
A group tasked with encouraging access to the Cheshire East countryside is calling on house owners in rural areas to stop obstructing the verges outside their homes.
Cheshire East Local Access Forum (CELAF) pointed out that roadside verges are generally part of the highway and only very rarely belong to the properties which they front.
It says that putting large stones, posts or chain fences on verges is a potentially dangerous practice and prevents cyclists, horse riders, carriage drivers and disability vehicle users from using them as a refuge when faced with hazards.
The Chairman of CELAF, Bob Anderson, adds: "Home owners may not be aware that they are technically obstructing part of the highway. We understand that people wish to make the front of their homes look smart and don't want vehicles parking on the verge. However, the verges serve an important safety purpose and the house owners' behaviour impacts on other road users, to their detriment. We have been told that farmers too are unhappy about the practice because it means they are unable to get large agricultural vehicles partially off the road to allow other traffic to pass."
"Local authorities have the right to order the removal of verge obstructions and in some parts of the country they take firm action against offenders. We are appealing to the people of Cheshire East who have put obstructions on the verges outside their homes to remove them in the interests of the safety of people who need to use rural roads."
A spokesman for Cheshire East Council's Highways Department said: "The Highway Authority has powers to remove stones, posts, railings etc. which are placed in the highway and are considered to be a hazard or obstruction. The enforcement process involves serving formal notice to the householder requesting removal. If no action is taken, we can then take a complaint to the magistrates court."
Comments
Here's what readers have had to say so far. Why not add your thoughts below.
Many Council binmen flout this when empty wheelies are left on footpaths, because they say they have no right to trespass on private property, even when it could be returned to just inside householder's property boundary, where it should have been left awaiting collection.
Compensation for injury/damage caused by any obstruction could be claimable from any person/organisation resp for it's placement.
CEC CEOs cannot issue PCNs for decriminalis Contraventions 62 or 63 (footway parking). They did not include it with their application for de-criminalised enforcemement as it would have required amendment of all their ind Traffic Reg Orders (TROs).
It's becoming the "norm" for these people to have their own extra parking spaces. As is becoming increasingly common on Handforth Road.
Of course its OK when CEC abandons two tree trunks in the road..... Earl Rd.... they set a fine precedent..........and what if previous residents or person or persons unknown were responsible for these devices ?? Really !!.......Common sense surely must prevail ( as Tony Hughes alludes to )......Is this the most serious issue ongoing in Wilmslow ?? Good job there is no more pressing matters for this Quango to attend to...... Have there been fatalities / injuries / damage caused to vehicles to trigger this non-event ?? If so .Sounds like an urgent requirement for more yellow lines every where !!.....and CEC are very good at doing that as well ..... particularly when they are not needed.........