Council closing property access for 100s?
Discussion
Our local council (Bradford) are proposing to close a road entirely from 7.30 - 19.30 for 4 consecutive days (20 - 23 August). This is literally the only access road to our estate and there’s 100s of people living on here. It’s for resurfacing and apparently it’s not possible to do the road one carriageway at a time so as to maintain access.
Thus far impossible to get any reply from highways at the council. Unsurprisingly there’s some disquiet about it locally with people pointing out there’s absolutely not sufficient parking to move cars off the estate (and no doubt we’d have a theft problem if we did), there’s disabled people who can’t walk a distance, doctors on call, people going on holiday, people moving house, people (like me) who’ve booked the days off and planned activities which depend on access etc etc.
All in restricting people’s vehicular access to their homes for so many hours and days feels beyond the limits of reason to me. I’ve tried Google but not come with much, can anyone point me to the legislation coveting this and what the council’s responsibility is in terms of access?
As an aside, does anyone know whether the suggestion that the road must be resurfaced in totality and can’t be done one carriageway at a time is credible? It’s a normal width road, not narrow at any point.
Thanks for any replies.
Thus far impossible to get any reply from highways at the council. Unsurprisingly there’s some disquiet about it locally with people pointing out there’s absolutely not sufficient parking to move cars off the estate (and no doubt we’d have a theft problem if we did), there’s disabled people who can’t walk a distance, doctors on call, people going on holiday, people moving house, people (like me) who’ve booked the days off and planned activities which depend on access etc etc.
All in restricting people’s vehicular access to their homes for so many hours and days feels beyond the limits of reason to me. I’ve tried Google but not come with much, can anyone point me to the legislation coveting this and what the council’s responsibility is in terms of access?
As an aside, does anyone know whether the suggestion that the road must be resurfaced in totality and can’t be done one carriageway at a time is credible? It’s a normal width road, not narrow at any point.
Thanks for any replies.
LF5335 said:
Seriously? A country with roads falling apart and covered in potholes and you’re in the very lucky position to get yours resurfaced. Three days of inconvenience vs years of annoying bumps and damage to your tyres wheels suspension etc.
But it is rarely true resurfacing (skimming down and then applying a new level surface) but top dressing with the subsequent scattering of chippings for weeks.vaud said:
But it is rarely true resurfacing (skimming down and then applying a new level surface) but top dressing with the subsequent scattering of chippings for weeks.
Still better than nothing and we don’t know what the resurfacing entails. can’t see how three days inconvenience is such a big deal. vaud said:
LF5335 said:
Seriously? A country with roads falling apart and covered in potholes and you’re in the very lucky position to get yours resurfaced. Three days of inconvenience vs years of annoying bumps and damage to your tyres wheels suspension etc.
But it is rarely true resurfacing (skimming down and then applying a new level surface) but top dressing with the subsequent scattering of chippings for weeks.A few days for a nice road, should be praising the council , it must be bad to get done. 12/14 inch drop on the road here and not a chance of fixing, they did it 3 years ago, it sunk to the same in 1.
Stock up, and enjoy, they will let emergencies in and out.
Thanks for the replies. It’s obvious many don’t see it as being that inconvenient, in principle at least. It is an inconvenience for us given what we must do those days and many neighbours feel likewise. My thinking was along the lines of whether I had an argument which might persuade them to maintain access by doing one side at a time (which I struggle to believe isn’t possible) or being more prescriptive around when access was possible. It might be less efficient for the council but given the number of people impacted doesn’t feel like an unreasonable position to take.
djohnson said:
Thanks for the replies. It’s obvious many don’t see it as being that inconvenient, in principle at least. It is an inconvenience for us given what we must do those days and many neighbours feel likewise. My thinking was along the lines of whether I had an argument which might persuade them to maintain access by doing one side at a time (which I struggle to believe isn’t possible) or being more prescriptive around when access was possible. It might be less efficient for the council but given the number of people impacted doesn’t feel like an unreasonable position to take.
Depending on the road width, they may well do one side at a time, and you may well find the crew will get you in and out if needed, the council have to cover all eventualities, the crew will want the job done as quickly as possible. Plan not to get out, but talk to the crew, and you may well find it will not be a problem.
If there was a crash, like the A68 one, you would be locked in for days without warning, and if the council said you could get out, then cannot, you will be very pissed.
Not worth stressing over, work has to be done, only another 100000 miles to do.
Edited by anyoldcardave on Wednesday 7th August 22:22
djohnson said:
Our local council (Bradford) are proposing to close a road entirely from 7.30 - 19.30 for 4 consecutive days (20 - 23 August). This is literally the only access road to our estate and there’s 100s of people living on here. It’s for resurfacing and apparently it’s not possible to do the road one carriageway at a time so as to maintain access.
Thus far impossible to get any reply from highways at the council. Unsurprisingly there’s some disquiet about it locally with people pointing out there’s absolutely not sufficient parking to move cars off the estate (and no doubt we’d have a theft problem if we did), there’s disabled people who can’t walk a distance, doctors on call, people going on holiday, people moving house, people (like me) who’ve booked the days off and planned activities which depend on access etc etc.
All in restricting people’s vehicular access to their homes for so many hours and days feels beyond the limits of reason to me. I’ve tried Google but not come with much, can anyone point me to the legislation coveting this and what the council’s responsibility is in terms of access?
