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Residents angry at kerb cash bid
Linda Alllred and the low kerb outside her home on Quarrybank, Norcross.
RESIDENTS have been invited to pay £350 if they want legal access to their drives and garages.
But people living in Anchorsholme, who have received letters from the council asking for the cash in order to install dropped kerbs, have branded the move as “wrong”.
They say residents have driven over the existing kerbs since the houses were built more than 40 years ago.
Linda Allred, of Quarry Bank, said: “These houses were built 41 years ago and planning permission shows integral garages so when the road was adopted by the council I’m sure the kerbstones had to be suitable for cars to drive over. It’s wrong to come along 41 years later and ask us for money.”
Neighbour Robert Patrick added: “I have lived here 36 years and I have never had any problems with the kerbs as they are as they are only about an inch high.”
Ian Loudon, of Seabrooke Drive, said: “I was told I didn’t have to have it done –but it would mean I wouldn’t be able to use my driveway.”
Anchorsholme ward councillor Tony Williams said: “Cars crossing over normal kerbs can cause damage to the pavement and in a perfect world all accesses should be via a dropped kerb.
“However the argument with some of these residents is they have been accessing their drives for more than 30 years without problems and now the council want them to fork out £350.”
The council is offering a discounted rate of £350 for dropped kerbs, compared to around £850 if the work was carried out independently.
The letter warns crossing a footway not constructed to the council’s approval is illegal.
But Coun Fred Jackson, cabinet member for streets and transport for the council, said: “This letter was in no way meant to worry any of the residents and I hope it hasn’t been taken that way.
“What we are actually doing is giving residents the option to make the most of a discounted price to have work done to lower their driveway kerbs, due to the fact our technicians will already be carrying road and pavement repair works in the area.
“Having a lowered kerb that leads to the drive is beneficial to everybody as it reduces the damage caused to pavements, which can result in extra repair work being needed, at a cost to all council tax payers. The option of enforcing any legal proceedings would only ever be used as a last resort.”
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Wednesday 30 May 2012
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Comments
There are 36 comments to this article
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LADY PIP 68
Wednesday, January 18, 2012 at 10:33 AMA personal message to "Sir Hubert Obadiah Finkleton" I happen to know this lady very well a s a work colleague !!!! Linda is a dedicated hard working FULL TIME colleague, she does NOT claim any benefits whatsoever. The point I make here is that Linda has tirelessly championed this issue on behalf of ALL BLACKPOOL residents who are being effectively bullied by the council to pay for their error, and prey upon people who are ill educated on laws and by laws in this case maybe yourself included !!! I suggest you get your facts correct before airing your opinions. You're assumptions are very misguided,bigoted and brand people with disabilities in a very negative manner. Another suggestion , educate yourself on the highways act 1980 section 38 agreement !!!!
Removed by moderator
Tuesday, January 17, 2012 at 11:04 PMComment removed by moderator
me2
Tuesday, January 17, 2012 at 03:08 PMam i missing something here? I started to read the article and thought well its always been illegal to cross a kerb thats not dropped so whats the fuss - then i look at this picture and the kerb is already dropped - so why the letter and why the moan! PS max fan - completely agree where you CAN park on the road fully without causing danger to crossing pedestrians or blocking the road then you should! this isnt always possible though so maybe you should get off your soap box!
westonbill
Sunday, January 15, 2012 at 07:46 PMKerb stones are a quite hefty chunk of material and I don't ever seem to see any that have to be repaired or re-newed - Once they are there are there for a lifetime ---- unless a drop kerb is required or a lay-by installed..--- the pavements are usually disturbed by the utillaty services -- ie. gas - phone -etc. - The re-instatement of the surface is usually made by the company involved (to a low standard) and after it sinks a few months later is left until the next service departmant digs it up again and aroung we go again -- the same could be noticed in the road surfaces too in many areas all over the country
BikerBill
Sunday, January 15, 2012 at 07:06 PM“Having a lowered kerb that leads to the drive is beneficial to everybody as it reduces the damage caused to pavements, which can result in extra repair work being needed, at a cost to all council tax payers. The option of enforcing any legal proceedings would only ever be used as a last resort.” Councils can't be that worried about damage and having to carry out repairs. For the last twenty years cars have been driven up and down the kerbs and driven along the pavements on the avenue I live on. One child has been killed and several injured but no kerbs or pavements damaged so the council ain't bothered.
Driftwood
Sunday, January 15, 2012 at 05:41 PMJam 1 and helipilot I know this lady and for your misguided and ignorent perception she is quite disabled and walks with a stick yet she also manages to work full time to support herself.
LMA50
Sunday, January 15, 2012 at 01:56 PMWhat next Blackpool Council??, will residents be charged for standing in tram shelters?, a charge for going on the beach?, a toll booth for driving on the prom?.......... the mind boggles. Maintenance on pavements is part of road adoption I have lived in Blackpool since 1975 and I do not recall any pavement being maintained in the road that I live therefore it is no surprise that pavements in many areas of Blackpool require replacing. Stop putting the blame on residents, stop wasting money on things that are no benefit to the town...imitation bendy sea pampas "springs" to mind and as for the wedding shack!!!!!!
Grecian2000
Sunday, January 15, 2012 at 01:24 PMHe's on planet Jacko.
Sandurchin
Sunday, January 15, 2012 at 01:13 PMAm I missing something here?. Does this threat to the good people of Anchorsholme mean that if they don't cough up the £350.00, the Council will "improve " their bit of pavement with a standard high kerbing so as to make life difficult for them accessing their own property?. I know Blackpool Council are famous for being totally daft ( wedding chapel !!!!), but this one beggars belief. What planet are you on Jackson?.
stanley 60
Sunday, January 15, 2012 at 11:44 AMThis issue isn't new it has been going on for far too long and needs addressing. Its certainly better to park off road than half on the pavement, and save the council the cost of continually having to repair the pavements and curb stones.
NorthShoreHostage
Sunday, January 15, 2012 at 09:25 AMAs these people are being offered a reduced rate for having their kerbs dropped, can I also take up this offer and have a refund of the £500 I obviously overpaid !!!
moonwolf
Sunday, January 15, 2012 at 04:27 AMPending Moderation
Charles Lightoller
Saturday, January 14, 2012 at 10:16 PMStill no comments permitted on the first marriage at the wedding chappel, eh Gazette, I wonder why?
Removed
Saturday, January 14, 2012 at 07:03 PMGet doctor Brian Newman and his neighbours to pay for the kerbs getting lowered they seem to have plenty of money.
MANU
Saturday, January 14, 2012 at 05:46 PMIn reply to the the comment from duh, I am aware that dropped kerbs on a new vehicle access would have to be paid for by the resident, however this issue is because these houses were built with planning permission for garages therefore the council will have been made aware that vehicle access over the pavement to get to the garages will have been needed. When a developer builds a new road they enter into an agreement with the Council. that the developer will build the road to the standard required by the Council and if this is not achieved, then the road will not be adopted. The arguement here is that the council are holding these people to ransom, these are adopted roads that met the standard to be adopted.
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