Woman can’t use her own driveway after bollards installed outside house
A woman has been ‘blocked’ from using her own driveway after the council installed two bollards outside her home.
The barriers were put in place by Darlington Borough Council in May to stop people driving over the pavement by a school crossing opposite her house.
The homeowner from Darlington, County Durham, who wished to remain anonymous, is now pleading with the council to get them removed.
After nearly five years of witnessing traffic issues along the road, the woman has called for better infrastructure to be installed in a safer place.
‘I didn’t initially know you couldn’t drive over it and we only had the driveway done at the end of March,’ she said.
‘A highways inspector drove past, stopped, and told my husband he was legally not allowed to park there.
‘We did have grass and a footpath but the tree roots completely uplifted it, so we installed the paved driveway.
‘We were totally naïve and just assumed as it was a dropped kerb we would be able to use it.’
A letter from the council followed which said bollards would be installed if the path was damaged.
The woman added: ‘This was just a warning sign, we haven’t used it since, yet they still came and installed the bollards.’
In response, the council said it wasn’t alerted that the driveway would be paved and would have warned the residents it could not be accessed due to the nearby crossing.
The couple’s car has not been used since March and is parked on a neighbouring street.
The woman said: ‘I feel like we’ve been made an example of and discriminated against.
‘I don’t think they needed to go to this extreme, I’m so embarrassed.
‘It just looks awful and whenever I look out the window I’m faced with this. I keep my blinds closed now.’
Parked cars flank either side of the road with vehicles forced to squeeze through tight gaps during the school run.
There are no warning signs suggesting a school crossing is ahead except a lollipop lady who manages the traffic.
Local councillor Deborah Laing said: ‘It’s very difficult and we have asked the questions but we have not got anywhere yet.
‘She has everything going against her and we’re trying to find a feasible solution. I can understand the council’s decision but I really sympathise with her as it’s very difficult in the village with parking.’
A Darlington Borough Council spokesperson added: ‘There must be a properly constructed vehicle crossing if residents want to park on a driveway.
‘The location must be inspected by the Highways Authority to ensure it is safe. We always try to accommodate requests but there are occasions when we have to refuse, for example, if it’s close to a junction or crossing.
‘On this occasion the resident did not contact the Highway Authority before building their block paving.
‘If they had, they would have been advised that a vehicle crossing would not be allowed due to the existing crossing, which is also a school crossing patrol location and has been for many years.
‘We have been in discussions with the resident for several months and have explored the possibility of moving the crossing point but this has not been possible due to on street parking, bus stops and nearby road junctions.
‘The resident told us they would be extending their fence to close the gap but this has not happened so reluctantly we have had to install bollards to prevent cars driving over the footpath.
‘It is regretful that we were unable to help this resident but we have a duty of care to keep everyone safe.’
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