Dropped Kerb - is a gravel drive ok?

[PJR]

Hello,
We recently applied for permission to Greenwich Council for a dropped kerb and they said we need to change the driveway "to be a solid surface and not constructed of loose material, since this presents a risk to the highway. Most residents use block paving or bound materials such as asphalt, concrete or resin bound stone."

The Council's own policy on crossovers/dropped kerbs simply refers to needing a "hardstanding", which I understand includes gravel, and does not say gravel is not allowed. We only recently had the drive done in gravel and don't have the budget to have it redone asphalt, concrete or resin bound stone.

Any suggestions on how to approach this gratefully received.

Many thanks for reading! Pete

[nod]

Rumble strip hard pavivibg cobbles etc Three meters  in from your boundary 

[MAB]

The council are probably worried about migration of your gravel onto the pavement and into road causing a nuisance/hazard to pedestrians and passing vehicles. You could install one of the many types of interlocking plastic grid systems which stabilise the gravel and prevent migration/movement by holding the gravel in individual plastic cells. Angled gravel up to 20mm will move less then rounded gravel.  Councils also usually like this gravel/grid system because it allows good drainage compared to hard driveway surfaces which cause rainwater to run off into the road overloading the councils drains in the road gutters.

Typical examples in link....there are many different types and suppliers including Wickes, etc.

https://www.matsgrids.co.uk/c/gravel-driveways/

Edited February 1, 2024 by MAB

[Conor]

You could probably get away with just doing the couple metres or so as a hard surface.

[PJR]

Thanks very much everyone for the responses/suggestions

[barnabo]

I am in the same situation. How did you solve it? I applied to have the drop kerb extended as the coucil plans CPZ which means cost will explode once into force(from 1.5k quoted to potentially 3k+)

Edited October 1 by barnabo
Adding more background

[JohnMo]

You need a certain distance from road edge to be roads spec. Think yourself lucky no visibility slats have been thrown at you. Our previous house needed a 25m and 15m long 2m high stone wall taking down and rebuilt, like for like as we were in a conservation area. £3k is small beer. 

 

Do it properly or don't bother.