Illegal driveways could be sparked by Southend Council delays

12:00pm Thursday 28th February 2013 in Local News

Dave Lee outside his home Dave Lee outside his home

ILLEGAL driveways could be built across Southend because of council delays, residents fear.

People who want to transform their front gardens into parking spaces have become frustrated at Southend Council’s temporary ban on new dropped kerbs in the town.

They believe the delays could prompt people to take matters into their own hands and build driveways without permission, damaging pavements and grass verges in the process.

Dave Lee, 65, of Wyatts Drive, Thorpe Bay, has spent months trying to secure permission to convert his front lawn into a driveway.

He said: “It seems to have taken so long and there’s still no guarantee when I will be able to proceed.

“I have a company ready to do the work, but I just can’t get the permission I need.”

Dropped kerbs are a legal requirement if residents want to be able to drive over a pavement or grass verge to reach their home.

They can cost hundreds of pounds to install, but the council will only give consent for them if it is proved there will be no damage to the road or problems with parking.

The authority suspended applications for dropped kerbs last year to draw up a fresh set of criteria, partly following complaints about the number of on-street parking spaces being lost.

Zulfiqar Ali, the council’s strategic highways and traffic manager, said that policy was expected to be finalised by next month.

He added: “The review process has been on-going and has taken longer than anticipated, which we apologise for.

“However it is being finalised now and it is expected to go to the traffic and parking working party meeting on March 13 for consideration and approval.

“It is anticipated that the new policy, when agreed, will be ready for implementation early in the new financial year.”

Comments (21)

12:10pm Thu 28 Feb 13

Shoebury_Cyclist says...

Thos houses have garages, clearly visible in the picture.
Thos houses have garages, clearly visible in the picture. Shoebury_Cyclist

12:26pm Thu 28 Feb 13

Cosmo Spring says...

Shoebury_Cyclist wrote:
Thos houses have garages, clearly visible in the picture.
those are the servant's quarters....
[quote][p][bold]Shoebury_Cyclist[/bold] wrote: Thos houses have garages, clearly visible in the picture.[/p][/quote]those are the servant's quarters.... Cosmo Spring

12:30pm Thu 28 Feb 13

Noteworthy says...

Shoebury_Cyclist wrote:
Thos houses have garages, clearly visible in the picture.
I was ready to say - the garage may not belong to that house. However, after a bit of Google stalking (slow day), I can't find a house matching the look of the one in the photo on Wyatt Drive, that doesn't have a drop kerb

So I do think you're right!
[quote][p][bold]Shoebury_Cyclist[/bold] wrote: Thos houses have garages, clearly visible in the picture.[/p][/quote]I was ready to say - the garage may not belong to that house. However, after a bit of Google stalking (slow day), I can't find a house matching the look of the one in the photo on Wyatt Drive, that doesn't have a drop kerb So I do think you're right! Noteworthy

12:56pm Thu 28 Feb 13

stopmoaning1 says...

There IS a drop kerb in front of the garage in the photo. There is NOT a drop kerb in front of Mr Lee’s house. You can see that because he has his foot on the kerb.

I would have thought Shoebury Cyclist would have bee really pleased and applauding the residents for trying to get their cars off the road instead of picking holes in the story/photo. Unless of course he/she has forgotten their own posts so vigorously argued on the recent Westbourne Grove story where he/she was so adamant that people should not have cars unless they had off street parking so they were not left ‘abandoned’ on the road causing an obstruction/restrict
ion.
There IS a drop kerb in front of the garage in the photo. There is NOT a drop kerb in front of Mr Lee’s house. You can see that because he has his foot on the kerb. I would have thought Shoebury Cyclist would have bee really pleased and applauding the residents for trying to get their cars off the road instead of picking holes in the story/photo. Unless of course he/she has forgotten their own posts so vigorously argued on the recent Westbourne Grove story where he/she was so adamant that people should not have cars unless they had off street parking so they were not left ‘abandoned’ on the road causing an obstruction/restrict ion. stopmoaning1

12:59pm Thu 28 Feb 13

HadleighBoy says...

