legality?

[sad old git]

Hello again.I recently posted a question about up and over garage doors opening onto a back lane and perhaps hitting someone or something as they are opened. I have now become embroild in an argument about whether these doors are now illegal in the uk and should be replaced by the very popular roller shutter doors. Does anyone know if there is a law relating to this and if so why are these doors still being advertised? Getting a bit irritated....

[woofgang]

no they are not illegal.

[johnny37]

There might be a question of legality if they open over a public footpath or highway (ie encroachment) but not if it is a private access to the garages.

[buildersmate]

I'd agree with that.
I remember the case SOG and I don't think we ever established what the legal status of this back alleyway was, did we?
Does it have a public right of way over it (footpath, bridleway, or even is part of the public carriageway [unlikely]) or is it just a spare piece of land left over behind the houses.

[boxtops]

This is SOG's original question http://www.theanswerb.../Question1109347.html

IMO they are not against the law, but there might be rules about using them in your sort of location. The roller door would solve all your issues about risking hitting someone.

[tonywiltshire]

tonywiltshire
Did you check with your household insurance to see if you were covered for public liability and if this would cover the garage?
Up and over doors are not illegal, though now there may be a problem with the door opening out directly onto the road, but this is your present situation.
As mentioned English law places great importance on reasonableness and as long as you take great care particularly where children are concerned there should be no difficulty.

[FredPuli43]

No more risk to the passer- by than a car backing out of the garage would be! But car insurance should cover that, so for peace of mind check your household insurance or other cover for public liabilty. It can't be a great risk. It would need to be a particularly careless bit of opening or a peculiarly hard to see door, for the action of opening it to make the user liable.

[sad old git]

Thank you all once again for your help,very much appreciated.

[trt]

'' I recently posted a question about up and over garage doors opening onto a back lane and perhaps hitting someone or something as they are opened ''

SOG,
How long has this garage had the doors, and I would assume nobody has been injured yet, so live and let live, this Country is getting obsessed with health and safety, give us a break please!!!!