Objecting to a council proposal.....

BRL · 23rd Feb 2006, 14:44

Hi all. I have asked the council here if they would consider a 'motorcycle only' bay next to my house. There used to be a disabled one there but that has been taken away since the woman who used it died. (Her husband used it for over two years after her death before he spotted a traffic warden taking a photo of his car there and he then wrote to the council to ask for it to be removed as his wife had died.) Now, I have asked for it to be used as a bike space for parking as there are a few bikes in our road now. Question is, if the council put up the proposal for this, how many people does it need to object before it goes through?

I only ask as I know for a fact the bloke next door to me, (the bloke mentioned above) will definately object as he is obsessed with parking his car right outside his house. (It is a bit of a running joke in our street, any one dare to park in his spec etc etc!!!) If he objects and it does not go through because of his objection, could I ask the council to look at the date his wife died and look at the date he handed the disabled badge back, it is over two years he has used it frauduently and ask them to reconsider because he lied about the disabled badge?

Everyone else won't mind at all, they are a pretty laid back lot around here but I know this guy will be livid when he finds out about this so need a bit of advice....

Cheers

G-CPTN · 23rd Feb 2006, 16:44

I think it depends on 'Standing Rules' for each Council.
For Planning Applications, our District Council requires THREE objections before it circulates the texts of the objections to the Councillors. Not certain whether Councillors are informed of any objections below three, or whether they can ask.
If your proposal is just a suggestion, then no such 'rules' apply, it's up to the Councillors whether they respond to the suggestion. BTW, there's no guarantee that proposals (or Planning Applications) will be rejected, even if there are thousands of objections. Councillors are under no obligation to consider the opinions of their constituents (is that the right expression?).

frostbite · 23rd Feb 2006, 17:16

Since no-one has a right to park outside their own property, your neighbour will be ignored if he uses that as the basis of his possible objection.

Loose rivets · 23rd Feb 2006, 20:25

Was there not a famous case where a barrister proved that he did have the right to stop someone parking outside his house (regularly) ? Something about us, (us when I'm in the UK) owning the land to halfway across the road.

I strongly suspect that one would be SOL if they tried this on with a toll-gate or some such.

ShyTorque · 23rd Feb 2006, 21:03

As far as I know, you cannot lay claim to the road outside your house for parking unless you actually own the land itself, so that it's a private road.

Astrodome · 23rd Feb 2006, 22:18

Quote:

Something about us, (us when I'm in the UK) owning the land to halfway across the road.

In which case you would be liable for the upkeep of the road, the utilities services, etc !

Better to keep quiet about that I think !

BRL · 24th Feb 2006, 09:43

Thanks for the info.

soddim · 24th Feb 2006, 11:41

Is this a matter that requires council approval? It sounds more like a simple highways division decision in which case any objections would follow the change not precede it.

If you need the approval of the local council, the best approach is to write to each Councillor. If you convince more than half of them you are home and dry - unless you incur the displeasure of the Clerk who may then find a reason why the Cllrs could not approve it.

slim_slag · 24th Feb 2006, 12:00

Ah soddim, you don't live in this part of the world. Round here if you want to get the council to see it your way it takes a shady middleman and £3000 in used notes. I wish I was lying, but it's how a neighbour got his planning application through.

angels · 24th Feb 2006, 12:14

Not being rude, but I'm curious why the parking space shouldn't be outside your house? Or doesn't the road extend there?

BRL · 24th Feb 2006, 12:54

I would love it to be outside my house. The one next door, there is already a painted bay there and the grey post that the disabled sign used to be attatched to. If it is already there then that narrows things down a bit rather than them having to come and reposition the post next door which would cost them money I suppose and that could swing it towards a no vote!

2R · 24th Feb 2006, 15:41

Be gentle with your neighbour as he may be in still be in pain from his loss of his wife. Maybe he loved her.
People mourn in strange ways for quite long times and maybe it may take him longer than two years to admit to the loss.
In a strange way parking lots of bikes their may help him or make him angry ,tread carefully

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