I think he wants to make a drive through so needs a dropped kerb at each side. Personally think that this should not be allowed as it will reduce the road parking which is exactly what SBC are trying to prevent. He can get more than one car off the road in that drive anyway
I think he wants to make a drive through so needs a dropped kerb at each side. Personally think that this should not be allowed as it will reduce the road parking which is exactly what SBC are trying to prevent. He can get more than one car off the road in that drive anyway HadleighBoy

1:03pm Thu 28 Feb 13

Carnabackable says...

Will they ever learn, the gardens are flood drainage plains, one way to ruin the features of one of these semis, is to get the block head, paving boys round to seal the garden.
As mentioned, most of these properties have garages, probably stacked with rubbish....
Will they ever learn, the gardens are flood drainage plains, one way to ruin the features of one of these semis, is to get the block head, paving boys round to seal the garden. As mentioned, most of these properties have garages, probably stacked with rubbish.... Carnabackable

1:25pm Thu 28 Feb 13

Cosmo Spring says...

the old boy's got to keep his Health and Efficiency mags somewhere...
the old boy's got to keep his Health and Efficiency mags somewhere... Cosmo Spring

2:04pm Thu 28 Feb 13

HadleighBoy says...

stopmoaning1 wrote:
There IS a drop kerb in front of the garage in the photo. There is NOT a drop kerb in front of Mr Lee’s house. You can see that because he has his foot on the kerb. I would have thought Shoebury Cyclist would have bee really pleased and applauding the residents for trying to get their cars off the road instead of picking holes in the story/photo. Unless of course he/she has forgotten their own posts so vigorously argued on the recent Westbourne Grove story where he/she was so adamant that people should not have cars unless they had off street parking so they were not left ‘abandoned’ on the road causing an obstruction/restrict ion.
I think you will find that Shoebury is right if you look at Google Streetview it is the same house.
[quote][p][bold]stopmoaning1[/bold] wrote: There IS a drop kerb in front of the garage in the photo. There is NOT a drop kerb in front of Mr Lee’s house. You can see that because he has his foot on the kerb. I would have thought Shoebury Cyclist would have bee really pleased and applauding the residents for trying to get their cars off the road instead of picking holes in the story/photo. Unless of course he/she has forgotten their own posts so vigorously argued on the recent Westbourne Grove story where he/she was so adamant that people should not have cars unless they had off street parking so they were not left ‘abandoned’ on the road causing an obstruction/restrict ion.[/p][/quote]I think you will find that Shoebury is right if you look at Google Streetview it is the same house. HadleighBoy

2:39pm Thu 28 Feb 13

stopmoaning1 says...

Always happy to be corrected, and in this case having looked at Google Street View it is clearly the same house. There is no reason he should need a second drop kerb. Dave Lee, 65, of Wyatts Drive, Thorpe Bay, has spent months trying to secure permission to convert his front lawn into a driveway.
Well I don’t suppose he needs permission, he can simply concrete over it and use his existing drop kerb. This is a very poor example of what is actually a big problem and news worthy.
However my point was that SC is SO adamant that people should not own a car unless they can park it on their own property that I would have thought he would be supporting residents rather than picking holes with this individual item.
Always happy to be corrected, and in this case having looked at Google Street View it is clearly the same house. There is no reason he should need a second drop kerb. Dave Lee, 65, of Wyatts Drive, Thorpe Bay, has spent months trying to secure permission to convert his front lawn into a driveway. Well I don’t suppose he needs permission, he can simply concrete over it and use his existing drop kerb. This is a very poor example of what is actually a big problem and news worthy. However my point was that SC is SO adamant that people should not own a car unless they can park it on their own property that I would have thought he would be supporting residents rather than picking holes with this individual item. stopmoaning1

3:17pm Thu 28 Feb 13

RobertFS says...

