We share a drive with our neighbour. He's a retired fella and an all round good bloke. Our driveway was all concrete and it had seen better days (cracking in places and a bit eneven) and my neighbour wanted to get it replaced - I told him that we couldn't really afford it.

 

He went ahead and got a couple of quotes and before we knew what was happening, there were lines painted on the drive and a paving company's sign in front of the neighbour's house. I asked him about it and discovered that he was planning on block paving his half and leaving my half concrete! Work was supposed to be starting the next day :(

 

Thinking this would look stoopid, I got the contractor to quote us for our half (which was much bigger than next door's). The price wasn't too bad and we reluctantly agreed to have the work done - the phrase "paved into a corner" seemed appropriate.

 

We checked out the company, watched the work carefully and had a couple of professional "mates" check the progress. All looked good and the job was finished to a professional standard in just over a week.

 

Two weeks later, we get a knock on the door from a member of the local council planning department. Apparently since 1 October, new driveways must be constructed of porous materials or have drainage to capture water before it drains onto the public highway (info here). He told me that the council would have turned a blind eye to it, but he had to follow up "a complaint from one of our neighbours". We received a letter today - we've got to correct the problem (ie: dig up the drive and add drains) within 28 days.

 

Our driveway is exactly the same area as we had before (although it looks much better!) but the legislation still applies to us. Didn't even want this done really and now we're stuck with this. So pi$$ed off I can't tell you.

 

If you've made it this far, thanks for reading. If anyone has any ideas of our legal position, please drop me a PM or post away...

 

Steve :(

Sorry to hear this steve, with the eco nazis now having the upper hand, it may be a struggle!

 

A letter to the council explaining how this came about, your financial position and asking for some sort of appeal procedure/leniancy may be a start?

 

Also what about the legal position of people doing the work, surely they must be liable in some sort of way?

would have thought that this should be down to paving company they are supposed to know all regulations.wouldnt have called lock block paving non porous water will drain through gaps around blocks and blocks are laid on a bed of sand.

Also what about the legal position of people doing the work, surely they must be liable in some sort of way?

Going to speak to them tomorrow Mark

 

would have thought that this should be down to paving company they are supposed to know all regulations.wouldnt have called lock block paving non porous water will drain through gaps around blocks and blocks are laid on a bed of sand.

Apparently the gaps "seal themselves" with crap. The council don't see it as pourus unfortunately :(

My parents had their drive done last month to avoid the problem... you 'may' be able to get around it if you can show that work started before the legislation came into force...

WOW thats awefull, i have to deal with the council all the time and 99% are arseholes, i can see the point in what they are saying but only if someone is paving a grass area etc. Nightmare!!

Assuming from what you've said that the driveway slopes towards the road. Wouldn't it be possible to remove the last course of blocks where they join the pavement and replace them with a gully block with a steel grid over it leading to a soakaway? (like they have in car parks etc). I would maintain that your contractor should have been aware of this and priced the job and done the work accordingly. (you could always offer to provide the gully blocks if he provides the labour [i would assume that the materials cost less than the labour])

Assuming from what you've said that the driveway slopes towards the road. Wouldn't it be possible to remove the last course of blocks where they join the pavement and replace them with a gully block with a steel grid over it leading to a soakaway? (like they have in car parks etc). I would maintain that your contractor should have been aware of this and priced the job and done the work accordingly. (you could always offer to provide the gully blocks if he provides the labour [i would assume that the materials cost less than the labour])

 

Sounds a good idea........:bow:

i cant understand the new law, i mean water couldnt get under the old concrete so i dont see how changibg it to block would make a fookin difference to them, just more crap to keep the usless lazy ass civil servants in a job

i cant understand the new law, i mean water couldnt get under the old concrete so i dont see how changibg it to block would make a fookin difference to them, just more crap to keep the usless lazy ass civil servants in a job

 

They have problems with run off on the drainage systems, causing ares to flood, because the rain can't soak into the ground, this acts as a reservoir easing the pressure on drainage systems.

They have problems with run off on the drainage systems, causing ares to flood, because the rain can't soak into the ground, this acts as a reservoir easing the pressure on drainage systems.

 

yea i can tell by the amount of carparks the concils allow to be made to raise revenue and they wont let us have a driveway without there say so:xxx::xxx:

They have problems with run off on the drainage systems, causing ares to flood, because the rain can't soak into the ground, this acts as a reservoir easing the pressure on drainage systems.

 

yeah, i know why they are proposing these new ideas, but what i was geting at is, the concrete acted more of arunway than block pavers, all he has done is blocked the existing drive

Seeing the contractor today - will let you know what's said...

 

Steve :)

yeah, i know why they are proposing these new ideas, but what i was geting at is, the concrete acted more of arunway than block pavers, all he has done is blocked the existing drive

 

Fair point, but you can see the kerfuffle if they turn a blind eye to one new drive and not the other, but hey I hate government local and national as well :xxx:

Seeing the contractor today - will let you know what's said...

 

Steve :)

 

What was the outcome of this? Thinking about doing some work on my drive soon

What was the outcome of this? Thinking about doing some work on my drive soon

Got away with it because work started before 1st October ;) :D I'm not sure if the legislation is national James - I got the impression that it's a local council planning matter.. May be worth checking with your local planning department first

 

CheerZ

 

Steve :)

lucky you

 

i think i read somewhere that you have to get planning permission for a block paved driveway nowadays ???

lucky you

 

i think i read somewhere that you have to get planning permission for a block paved driveway nowadays ???

Yeah :( Details here http://www.communities.gov.uk/publications/planningandbuilding/pavingfrontgardens

 

Steve :)