A dropped/vehicle crossing is an area of lowered pavement and kerb. It must only be used to give vehicles access to the resident's drive from the road and across the pavement. It is not provided to park vehicles on and should not be used to do that.
Under The Highways Act 1980 it is an offence to drive over the public footway without an approved dropped crossing.
The reasons for this are:
- Pedestrian footways are not constructed to take the weight of a vehicle.
- Damage may be caused to utility apparatus beneath the surface.
- Damage may be caused to the highway verge or flags along the kerb edge.
Without a dropped kerb in place, the resident crossing the footway would be liable for the cost of repair.
Who can apply
Anyone, provided that the reason is:
- to park a vehicle on your property;
- and you are the owner of the property. (If not, a permission letter must be sent from the owner/landlord along with your application form.)
Planning permission
On classified A, B and C roads, you must get planning permission before applying. The Streetworks team will only accept an application on an A road once planning permission has been granted. You must provide your planning reference number with your application.
Please note: Hard paving frontages over 5 square metres may need planning permission.
How to apply
To apply for a vehicle crossing, contact Streetworks to request a copy of the application form:
- Email: streetworks@calderdale.gov.uk
- Phone: 01422 288002.
To help our Officer assess your application, please enclose a map or photo that shows where you want the crossing.
Once your application has been logged and reviewed by our Streetworks Officer, a member of our team will contact you. This is to process the application fee and discuss the next steps. Note: Please allow up to 10 working days.
Costs
The initial fee is £114 at the time of application, which is non-refundable. It can be paid by card over the phone.
This covers:
- Our administration costs and a site visit with one of our Streetworks Inspectors, before the crossing is installed.
- The inspector carrying out a final site visit once all the work has been completed. This is to check that the work has been done to the correct specification.
Please note: If planning permission is needed, there will be an application fee of £172.
The total fee for the whole process will vary with each application. Beforehand, please take into account things like:
- Drainage.
- Moving street furniture.
- Width of the dropped crossing and other factors.
The cost may be in the region of £750 to £1,500, if:
- No extra works (listed above) is needed;
- and it does not need planning permission.
What we consider when we process an application
Once you have applied, a Streetworks Inspector will need to conduct a site visit prior to any work taking place. This is to assess whether you are eligible for a dropped crossing.
They will take into account aspects, such as:
- Location of the crossing.
- Distance from road junctions.
- Proximity to bus stops or schools in the immediate vicinity.
- Blind bends.
- Gradient of footway and other factors.
Your application may be rejected, if:
- A crossing is deemed unfeasible from a construction perspective;
- or unsafe from a road safety perspective.
The Inspector will also advise:
- Whether any highways trees or street furniture (like streetlights) will need to be moved. Please note: The cost for this work to be done will be payable by you.
- How many kerb flags you can lower. (We aim to work to a standard specification of 3 drops and 2 tapers.)
Owner permission
If the dropped kerb will cross over a grass verge or land which is not owned or maintained by us. This could be Together Housing or similar.
You will need to contact them for permission to cross the verge/land, before we can approve your application.
Please note: If this is needed, our inspector will let you know during the site visit.
What will happen next
If approved
You can go ahead with lowering the kerb, provided any conditions outlined by the Inspector have been adhered to.
- The inspector will give you a list of accredited contractors who can carry out the work.
- We do not carry out the work to lower kerbs.
- The work must be done by an independent contractor. They must be fully accredited under the New Road and Street Works Act to work on the public highway.
If rejected
You will be contacted directly and the full reasons for this explained to you.
- You have the right to appeal this decision via our Complaints procedure.
- If you appeal, your application is passed to another Officer for a second opinion.
Legal enforcement
Yes, by our Civil Enforcement Officers (CEOs), but only at the request of the resident.
- You must contact our Parking Services team directly to request this.
- After your request, CEOs can issue Penalty Charge Notices to any vehicles parking across the dropped kerb. This is only when they are in the area.
Please note: They do not have the power to move on parked vehicles. If a vehicle is causing an immediate obstruction to your access, contact the Police on their non-emergency number (101).
You may wish to apply for a white H marking, after the kerb has been dropped.
- This is an advisory marking:
- to show motorists there is a dropped kerb in place;
- and that they should not park in front of it.
- The cost of installing the H marking is payable by you.
- Contact our Traffic Team directly if you want to apply for an H marking after your dropped crossing is installed.
Note: A dropped crossing can only be enforced from taper to taper. If you have an H marking installed beyond the dropped kerb, this will not be enforceable.
Useful email contacts
- Streetworks: streetworks@calderdale.gov.uk.
- Traffic: traffic@calderdale.gov.uk.
- Planning: applications@calderdale.gov.uk.
- Parking Services: parking@calderdale.gov.uk.