Near to where i live there is a property with at least 10 garages built in the 1960's.
if you have a car of that era or maybe a 'Ka' or 'Mini' or similar size then that's fine. regrettably or not most modern cars are a little larger and if you can get them into the garage you cannot get out unless it is a convertable!
i have to say that some carparks are still living in the early 20th centuary (including our golf club so that when you open your door to get out in some cases you must hit the adjacent car.) some supermarkets and other car parks make allowance for the cars in the 21st centuary but not many.
Near to where i live there is a property with at least 10 garages built in the 1960's. if you have a car of that era or maybe a 'Ka' or 'Mini' or similar size then that's fine. regrettably or not most modern cars are a little larger and if you can get them into the garage you cannot get out unless it is a convertable! i have to say that some carparks are still living in the early 20th centuary (including our golf club so that when you open your door to get out in some cases you must hit the adjacent car.) some supermarkets and other car parks make allowance for the cars in the 21st centuary but not many. RobertFS

3:22pm Thu 28 Feb 13

stopmoaning1 says...

RobertFS wrote:
Near to where i live there is a property with at least 10 garages built in the 1960's.
if you have a car of that era or maybe a 'Ka' or 'Mini' or similar size then that's fine. regrettably or not most modern cars are a little larger and if you can get them into the garage you cannot get out unless it is a convertable!
i have to say that some carparks are still living in the early 20th centuary (including our golf club so that when you open your door to get out in some cases you must hit the adjacent car.) some supermarkets and other car parks make allowance for the cars in the 21st centuary but not many.
So do you agree with more drop kerbs or not?
[quote][p][bold]RobertFS[/bold] wrote: Near to where i live there is a property with at least 10 garages built in the 1960's. if you have a car of that era or maybe a 'Ka' or 'Mini' or similar size then that's fine. regrettably or not most modern cars are a little larger and if you can get them into the garage you cannot get out unless it is a convertable! i have to say that some carparks are still living in the early 20th centuary (including our golf club so that when you open your door to get out in some cases you must hit the adjacent car.) some supermarkets and other car parks make allowance for the cars in the 21st centuary but not many.[/p][/quote]So do you agree with more drop kerbs or not? stopmoaning1

4:53pm Thu 28 Feb 13

Shoebury_Cyclist says...

stopmoaning1 wrote:
Always happy to be corrected, and in this case having looked at Google Street View it is clearly the same house. There is no reason he should need a second drop kerb. Dave Lee, 65, of Wyatts Drive, Thorpe Bay, has spent months trying to secure permission to convert his front lawn into a driveway.
Well I don’t suppose he needs permission, he can simply concrete over it and use his existing drop kerb. This is a very poor example of what is actually a big problem and news worthy.
However my point was that SC is SO adamant that people should not own a car unless they can park it on their own property that I would have thought he would be supporting residents rather than picking holes with this individual item.
Those houses have garages, AND space in front of their garages. There is no need for the loss of more green space. It's a fine balance. Houselholds need to park their cars, but the ecology and flood plain has to be preserved.


Read more here: http://www.guardian.
co.uk/uk/2004/aug/15
/weather.regeneratio
n
[quote][p][bold]stopmoaning1[/bold] wrote: Always happy to be corrected, and in this case having looked at Google Street View it is clearly the same house. There is no reason he should need a second drop kerb. Dave Lee, 65, of Wyatts Drive, Thorpe Bay, has spent months trying to secure permission to convert his front lawn into a driveway. Well I don’t suppose he needs permission, he can simply concrete over it and use his existing drop kerb. This is a very poor example of what is actually a big problem and news worthy. However my point was that SC is SO adamant that people should not own a car unless they can park it on their own property that I would have thought he would be supporting residents rather than picking holes with this individual item.[/p][/quote]Those houses have garages, AND space in front of their garages. There is no need for the loss of more green space. It's a fine balance. Houselholds need to park their cars, but the ecology and flood plain has to be preserved. Read more here: http://www.guardian. co.uk/uk/2004/aug/15 /weather.regeneratio n Shoebury_Cyclist

5:48pm Thu 28 Feb 13

stopmoaning1 says...

