Crossing the pavement?

Aug 1, 2019
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Hi, I wonder if anyone can help me with this.
At some point we are going to excavate a driveway to store our caravan at home. We have to go through the lengthy process of applying for planning permission to drop the kerb and then get all the work done etc.
Until then, I wondered if it is legal to take the caravan across the pavement (with a couple of wooden ramps to get up the kerb) and store it in front of our house on our property.
I know the ins and outs of storing caravans on the drive. It will not be obstucting any neighbours views and not protruding on the pavement. It is a small Eriba Triton so quite compact. Also, I know it is illegal to drive a car across the pavement but we would be pushing it on.
My question just relates to the legality of crossing the footpath.
I've searched around but can only find information relating to parking a caravan ON the pavement.
Anyone know anything about this?
Thanks!
 
Nov 11, 2009
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Where we have just moved from a couple extended their drive sideways but didn't want to bear the cost/hassle of seeking a new lift. They just left a length of wood in the gutter abutting the kerb. Also near our daughter one house has block paved the whole drive but still only have a single lift aligned with the garage. So two of their cars regularly drive over the pavement. So I think the occasional passage of your caravan over the pavement isn't likely to cause an issue. However as to being illegal or not I have always understood that parking in a pavement is not illegal unless obstruction passage, but driving is. Some areas allow pavement parking as it helps the flow of heavier vehicles and emergency vehicles. Certainly the Police have got far betterr things to do and parking has principally been devolved to councils. So Unless a Council officer should see your caravan actually crossing the pavement what evidence is there that it was "driven" across. But can a caravan be driven? I guess a motor mover does that but three large blokes pushing cannot be classed as driving it.

I would just relax and get on with it.

The following link may explain our antiquated laws.

http://roadswerenotbuiltforcars.com/pavementparkingcop/
PS I do it when the caravan is brought back to the house. A couple of wooden strips works treat and she "drives " on and off so smoothly.
 
Mar 24, 2014
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We decided to go through the formal legal process. We went through the Local Highways Authority which required us to contact all the Utilities which might have cables or pipes under the proposed dropped kerb, none had. We then had to engage a contractor who had a Licence from the Authority to do such work. This was not cheap. We know that others, not too far away, just put some planks down to cross the pavement to their property. At least we know that when it comes to sell the house we will know that all the access routes are legal.
 
Feb 17, 2018
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We have just had our drive widened to get the Caravan on, just bought a couple of heavy duty rubber ramps.
Works a treat & saved us a lot of money & hassle dropping the curb.
 

Damian

Moderator
Mar 14, 2005
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The whole issue of what you need to do is controlled by your local council and they are the people to ask.

In my area if you want to bring anything across a pavement, car, caravan etc then you must apply for permission and have a registered contractor do the job to their specification which includes depth of excavation and strength of surface as well as extending 1 mtr wider each side than the actual driveway to allow for turning in and out.
 
May 24, 2014
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The whole issue of what you need to do is controlled by your local council and they are the people to ask.

In my area if you want to bring anything across a pavement, car, caravan etc then you must apply for permission and have a registered contractor do the job to their specification which includes depth of excavation and strength of surface as well as extending 1 mtr wider each side than the actual driveway to allow for turning in and out.

Same here, but our local planning department add that any surface laid must be porous. Tarmac is, but we had blocks paving, and had to have an approved medium, in our case powdered glass, laid as the base.
 
Sep 29, 2016
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Our local authority used to insist on using their approved contractors, it had the effect of pushing up prices for domestic customers.

The rule was later relaxed to permit any companies house registered contractors to undertake the works, costs came down as there was more competition to choose from, standards and compliance conditions still had to be met by all contractors.

I was able to have a significant length of drop kerb installed about 6 months ago and at a reasonable price.

Dropped kerb also has the advantage of being a visual indicator to deter people from parking on the dropped kerb area.
 
May 7, 2012
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i cannot see any problem in taking the caravan across the path before the drive is installed. It is basically the same as taking your car across.
 
Jun 17, 2011
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I'd make sure your neighbours are happy with the plan otherwise you could get loads of hassle.
 
Mar 24, 2014
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Damian-Moderator said:
The whole issue of what you need to do is controlled by your local council and they are the people to ask.

In my area if you want to bring anything across a pavement, car, caravan etc then you must apply for permission and have a registered contractor do the job to their specification which includes depth of excavation and strength of surface as well as extending 1 mtr wider each side than the actual driveway to allow for turning in and out.

I think what Damian says is the position across the country, however a lot of people appear to ignore this requirement either deliberately or through ignorance. Some Local Aurhorities have started to take a stricter line: https://www.express.co.uk/life-style/cars/1005838/parking-driveway-dropped-kerb-pavement-fine-bill
 
Apr 20, 2009
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Anseo said:
Dropped kerb also has the advantage of being a visual indicator to deter people from parking on the dropped kerb area.

IMG-20190712-065639.jpg
IMG-20190712-065639.jpg


Try and get your caravan off my drive, that van was parked there over night , took photo's 6.45am.
He's a lodger in a neighbours house just down the road, havent seen the van since wonder if it was something I said :angry: :angry: :evil: :evil:
 
Sep 10, 2014
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I have a similar problem as Gagakev, with me it's the next door neighbour, and it's there from 4pm on Fridays till 8am on Mondays.
 
Nov 16, 2015
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All I said to the Wife was If you want that Holly bush removed , then sort it out yourself.

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