Hi guys need advice

[Sunflower1977]

Hi guys well if you read my previous post your know I have trouble with jealous selfish neighbours well they started again well 18 months ago we made what was our drive into a respectful looking one instead of a mud bath but we couldn't afford the drop kerb so as I got my bad legs and my partner chronicly I'll we ask if we ok to use the drive till we get the drop sorted for 18 month we been using rubber Ramos to go u and down the drive till the other day sat in my living room s man in a hi Viz jacket was picking them up I said can I help and he said he been reported tve them I was angry have now been told I'll be fined if we use them so we have been ringing around to find the cheapest price for a drop kerb and it's £1500 I'm wondering if anyone knows if if your on mobility benifts and have as notability car is there any grants or help you can get to help with you independent and mobility as I'm struggling to find that kind of money but need my car close to my house many thanks stressed out 😯

[Sunflower1977]

Yep I been through council had to pay 230 for the dig before getting the builder to do it thanks anyways

[Hidden]

Depends on your local council area I would imagine as to what help you would be entitled to with getting a dropped kerb put in. There must be places that could offer you a grant to get the work done too if needed like a charity for example. If you have motability surely that would make things easier. Could you possibly contact NRAS for advice?

[Sunflower1977 in reply to Hidden]

Yet that's good idea thsnjs

[nomoreheels]

As has been said much depends on your local council &/or disability grant as funding for dropped kerbs can be discretionary (not mandatory). To apply for disability grants you can contact your council by telephone [phone]) or Email ([e-mail]). As you're in receipt of enhanced Mobility PIP I would think it could well help but if you are awarded a Disability facilities grant, & I think this applies for anything, it's on the proviso you will be living in the property for at least 5 years.

In addition to your local council site stoke.gov.uk/site/scripts/g..., top 3 links, these links may also be of help disability-grants.org/disab... buyaplan.co.uk/blog/posts/8....

I have some idea of what's needed legalities-wise because we're wanting to extend the access (width) of our driveway by moving the gatepost & may in addition have to extend the existing dropped kerb. We have to apply to do so because of the extra width required, it may be the pavement needs strengthening due to a water board access, also any other services which run underneath the pavement. As you had no official driveway originally the whole width of the drive (& the pavement you have to ride over in order to get on to your drive) may come under this requirement. This could be why the cost seems so high, it's not just the dropped kerb you're paying for but probably also the strengthening of the pavement (which incidentally is owned by & remains the property of the council even when you've paid out the money). You may be charged an application fee too, around £30 or so, though I'm unsure if this applies if you have a disability.

You may have done this but it worth asking. Did you check if you needed to apply to the council to put your drive in? If the hard standing (drive) is permeable, ie it allows water to drain away so made one of these - permeable block paving, porous concrete, gravel or asphalt, or, if it's angled so that rainwater naturally drains into a border or grass you should be ok. If not & if it's any more than 5 square metres made of non permeable material you may have to ask for retropective permission. This could also be the case if your drive is one of the following - on a busy road or is on a bus route, whether you are you able to see clearly in both directions to exit your drive, if there is car parking on your side of the road or you can leave the drive in forward gear (quite how this is relevant is beyond me).

Good luck. At least you don't have building control to deal with as well, that's one blessing! 😐