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drop kurb
grahamv1
Member Posts: 4 Listener
hi,i and my partner have not long moved ito a bunglow,my partner cant walk and is in a chair,the unglow has ot got a drop kurb but has a pated are on the grden that last tenant parked tere car on.clrion houseing said do not park on the pated are as o drop kurb,soo i have been parkinng outside on the street ad wheeling my wife to the door,yesterday a car doubleprked and a fire engine could not get past,so i moved my car staraight away,as i did this i got te finnger and shouts from ppl i other cars waiting to get past,(my car had been park tere for two days without moving),the other had double parked,i have been told we can have a drop kurb put in ,but need to got to coucil and get planning,then get contractor sorted then get permition fron clarion houseing,and we would pay the bill,i have also bee told that there might be help to pay,but i have no cluue on who to contact,my wife did have an ocupational therropist but as we ahve mooved we dod not know who her new one would be,any hel would be great ,,please...
Replies
https://www.disability-grants.org/disabled-facilities-grant.html
Hi @grahamv1
Thank you for your query.
There are several steps to obtaining a dropped kerb.
Assuming that the road that your dropped kerb will go onto is a normal road (not an unadopted, or private road) you will need to contact your Local Authority, it is normally the Highways Department that you will need to deal with. However, this varies in some areas, but I'm confident that the Highways Department will be able to signpost you if it isn't them.
They should be able to tell you what the criteria and application process is in your area, again this will vary between Local Authorities.
Normally they would first want to estiblish that it would be safe and feasible to do what you are requesting, i.e. not too close to a major junction etc
Next they may what to estiblish that the dropped kerb is necessary for reasons related to disability. The evidence they require will be specific to their Local Authority area. Some councils require a full OT report, others are satisfied with just seeing that someone has a Blue Badge or High Rate/Enhanced Mobility componate of DLA/PIP.
I know that you are already trying to arrange a Community OT , which is very good as even if your Local Authority don't need her involvement with this matter she may be able to provide a supporting letter if you have to apply for charity funding, or assist in other ways.
The Highways Department may also ask to see proof that the owner of the property is happy for work to take place to enable off-road parking.
If permission for the dropped kerb is granted by the Local Authority they will either arrange for their own staff to do the work or (more commonly) supply a list of suggested contractors that you can make arrangements with yourself.
Fees for dropping a kerb can vary a great deal. I have heard of Local Authorities that provide it as a free service for disabled people and I have also heard of other Local Authority areas where is costs thousands of pounds.
If you do not have the means to cover the cost of the kerb being dropped you could try applying for charitable funding.
On the Scope website there is a grant serch tool which may help you to identify charities which you could apply to: https://www.scope.org.uk/support/disabled-people/search-grants
Best Wishes
Jean
Jean Merrilees BSc MRCOT
You can read more of my posts at: https://community.scope.org.uk/categories/ask-an-occupational-therapist