How to apply for a dropped kerb in Worcestershire after disabled man's struggles

AFTER a disabled man's bureaucratic struggles to get dropped kerb installed outside his home in Worcester, we look at how to go about it.

Pietro Bellato of Goldsmith Road, Blackpole, Worcester ultimately succeeded in getting an agreement to create the kerb near the bottom of his driveway after lobbying several organisations, including Worcestershire County Council.

As the Highways authority, the county council has the overarching responsibility for dropped kerbs across the county which includes urban centres like Worcester, Malvern, Pershore, Evesham, Kidderminster, Redditch and Bromsgrove.

But how straightforward is it to apply for one? On the face of it, not very - a form has to be filled in on the Worcestershire County Council website.

But the potential difficulties vary street by street and, as Mr Bellato's case shows, there can be, quite literally, hidden complications - in this case underground cables which had not long been installed.

He feared he would be charged £33,000 for the work after already parting with more than £3,000 in savings on the understanding Ringway, a county council contractor, would do the work.

The main hurdle was the existence of broadband cables at the proposed site of the dropped kerb which had been laid under the ground. Citizen, which owned the verge, had already said they were happy for the work to take place and had granted permission. So far so good.

RESULT: Pietro Bellato after he learned he would be getting a dropped kerb outside his Goldsmith Road home after all (Image: James Connell/Newsquest)

The problem - and potential expense - arose because of the potential costs of diverting the cables which brought more levels of bureaucracy and competing interests into play.

With other cables laid across the city, it is not difficult to imagine other, similar situations being repeated across the city, especially where there is more than one body involved, all with differing objectives and interests.

However, the Bellatos' case shows the importance local councillors can play (in this case Cllr Jill Desayrah) in finding a way through these sometimes labyrinthine complexities and reaching a practical solution.

Mr Bellato, 72, will now get the dropped kerb after paying £3,074 to council contractor Ringway. An estimate of £33,000 for the work was then sent to the Bellatos in a letter headed by CA Telecom and CityFibre (although Worcester News understands the figure was from CA Telecom), the cost of diverting the broadband cables.

However, Worcestershire County Council has since confirmed that Mr Bellato will not have to pay the extra £33,000 because enough slack could be found in the cables to allow the dropped kerb to be installed.

Before you apply, the advice from Worcestershire County Council is to:

• familiarise yourself with the rules and standards for vehicular dropped kerbs (see information, before applying for a dropped kerb)

• proof of permission from the property owner to carry out the works, if you are not the owner

• planning permission documents, if you need it for any of the reasons above

• Photographs of the site to include: one photograph showing the proposed location of the crossing at least three photographs of the property frontage, back and sides, depending on where the crossing is to be sited

• a drawing of the site-detailed with dimensions

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The applicant will then need to fill in a form which is available on the Worcestershire County Council website, called a 'Vehicular Dropped Kerbs Application Form'.

Applicants will have 20 minutes to complete the form and attach all of the necessary documents. 
 
If you wish to save the form and return to it at another time, click on the Save button. You will be asked to give an email address and a link to the saved form will sent to the email address. 
 
You will also need to create a password to allow you to access the link for three months. Please remember this password as it is required to access your saved form.