NORTHUMBERLAND HEATH: Council rips up man's 'illegal' crossover (From News Shopper)
Get involved: Send pictures, video, news and views - text NEWS SHOPPER to 80360 or email us
NORTHUMBERLAND HEATH: Council rips up man's 'illegal' crossover
10:20am Friday 23rd April 2010 in News
Mr Akele with the pavement reinstated over where his crossover was built
A MAN says he will refuse to pay Bexley Council for removing his new crossover days after it was laid.
Felix Akele says he thought he was within his rights to get a private contractor to lay the crossover from the roadway into his drive at Hind Crescent, Nortumberland Heath.
But Bexley Council claims he was told only the council’s contractor could put in the crossover, and the work done does not meet council standards.
Mr Akele, 48, rang the Bexley last month in to ask about a crossover on the advice of police, following break-ins to his rear garage.
He claims he was told by the council contact centre he did not need planning permission.
Mr Akele said: “She said a council contractor would quote for the work and I asked her if she meant a private company.
“When she said ‘yes’ I did not think she meant only the council contractor could quote for the job, so I got another company in to do it.”
He added: “If she had told me I had to get permission and could not ask anyone else to build it, I would not have paid £600 to have it done.”
Transport cabinet member Councillor Peter Craske, said the council was legally responsible for maintaining public highways and it was illegal for people to dig up the pavements Cllr Craske claimed a report of Mr Akele’s conversation with the contact centre showed it was made clear to him the council’s contractor would get planning permission and supply a quote, but Mr Akele went ahead before receiving the estimate.
Cllr Craske added: “The crossover was constructed illegally to a poor standard.
"We had to remove it and relay the footway at a cost of £550, which will be charged to Mr Akele.”
Comments(12)
porkpie
says...
10:40am Fri 23 Apr 10
Make Life
says...
12:54pm Fri 23 Apr 10
porkpie wrote:I think it will stop the break-ins becuase his garage is currently located at the back of his property and from the looks of the picture the "new" drive has been installed at the side of his house.
How does having a crossover stop break-ins? Sorry pal you should have followed the rules like everyone else. Chance are that you got it done cheaper and didn't want to pay the council fee which was a lot more. Also maybe take this up with firm that done the work because they should of known the law as well.
Citygirl83
says...
2:03pm Fri 23 Apr 10
TroyMcClure
says...
4:22pm Fri 23 Apr 10
claires01
says...
10:33pm Fri 23 Apr 10
TroyMcClure wrote:Bexley Council should be punished for what exactly???
An Englishman’s home is his castle, I say Mr Akele should take this all the way. The European Court of Human Rights and if necessary the United Nations, Bexley Council must be punished.
Mr Akele put a crossover in illegally, he had not followed the advice which had been given to him by council staff and he should pay to put the work right.
Why should he get away with it when others wouldn't???
Why should other residents in the borough have to pay for the work to be corrected, because thats what will happen we will pay for it in our council tax.
He though the rules did not apply to him, why? what makes him so special from every other resident in Bexley Borough?
I'm not a fan of Bexley Council or how they operate, but i don't see why he should be allowed to break the rules.
Gypo
says...
11:44pm Fri 23 Apr 10
jcmatthews2801
says...
10:03am Sat 24 Apr 10
TroyMcClure wrote:I would dearly love to know which articles of the European Convention on Human Rights legislated in the Human Rights Act 1998 have been breached for him to him to have any claim in court. Bearing in mind for him to take it to the ECtHR he would have to exhaust all possibilities of appeals and remedys through the courts in this country including the Supreme Court something I doubt he has the money for. Secondly I never knew that Bexley council has breached international law for the claim to be taken to the United Nations considering the highes place a claim can go for Human Rights is the ECtHR.
An Englishman’s home is his castle, I say Mr Akele should take this all the way. The European Court of Human Rights and if necessary the United Nations, Bexley Council must be punished.
derekhope
says...
11:46am Sat 24 Apr 10
A Crayford Resident
says...
8:38am Sun 25 Apr 10
derekhope wrote:Conway put them in. Good old Conway! Hand in hand with Bexley Council. They were ripping up Iron Mill Lane for a week last week and the Council sent us residents a letter telling us that it was likely that people from Conway may 'tout for business'. In other words promote drop down drives! Bexley council had the cheek to warn us!
Why do I always get the feeling that Bexley Council is attempting to "Punish" people for transgressing the rules, instead of sorting it. Not everyone is a high flying lawer like those employed by the Council. If it were me, I would have explained to the man where he went wrong, arrange for the Council's contractor to do the work properly (If indeed it wasn't right in the first place) and send him the bill. Seems a bridge (I mean crossover) too far to rip it up and relay the path, when the most likely outcome would be that the Council's contractor would rip up the newly laid path and relay the crossover. Come on Bexley, use common sense and stop trying to prove a point.
It can be up to £1000 for one of those drop down kerbs, either that or you pay money to Bexley for parking fines!
pace
says...
11:25am Sun 25 Apr 10
p.groove
says...
9:13pm Thu 29 Apr 10
Brook says...
10:38am Fri 23 Apr 10