As an aside, does anyone know whether the suggestion that the road must be resurfaced in totality and can’t be done one carriageway at a time is credible? It’s a normal width road, not narrow at any point.
Thanks for any replies.
What did you do before you could drive? Will your car automatically be stolen? Thus far impossible to get any reply from highways at the council. Unsurprisingly there’s some disquiet about it locally with people pointing out there’s absolutely not sufficient parking to move cars off the estate (and no doubt we’d have a theft problem if we did), there’s disabled people who can’t walk a distance, doctors on call, people going on holiday, people moving house, people (like me) who’ve booked the days off and planned activities which depend on access etc etc.
All in restricting people’s vehicular access to their homes for so many hours and days feels beyond the limits of reason to me. I’ve tried Google but not come with much, can anyone point me to the legislation coveting this and what the council’s responsibility is in terms of access?
As an aside, does anyone know whether the suggestion that the road must be resurfaced in totality and can’t be done one carriageway at a time is credible? It’s a normal width road, not narrow at any point.
Thanks for any replies.
Numerous times a year we have a marathon locally that closes 3 square miles of road trapping all car drivers in.
There was a similar road closure notice just up the hill from me.
What actually happened was they got a closure order which entitled them to close the road at any time in the period, but in the event it was never closed totally for more than about 10 minutes at a time.
It affected a mate, who left his car on our drive for the duration.
Unfortunately, that road has since been dug up again after an electricity problem, but the tarmac looked very nice for several weeks.
What actually happened was they got a closure order which entitled them to close the road at any time in the period, but in the event it was never closed totally for more than about 10 minutes at a time.
It affected a mate, who left his car on our drive for the duration.
Unfortunately, that road has since been dug up again after an electricity problem, but the tarmac looked very nice for several weeks.
Jag_NE said:
Jesus Christ how wet.
That’s a little rude in its presentation but you’re entitled to your view. As I’ve said I’m simply seeking to see if there’s leverage which can be applied to help push the council into maintaining access (for further context Bradford council have a long track record of treating the outlying villages badly and sometimes need some encouragement). I arrive back from holiday during the closure, I somehow need to get family and luggage to the house, I need to get out to pick up food and collect dogs from kennels, my son has GSCE results and the school want them on site to discuss options, I move house in a few weeks and had booked those days off to clear out hence I expect to be in and out to refuse disposal site etc etc. All this can be managed without road access, however in all these circumstances enquiring robustly as to whether there’s a credible alternative which could achieve the resurfacing without closing access for 12 hours a day for 4 days seems entirely reasonable. I think most reasonable people would at least ask the question around alternate approaches before simply working around it. Hugo Stiglitz said:
What did you do before you could drive? Will your car automatically be stolen?
Numerous times a year we have a marathon locally that closes 3 square miles of road trapping all car drivers in.
Before I could drive I didn’t have plans which revolved around driving. My car won’t automatically be stolen, however we have a vehicle crime problem around here and my particular car is high risk anyway , seems reasonable to explore alternatives prior to simply accepted a further elevation of that risk. We’re close to the Dales and roads can be closed for cycle events, very different though, closures tend to be brief, they do rolling closures so each section is a few hours at most, there’s often an alternate route albeit a long one, I’d bet marathons are similar, very different to what’s proposed here. I’m simply looking for alternate approaches to this and leverage to achieve this. Still seems reasonable to me. Numerous times a year we have a marathon locally that closes 3 square miles of road trapping all car drivers in.
djohnson said:
Jag_NE said:
Jesus Christ how wet.
That’s a little rude in its presentation but you’re entitled to your view. As I’ve said I’m simply seeking to see if there’s leverage which can be applied to help push the council into maintaining access (for further context Bradford council have a long track record of treating the outlying villages badly and sometimes need some encouragement). I arrive back from holiday during the closure, I somehow need to get family and luggage to the house, I need to get out to pick up food and collect dogs from kennels, my son has GSCE results and the school want them on site to discuss options, I move house in a few weeks and had booked those days off to clear out hence I expect to be in and out to refuse disposal site etc etc. All this can be managed without road access, however in all these circumstances enquiring robustly as to whether there’s a credible alternative which could achieve the resurfacing without closing access for 12 hours a day for 4 days seems entirely reasonable. I think most reasonable people would at least ask the question around alternate approaches before simply working around it. https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5a7...
djohnson said:
That’s a little rude in its presentation but you’re entitled to your view. As I’ve said I’m simply seeking to see if there’s leverage which can be applied to help push the council into maintaining access (for further context Bradford council have a long track record of treating the outlying villages badly and sometimes need some encouragement). I arrive back from holiday during the closure, I somehow need to get family and luggage to the house, I need to get out to pick up food and collect dogs from kennels, my son has GSCE results and the school want them on site to discuss options, I move house in a few weeks and had booked those days off to clear out hence I expect to be in and out to refuse disposal site etc etc. All this can be managed without road access, however in all these circumstances enquiring robustly as to whether there’s a credible alternative which could achieve the resurfacing without closing access for 12 hours a day for 4 days seems entirely reasonable. I think most reasonable people would at least ask the question around alternate approaches before simply working around it.
Stressing and trying to get answers from a council, is futile, as already said, you may find that it is not a big issue at all, and the crew will help everyone out. They often do.The council have to cover everything, from Heath and safety to getting the job done, the easiest option in full closure notices. Does not mean there will be at all times.
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