my road have converted their front gardens into driveways, with probably 5 more being installed in the last year. Possibly only a quarter to a third of them have dropped curbs and my understanding was that without a dropped curb they are illegal....? I don't want to get into a dispute with neighbours or risk having my car damaged/vandalised by blocking someone's driveway but it's getting very frustrating having to search around for ages trying to find a space to park especially if I'm heavily laden with shopping and end up having to park a long way away from my house. Anyone got any advice?

Philip Slater ● 5718d10 Comments

The position in Ealing as far as I understand it nowadays isAny dropped crossover should have been sanctioned at some point (though sometimes you do wonder if this was so) and there is a substantial fee to be paid to the borough. Local authorities now have the power to enforce any parking across these. There are examples countrywide where folk have been penalised for blocking their own crossover with their own vehicle.I believe Ealing adopts the approach of ticketing when the property occupant reports the crossover is blocked - this avoids some misunderstandings.Surprisingly to some people the old perception of "it is only an offence if you seal someone in and not if you block them from entry" is no longer valid.You are also to be ticketed if you obstruct a dropped kerb for a pedestrian or similar crossing point.You should also be taken to account for placing your vehicle on the property by driving over the kerbstone in the absence of an authorised crossover.More of this is probably on the council website or can be confirmed by a responsible officer.Wonder what happens to revenue gained in this way, is it still supposedly ring fenced for transport improvement budgets like all the other highway penalties?

Colin Izzard ● 5716d

Didn't Ealing Council announce a survey a few years back regarding these crossings?Was it ever completed?

Alan Brainsby ● 5716d

It still begs the question, how can these people have the gall to park on someone else's driveway and then have the audacity to get angry when they are asked to remove said vehicle from your drive. It does strike me that the perpetrators have no concept of manners or decency and believe that they can park wherever they want.Parking is at a premium in this area - free parking especially - not sure where there is free parking now, thought everything was via a permit.

J Smith ● 5717d

Yes that's true as well, if you are blocking a car in, by parking on the drop down, you can be booked.  However do not expect much sympathy if you park on someone else's drive and they block you in.When a drop down is installed by the council, the pavement is also strengthened.

G Lord ● 5717d

It is illegal for them (anyone)to drive on the footpath and they need to do this, obviously, to get to the drive. I have heard that even if you have a legal dipped curb a car can still park in front of it. It is only illegal if there is a car in the drive and you've blocked them in, as the house holder only owns the drive but does not own the road outside it. I dont know how true this is?

Marie Shelly ● 5717d

Brent Council did the same thing, and often during the night when vehicles were parked up. The dropped kerb/crossing must be authorized by the council and the works carried out by them. I suppose if one had nothing better to do one could examine the planning permissions of dubious crossings.

Alan Brainsby ● 5717d

Wood Lane W12 by the way! Council in question was Hamemrsmith and Fulham.

Andrew Jones ● 5717d

A year or two back, on Wood Lane, the council went and put up metal barriers on the property boundary of all those who had driveways, but who didn't have proper crossovers.Looked very ugly, mind you.

Andrew Jones ● 5717d

I like the idea...will give that a go! Thanks for the number

Philip Slater ● 5718d

You are correct, a dropped curb is required.What you do about it I don't know, guess it would be a planning department issue?  Ring Mouchel Parkman on (020) 8326 3031.Failing that, just use someone else's drive as your own.  Perfectly reasonable behaviour?

G Lord ● 5718d