Council want my Outlaw entry fee! - Triathlon

Iron Pingu pirate

pirate

21/10/2011 at 12:14

Ok, so that’s not entirely how it is, but I received a letter last night saying the council were pleased to inform me that they are resurfacing the road outside my house (all good so far).They notice I have a dropped kerb so they have agreed with the contractors a price of £250 for a dropped kerb that I will need to apply for. Really? What??

I’ve contacted the Council this morning and the person (receptionist) I spoke didn’t know anything about it and suggested I come in the office today which I will a little later. So after some advice, anyone on here had this? Are they trying it on, do I have to pay this fee or have a drive over a massive kerb in future..

Really don't want to fork out £250, wanted to pay for Outlaw this month

SteadyCJ

21/10/2011 at 12:32

If you already have a dropped kerb, purpose built when the property and driveway was built and it has not occurred due to you driving up and over the kerb, I can't see how they can justify charging you for it. If it is a new dropped kerb then they can charge.
Our council did a resurface job some years ago and marked which parts would be dropped or not. We were OK as ours was an existing one, the neighbour wanted his widened for 2 cars but did not pay as did not see he needed to and ended up with just the original size dropped kerb when the road was resurfaced.

Iron Pingu pirate

pirate

21/10/2011 at 12:45

Thanks Steady, that's useful to know...

IrO.n Little Sister

21/10/2011 at 12:45

I'm not an expert in this and I've just picked the brains of one of my colleagues on this for you. Also there are a lot of unknowns such as who installed the kerb, what was it designed for, who has responsibility for maintaining the road/ footway, yaddda, yadda, yadda.......

We are assuming that the dropped kerb is in place for vehicle access to a drive and not for pedestrians/ pushchairs/ wheelchairs. If so and also assuming that the kerb has been like this for some time and that you haven't just installed it yourself then as I understand it the council should put back the kerb as it was with no charge! I'm also assuming that the length of kerbing doesn't need to be extended to facilitate access, etc.

But I would ask the council to justify why you need to pay for what you've already got!

Not sure if this helps, but it is worth a shot!!

Iron Pingu pirate

pirate

21/10/2011 at 12:58

Cheers LS, dropped kerb is for a driveway, and both have been there for years and years and years!

Right .. off to council offices!

fat buddha

21/10/2011 at 13:14

speak to your local councillor and ask him to look into the matter - that's what he's there for. their contact details should be on the council website

I suspect it's the council trying to get as much money in as they can from residents using a back door, if not slightly dodgy, method. and you'll probably find that many will cough up the fee without questioning it as they "don't want to cause a fuss".

ferk that - cause a fuss!!

Iron Pingu pirate

pirate

21/10/2011 at 13:32

All sorted, the letter was sent to everyone by, er mistake. Either that or the contractors doing the work were trying it on, the £250 fee only applies to people wanting new access. Phew

Apparently I wasn't the only person they'd seen today asking the same question ...

EDIT: FB, hope nobody does cough up for no reason

Edited: 21/10/2011 at 13:34

fat buddha

21/10/2011 at 13:45

glad you're sorted - onwards to Outlaw!

you'd be surprised how many people cough up without asking. we get letters to our office for what is basically a pro-forma invoice for a "business directory" listing. the small print says something like "by signing you agree to pay us €900" or similar. the directory doesn't even fecking exist - it's a pure scam yet companies cough up as that amount is peanuts for many and it's way off radar for the top people internally.

Iron Pingu pirate

pirate

21/10/2011 at 13:58

It's sad though to be caught out like that

I did suggest to the council that perhaps they should send another letter clarifying the first!

popsider

17/02/2012 at 11:45

Cheers FB - just off to pen some letters to local businesses.

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