Low driveway - query
Discussion
I'm having difficulty getting my car onto my driveway. There's a dip just in front of the driveway due to the large amount of camber on the road. The car is standard ride height.
The house is rented and I can't see the landlord paying to resolve the issue.
What I'd like to know is; if I get some tarmac or concrete and fill the dip in, am I likely to get in trouble with the local council/highways agency? I have tried to contact my local council but they've not been particularly understanding.
I have considered some sort of ramp, but there doesn't appear to be anything suitable on the 'bay or google.
My girlfriend and I live on a cul-de-sac and have 3 cars between us... I want to resolve the issue before I piss my neighbours off as we're on good terms with all of them.
The house is rented and I can't see the landlord paying to resolve the issue.
What I'd like to know is; if I get some tarmac or concrete and fill the dip in, am I likely to get in trouble with the local council/highways agency? I have tried to contact my local council but they've not been particularly understanding.
I have considered some sort of ramp, but there doesn't appear to be anything suitable on the 'bay or google.
My girlfriend and I live on a cul-de-sac and have 3 cars between us... I want to resolve the issue before I piss my neighbours off as we're on good terms with all of them.
FreeLitres said:
Can you not just lay down a plank of wood in the dip each time you need to go over it?
Not ideal, but it means you would not annoy anyone by permanently changing the road or pavement.
Have tried that (sorry, I should've mentioned it).Not ideal, but it means you would not annoy anyone by permanently changing the road or pavement.
The dip is so deep that nothing less than a railway sleeper would suffice. I've tried to get my hands on one but they seem to be in short supply in my area (Nottingham).
Boba Fret said:
go to a builders merchant and get one of those big bags of gravel/shingle
build it up
It's 'removable' so the useless council can't do sod all and you stop scraping your undercarriage
I had a chat with a builder type who live a few doors down about this: he reckons that unless it's cemented in place, any gravel I put down will just spread out. To further complicate the issue, there is a drain in the road near the drive and I don't want to block that with a load of gravel...build it up
It's 'removable' so the useless council can't do sod all and you stop scraping your undercarriage
Faust66 said:
I had a chat with a builder type who live a few doors down about this: he reckons that unless it's cemented in place, any gravel I put down will just spread out. To further complicate the issue, there is a drain in the road near the drive and I don't want to block that with a load of gravel...
In that case get a metal fabricator to weld a tube (diameter approx same depth as the 'gully' to a metal 'ramp'that way you still maintain the drainage flow and you have a nice shallow 'lift' to your driveway.
I'm pretty sure there is something in local rules that councils have to maintain drop kerb access.
My parents' drive is quite steep and the shape of the pavement means that virtually no cars will go down the drive. Luckily my mum's car has a short wheelbase and isn't particularly affected (scrapes if fully loaded but otherwise ok) but my dad's mk1 focus won't go down, even before I lowered it!
If I were you, I'd be going down my nearest machine shop/engineers, and getting them to make up something out of 1" box section and steel deck plate. It'll be light enough to lift so you can move it, but it'll be strong enough to hold the car. Then I'd go down to the nearest hardware supplier and buy some expanding masonry bolts. I'd insert these in the ground far enough apart that you can get a car between without damaging the tyre. Then I'd bolt my newly made ramp to them so chavs don't steal it for scrap.
Simples.
Actually, no. I wouldn't do that, I'd probably make it myself instead. :-)
Simples.
Actually, no. I wouldn't do that, I'd probably make it myself instead. :-)
fel71 said:
'Wickes' do bags of tarmac, you could get a scaffold pole and cut two 300mm pieces to use for drainage. Just open the bag and press into position up against the kerbside, it goes off in a couple of hours,it works a treat on small holes in road so would probably help.
You can't do that, you'll have the council/highways banging on your door. I did - Gas workmen tried to be helpful and maintain access across a low kerb at an angle into my drive whilst they dug a hole halfway across. It was quite funny watching the jobsworth set up his little black and yellow scale for his photos of the offending 2" pile of tarmac in the gutter. Mr GrimNasty said:
You can't do that, you'll have the council/highways banging on your door. I did - Gas workmen tried to be helpful and maintain access across a low kerb at an angle into my drive whilst they dug a hole halfway across. It was quite funny watching the jobsworth set up his little black and yellow scale for his photos of the offending 2" pile of tarmac in the gutter.
Whats the worst case (you will waste £20)
watching that cyclist
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