A “dropped kerb” is defined as a section of kerb, lowered to provide vehicular access to an individual property
Important notice
Be aware that people falsely claiming to work for the council occasionally knock on doors offering to drop kerbs in return for cash.
These people do not work for the council and no contractor working for the council is allowed to offer to do work in this way, should you want a vehicle crossing you must contact the council first.
Please do not pay anyone to drop the kerb outside your home - call Dudley Council Plus on 0300 555 2345 and they will put you through to our Highways team if you have any questions.
Any work carried out on the highway that has not been approved by the council will lead to action taken against you. You will be charged to return the footway and kerbs back to their original condition.
If you feel you are being pressured or harassed to have work done, contact the local police immediately.
Dropped kerbs information guide
What is a dropped kerb?
A “dropped kerb” or vehicle crossing is a section of kerb lowered to provide vehicular access to an individual property across the public footway.
A standard crossing consists of five kerbs, 4.57m in length and constructed by installing one left riser kerb, one right riser kerb and three bull-nose kerbs in the centre designated as the “crossing point”.
The full depth of the footway from the rear of the kerb line to the property boundary (known as the demarcation line) will be excavated and strengthened to endure the stresses of vehicular traffic. If more than five kerbs are required the quotation will reflect this, please note a maximum of seven dropped kerbs only are permitted per household.
Primary considerations
The Council is the Highway Authority for all public roads in the Borough of Dudley. In determining whether to grant permission to an application under S184 of the Act, the Council must consider the need to prevent damage to the pavement or verge and shall also have regard to:
- the need to ensure, so far as practicable, safe entry to and exit from premises
- the need to facilitate, so far as practicable, the passage of vehicular traffic on the highway network
- the need to maintain safe passage for pedestrians and cyclists by ensuring vehicles do not overhang the pavement
In determining permission, the Council will also consider environmental impact and other factors, such as the presence of trees, green spaces, other obstacles to construction and the impact the application will have on the requirements for on-street parking in the vicinity. Residents wishing to have a vehicle crossing constructed are required to apply to the Council which and considering the above, may approve the request with or without modifications, propose alternative works, or may reject the request. Each case will always be considered on its own merits.
Where the position of telegraph poles, street cabinets, bus stops etc. require relocating you should contact the utility responsible for the apparatus. This will incur additional charges which can be extremely high, our highway officer will advise you if any such work is required – this will be separate to your crossing quotation.
Trees
All trees are subject to a site inspection and risk assessment by the Council’s Arboriculture officer.
Where a tree is dead or diseased the Council will remove the tree and fund the costs. In line with current policy, if a tree is deemed of good sound structure, being integral asset to the street-scene or of benefit to the environment (e.g. having a high CO² reduction and water run off value) it is unlikely that your application will be approved.
If in exceptional circumstances it is agreed to potentially remove a tree, a new one must be planted and, we have a duty to consult for 28 days prior to removal. If any objections are received the tree will not be removed. If no objections are received, then the cost for removal and the replanting of a new tree will be added to your quotation.
Planning permission
The construction of a vehicle crossing may require planning permission as well as consent from the Highway Authority. If the proposed crossing fronts a classified road full planning permission will be required - to see if you require planning please see the list of classified roads within Dudley.
Please note that a separate planning application fee of £383 is required to obtain full planning permission. Decisions are typically made within 8 weeks during which time an officer will carry out an inspection to confirm forecourt dimensions and other matters relating to your application including drainage and visibility splays as part of this process.
Requesting a dropped kerb
A non-refundable survey fee of £110 is payable in advance to initiate your request.
Upon completion of your survey, we will send you your quotation to your email address or through the post, should you wish.
If you are happy to proceed you can make payment online by registering or logging in to your MyDudley account, select
“My Services”, then using the drop-down menu select “Dropped Kerbs” and follow the instructions on screen to make payment.
No work will commence until all permissions are granted, full payment is received, and a driveway is in place.
Costs
A typical 5-kerb crossing with a footway depth of 1.7m is approximately £2000, please note this does not include any alteration to services that may be present within the footway e.g. stop taps, catv, telecommunication apparatus and /or statutory traffic management required to carry out the work safely - please see associated costs for TM below:
- Legal Closure Application £1300.00
- Set up and dismantling of closure and diversion on the day £412.50
- Traffic Signals £412.50
Road markings (H bars)
An h-bar marking, as the name suggests is an elongated ‘H’ marking running from the top of the left riser kerb through to the top of the right riser kerb and acts as a courtesy marking denoting that the carriageway is to be kept clear for access / egress purposes at this point.
Classified roads
If you live on a classified road you will require Planning Permission before a quote can be provided.
Private streets (unadopted roads)
As the name suggests a private street is “Private” and not maintained by the Authority.
For this reason, any work required on the highway will need to be addressed and funded by the street owners (usually the residents of that street).
Council-owned properties
Prior to applying for a vehicle crossing, council tenants must have permission from the relevant Estates Office to construct a hard standing, please note a dropped kerb will not be installed without a driveway and permission may also be needed to alter boundary walls or cross council land. Find the contact details for your area:
Private contractors
The Council do not hold or provide names of approved contractors; this is your sole responsibility.
Should you wish to appoint your own contractor strict criteria must be met.
Contractors must apply for a Section 184 Road Opening Licence under the New Roads and Street Works Act 1991.
This can be done by contacting alison.yates@dudley.gov.uk
Please note the current fee for a S184 License is £910, this includes after-work inspection and two annual inspections thereafter, the work must be guaranteed for a two-year period and any defects within that period be rectified by the contractor at their expense.
To obtain a S184 Licence the following mandatory information is required:
- Written confirmation of intentions and proposed start and finish dates
- Statutory Undertakers clearances (service plans)
- Plan for Chapter 8 compliant site signage
- Public Liability Insurance (£5 million minimum)
- Copy of proposed works drawings
- Contractor’s Supervisor and Operative’s accreditation certificates
When you are in receipt of your quotation from your chosen contractor, please ensure that the charge for the Section 184 License £910.00 has been included. It is also your responsibility to make sure that a Section 184 license has been applied for and has been granted by the Local Authority before any work commences on the public highway. You can do this by emailing traffic.management@dudley.gov.uk.