Shoebury_Cyclist wrote:
stopmoaning1 wrote:
Always happy to be corrected, and in this case having looked at Google Street View it is clearly the same house. There is no reason he should need a second drop kerb. Dave Lee, 65, of Wyatts Drive, Thorpe Bay, has spent months trying to secure permission to convert his front lawn into a driveway.
Well I don’t suppose he needs permission, he can simply concrete over it and use his existing drop kerb. This is a very poor example of what is actually a big problem and news worthy.
However my point was that SC is SO adamant that people should not own a car unless they can park it on their own property that I would have thought he would be supporting residents rather than picking holes with this individual item.
Those houses have garages, AND space in front of their garages. There is no need for the loss of more green space. It's a fine balance. Houselholds need to park their cars, but the ecology and flood plain has to be preserved.


Read more here: http://www.guardian.

co.uk/uk/2004/aug/15

/weather.regeneratio

n
Yes but it's a general Southend story, we established many posts ago this was a really poor example.
More drop kerbs, yes or no?
[quote][p][bold]Shoebury_Cyclist[/bold] wrote: [quote][p][bold]stopmoaning1[/bold] wrote: Always happy to be corrected, and in this case having looked at Google Street View it is clearly the same house. There is no reason he should need a second drop kerb. Dave Lee, 65, of Wyatts Drive, Thorpe Bay, has spent months trying to secure permission to convert his front lawn into a driveway. Well I don’t suppose he needs permission, he can simply concrete over it and use his existing drop kerb. This is a very poor example of what is actually a big problem and news worthy. However my point was that SC is SO adamant that people should not own a car unless they can park it on their own property that I would have thought he would be supporting residents rather than picking holes with this individual item.[/p][/quote]Those houses have garages, AND space in front of their garages. There is no need for the loss of more green space. It's a fine balance. Houselholds need to park their cars, but the ecology and flood plain has to be preserved. Read more here: http://www.guardian. co.uk/uk/2004/aug/15 /weather.regeneratio n[/p][/quote]Yes but it's a general Southend story, we established many posts ago this was a really poor example. More drop kerbs, yes or no? stopmoaning1

7:18pm Thu 28 Feb 13

Carnabackable says...

Hope they send the spy cars down there, find who is ruining the grass verges, and slap 'em with the full highways act fine of endangerment to pedestrians..
Hope they send the spy cars down there, find who is ruining the grass verges, and slap 'em with the full highways act fine of endangerment to pedestrians.. Carnabackable

9:53pm Thu 28 Feb 13

GentleGiant says...

Carnabackable wrote:
Will they ever learn, the gardens are flood drainage plains, one way to ruin the features of one of these semis, is to get the block head, paving boys round to seal the garden.
As mentioned, most of these properties have garages, probably stacked with rubbish....
Wouldn't happen.

Has to be permeable otherwise planning is required.
[quote][p][bold]Carnabackable[/bold] wrote: Will they ever learn, the gardens are flood drainage plains, one way to ruin the features of one of these semis, is to get the block head, paving boys round to seal the garden. As mentioned, most of these properties have garages, probably stacked with rubbish....[/p][/quote]Wouldn't happen. Has to be permeable otherwise planning is required. GentleGiant

10:25pm Thu 28 Feb 13

Carnabackable says...

Just heard the spy cars are remaining, though the cuts...the cuts...
Just heard the spy cars are remaining, though the cuts...the cuts... Carnabackable

11:12pm Thu 28 Feb 13

A Dermot says...

He wants two driveways so he can drive his car in one entrance and use the other driveway as an exit.
He wants two driveways so he can drive his car in one entrance and use the other driveway as an exit. A Dermot

11:29pm Thu 28 Feb 13

Carnabackable says...

