Conditions of construction and
use
The following is a list of conditions relevant to the
construction and the use of a domestic vehicle crossing after it
has been completed:
Permitted types of vehicles: A domestic vehicle
crossing may only be used by a private light goods or similar
vehicle. It may not be used by heavy goods vehicles or mechanical
equipment. If a delivery, such as a skip, is made into the
property, and in doing so the delivery damages the crossing, any
repairs will be the responsibility of the occupier.
Size of the crossing: The width of a standard
crossing is 2.44 metres at the back of the public footway. This
increases to about 4.58 metres at the kerbline. Crossings up to
twice that width or two separate crossings may be built where there
is sufficient space to leave a continuous length of two metres of
unused space at the kerbline. A crossing, which covers the full
frontage, may not be permitted.
Shared access: Where the occupiers of two
adjoining properties share a driveway, and wish to build a double
width crossing to serve the two sites, one occupier should act on
behalf of both parties.
Two crossings at the same property: Where a
request is made for two crossings to serve the property and the
space available means that the area between them is at or close to
the minimum limits, i.e. 2 metres in width, a decision will
have to be made as to the shape of the crossing. Where there is an
existing crossing it may mean that this also will have to be
modified.
Parking within your property: Your application
will not be approved unless you are able to provide a suitable
parking area within your property, this must be at least 4.8 metres
long, measured from the front of your house to the boundary of your
property and 2.44 metres wide. There must be enough space around
this area for pedestrian access. If the width of your property is
more than 8m these conditions may not apply.
There may be instances where the above criteria are not met. In
such cases approval may be given, subject to a site inspection by a
Highway Inspector. The Highway Inspector's decision as to whether
the application will be approved or refused is final.
No part of a vehicle parked within your property may project on to
or over the highway. The crossing may not be used as a parking area
and no part of it is exempted for the purpose of footway
parking.
Hardstandings: Where you are intending to use
gravel or a similar loose material for your hardstanding, you
should consider the problem of some being carried on to the highway
by the movement of the vehicle.
This is especially true where the surface comes up to the boundary.
Where material of this type is used, concrete or blacktop should be
laid in a 500mm strip from the boundary to the start of the
gravelled area. This will help to reduce any problem. If the
material is carried onto the highway it will be the responsibility
of the occupier to remove it by sweeping etc.
Drainage: The parking area within your property
must be built so that water does not drain from it across the
footway. Suitable drainage must be provided within the boundaries
of your property.
Standard finish: The standard finish to crossings
is blacktop. This will be decided by Highways Maintenance
Operations (HMO) when you apply for an estimate.
If at a later date after acceptance of the crossing by the Council,
reinstatement work or changes in the road layout take place, they
will try their utmost to match the finish, colour or shape of the
blocks, but this cannot be guaranteed.
Street furniture: Where applicants have removed
more of the wall or fence running along the boundary than is
required by the size of the crossing, it should be understood that
an item of street furniture, i.e. lamp post, telegraph pole,
traffic sign etc., may be erected at any time in the footway
outside the area of a crossing, even though this may obstruct an
area where there is no wall or similar feature.
Obstacles to construction: If the proposed
position of the access is obstructed by a road sign, lamp post, or
tree, etc. the location should be altered to avoid the obstacle. If
this is not feasible, a decision will have to be made by the
relevant section as to whether the item should be removed or
relocated.
If a statutory authority is required to carry out work by
relocating a fire hydrant, telegraph pole etc. any charges for such
work will be the responsibility of the applicant, who will be
required to produce written proof of approval by the authority to
HMO before a crossing can be built.
If an applicant wishes the crossing to be placed in a location
other than that recommended by the HMO and this requires the
relocation of a lamp post or similar item, which would not
otherwise be necessary, he/she will be required to pay the full
cost of relocation.
Alterations to your vehicle crossover: The Council
may need to alter the layout of your vehicle crossover at any time,
due to modifications in the footway or verge. Every effort will be
made to maintain access to your property and the occupier of
premises so affected will be given adequate notice of such
works.
Safety: Any application for the construction of a
domestic crossing may be refused or modified on the grounds of
safety. The applicant must ensure that adequate sight lines are
maintained to allow safe access to their property.
Gates across vehicle entrance: Gates fitted across
the vehicle entrance to your property may in no circumstances open
outwards across the footpath or carriageway (Highways Act 1980 -
Section 153).
More information
For more information you can ring Lancashire Highways on
0845 053 0011, email highways@lancashire.gov.uk,
visit the Lancashire Highways
website (external link) or write to: Lancashire County Council,
Highways Dept, PO Box 9, Guild House, Cross Street, Preston,
Lancashire, PR1 8RD.