Using Neighbours Dropped Kerb And Crossover

[trolly61]

I live in a street where most of my neighbours have dropped kerbs. Unfortunately due to the angle of my house, I wouldnt get permission to have the kerb dropped outside my house as I only have 3.5m of frontage from pavement to door. The requirement from our local council is 4.8m. I live in a row of 4 houses which sit at an angle and all other 3 in the row have dropped kerb access to garden parking. The first house on the block next to me also has dropped kerb and full width garden parking. He has said to me why dont you pave your garden and use my dropped kerb and drive your car in at an angle? I could do this and my car would fit nicely onto my garden. I would be using his dropped kerb and crossover and not any part of the pavement. Its difficult to describe. My question is.....will I get into trouble from the council or highways dept for using my neighbours kerb/crossover? Is it legal? I dont want to do anything I shouldnt but it would help me a lot. I read that when a resident gets a dropped kerb/crossover that they are only paying for access to their property and that the kerb/crossover is actually the property of the highways dept. I just worry about doing this and going to the expense of block paving my front garden if my neighbours ever decide to move and new neighbours have a problem with it. Id really appreciate it if someone can clarify if anyone can use a dropped kerb/crossover or if its the property of the homeowner?

[woofgang]

ask the council

[Arrods]

If you need to argue with the council, perhaps the car's better off the road from a road safety aspect - and you may even get a bit off the insurance!

[hc4361]

The dropped kerb belongs to the council - only the land within the resident's boundary belongs to him (or her).

Having said that, anyone can use the dropped kerb, such as visitors.

If your neighbour gives you permission to access your frontage from his property that is nobody else's business but you can't rely on your neighbour changing his mind or the new neighbours' refusing access.

[diddlydo]

It's perfectly possible to drive up a non-dropped kerb so I wouldn't worry about the hypothetical situation in the event of your neighbour moving.

[woofgang]

possible but illegal diddleydo

[trolly61]

@hc4361 he has only just moved in so wont be moving any time soon

[hc4361]

That's good, trolley. I only mentioned it because you raised the point :)

[jackthehat]

Youmight want to consider this;

https://www.planningportal.co.uk/info/200130/common_projects/45/paving_your_front_garden

[trolly61]

@jackthehat thank you but i do actually have a drain on my frontage and I will have it paved properly so no planning permission needed.

[trolly61]

Thanks everyone I have now emailed the local highway dept to clarify where i stand