A Dermot wrote:
He wants two driveways so he can drive his car in one entrance and use the other driveway as an exit.
Sorry the double entrance ploy, is reserved, for Tourareg owners from Rayleigh Mount, though I can see the reason for the greed, it just detracts from the nice outlook of a smaller property.
[quote][p][bold]A Dermot[/bold] wrote: He wants two driveways so he can drive his car in one entrance and use the other driveway as an exit.[/p][/quote]Sorry the double entrance ploy, is reserved, for Tourareg owners from Rayleigh Mount, though I can see the reason for the greed, it just detracts from the nice outlook of a smaller property. Carnabackable

7:52am Fri 1 Mar 13

Shoebury_Cyclist says...

RobertFS wrote:
Near to where i live there is a property with at least 10 garages built in the 1960's.
if you have a car of that era or maybe a 'Ka' or 'Mini' or similar size then that's fine. regrettably or not most modern cars are a little larger and if you can get them into the garage you cannot get out unless it is a convertable!
i have to say that some carparks are still living in the early 20th centuary (including our golf club so that when you open your door to get out in some cases you must hit the adjacent car.) some supermarkets and other car parks make allowance for the cars in the 21st centuary but not many.
If it is so difficult to park a large car get a smaller one.
[quote][p][bold]RobertFS[/bold] wrote: Near to where i live there is a property with at least 10 garages built in the 1960's. if you have a car of that era or maybe a 'Ka' or 'Mini' or similar size then that's fine. regrettably or not most modern cars are a little larger and if you can get them into the garage you cannot get out unless it is a convertable! i have to say that some carparks are still living in the early 20th centuary (including our golf club so that when you open your door to get out in some cases you must hit the adjacent car.) some supermarkets and other car parks make allowance for the cars in the 21st centuary but not many.[/p][/quote]If it is so difficult to park a large car get a smaller one. Shoebury_Cyclist

10:38am Fri 1 Mar 13

Letmetryagain says...

I wonder if this is as much down to Regis, as it is to the council ?
I wonder if this is as much down to Regis, as it is to the council ? Letmetryagain

11:14am Fri 1 Mar 13

Noteworthy says...

Shoebury_Cyclist wrote:
RobertFS wrote: Near to where i live there is a property with at least 10 garages built in the 1960's. if you have a car of that era or maybe a 'Ka' or 'Mini' or similar size then that's fine. regrettably or not most modern cars are a little larger and if you can get them into the garage you cannot get out unless it is a convertable! i have to say that some carparks are still living in the early 20th centuary (including our golf club so that when you open your door to get out in some cases you must hit the adjacent car.) some supermarkets and other car parks make allowance for the cars in the 21st centuary but not many.
If it is so difficult to park a large car get a smaller one.
I think the point being made is that cars have got wider, not longer. I've noticed the lack of space in a couple of older car parks, and I drive a Ford Escort! I had a smaller car, with a smaller engine - blew it up, the daily commute on the motorways was too much - it was a 'city car' though.

Anyway, why does he need an entrance and exit drop kerb? Is he unable to select reverse gear?
[quote][p][bold]Shoebury_Cyclist[/bold] wrote: [quote][p][bold]RobertFS[/bold] wrote: Near to where i live there is a property with at least 10 garages built in the 1960's. if you have a car of that era or maybe a 'Ka' or 'Mini' or similar size then that's fine. regrettably or not most modern cars are a little larger and if you can get them into the garage you cannot get out unless it is a convertable! i have to say that some carparks are still living in the early 20th centuary (including our golf club so that when you open your door to get out in some cases you must hit the adjacent car.) some supermarkets and other car parks make allowance for the cars in the 21st centuary but not many.[/p][/quote]If it is so difficult to park a large car get a smaller one.[/p][/quote]I think the point being made is that cars have got wider, not longer. I've noticed the lack of space in a couple of older car parks, and I drive a Ford Escort! I had a smaller car, with a smaller engine - blew it up, the daily commute on the motorways was too much - it was a 'city car' though. Anyway, why does he need an entrance and exit drop kerb? Is he unable to select reverse gear? Noteworthy

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