I was going to write to Highways Authority today about the blocked drains outside our house and the damage caused. I have to say I don't feel very optimistic now as the flooding in our street isn't as bad as yours! Mind you, the flooding continually gets into our hallway which isn't very nice. I'll give it a go but I'll be prepared for a long wait and battle...
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Flyfisher
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Does your council subcontract drain cleaning I wonder? If so, surely they would have a service level agreement that might cover such things and there should be someone in the highways department responsible for managing the contract and might be able to get some wheels turning. How frustrating that everyone you contact agrees it's a problem but still nothing get's done to fix it - even after it has incurred the council £1000s in repair costs to your wall.
I wonder at what point you are legally entitled to appoint your own subcontractors to repair the damage/blockage and then sue the council for the resulting costs? Probably a legal minefield but I wonder if the threat of such action would spur them into doing something? Then again, probably not because councils have their own legal departments and the relevant highways people would just 'hide' behind them and let the legal people deal with it. Madness really.
I wonder at what point you are legally entitled to appoint your own subcontractors to repair the damage/blockage and then sue the council for the resulting costs? Probably a legal minefield but I wonder if the threat of such action would spur them into doing something? Then again, probably not because councils have their own legal departments and the relevant highways people would just 'hide' behind them and let the legal people deal with it. Madness really.
The problem is apparently dragging on because of the nature of the 'blockage'
The drain used to run off to a drainage ditch on private land, which has now been filled in (without permission)...so Highways are claiming that there is nothing they can do until this ditch is re-dug. In my view, Highways have 2 choices....1 is to take the landowner to court and force them to re-dig the ditch...the second is to find an alternative route for the drain.
But the council appears to have identified a 3rd option, which is to do nothing. What particularly frustrates me is that my Council Tax is being spent on this sort of gross inefficiency and inaction. Coupled with that.....even when the matter is all settled, no reconstructed wall will ever be the same as the original 1780 wall it is replacing.
The drain used to run off to a drainage ditch on private land, which has now been filled in (without permission)...so Highways are claiming that there is nothing they can do until this ditch is re-dug. In my view, Highways have 2 choices....1 is to take the landowner to court and force them to re-dig the ditch...the second is to find an alternative route for the drain.
But the council appears to have identified a 3rd option, which is to do nothing. What particularly frustrates me is that my Council Tax is being spent on this sort of gross inefficiency and inaction. Coupled with that.....even when the matter is all settled, no reconstructed wall will ever be the same as the original 1780 wall it is replacing.
Flyfisher
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The private ditch thing is interesting. Is a landowner legally obliged to maintain such a ditch? I guess any legal obligations would be stated in the deeds but I can easily imagine that the road drain was directed into a convenient drainage ditch sometime back in the mists of time and then one day the landowner (possible a new owner?) decides they want to fill in the ditch, which may not cause them any problems but causes the road to flood. Possibly no-one is actually at fault (resulting in the sort of hand-rubbing glee that keeps lawyers in work), in which case the council will have to pursue your second option and find an alternative - which might not be easy, hence the third option.
AMc's suggestion might be a good one!
AMc's suggestion might be a good one!
Quote for reconstruction is in......£27,840 ex VAT .....£32,712 inclusive
This includes the footings, reconstruction of 3 panels faced on both sides with flint, use of reclaimed bricks in the quoins, replacement of coping, plus some brick detailing under the coping as per previously. Also includes closure of road and temp. traffic lights.
This includes the footings, reconstruction of 3 panels faced on both sides with flint, use of reclaimed bricks in the quoins, replacement of coping, plus some brick detailing under the coping as per previously. Also includes closure of road and temp. traffic lights.
jocelyn plummer
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Good Grief----- time for a whip round.
Flyfisher
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I wonder what it costs to close the road?
Is the council still accepting liability? Make sure you get their money before doing the work, they may have left it in an Icelandic bank :roll:
Is the council still accepting liability? Make sure you get their money before doing the work, they may have left it in an Icelandic bank :roll:
Penners
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Apparently South Norfolk DC withdrew £2m just a few days ago.Flyfisher said:
Or should that be a phew! days....
Pford75 said:Quote for reconstruction is in......£27,840 ex VAT .....£32,712 inclusive
This includes the footings, reconstruction of 3 panels faced on both sides with flint, use of reclaimed bricks in the quoins, replacement of coping, plus some brick detailing under the coping as per previously. Also includes closure of road and temp. traffic lights.
Thats Astronomical - it's about 2 weeks work altogether ?
Penners
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:xshelli said:
In later news the Japanese Sumo bank has gone belly up. The Kamikaze bank has nosedived and the Karate bank is chopping back. The Bonsai bank is managing by cutting back several branches while the Karaoke bank has been sold for a song. The Samurai bank is experiencing sharp cutbacks, but still soldiers on.
Further developments are being awaited, especially with the Sudoku bank which is solving various problems.
Further developments are being awaited, especially with the Sudoku bank which is solving various problems.
Penners
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Good grief! As if the financial news itself wasn't bad enough....
Penners
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True. Way above my standard....
FamilyWiggs
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I hear the Hare Krishna bank is making quite a song and doance about it, whilst the crash in Iceland has forced the government ot freeze all bank assets.
Groan.
Groan.
For fellow PPUK'ers in Norfolk, the EDP came today to take photos etc. for a story.
The council have finally started re-excavating the drainage ditch, so hopefully the flooding will stop.....but they are still refusing to accept liability and blaming the developer (Goymour Homes)....who in turn is blaming the County Council.
So, anyway...the main thing is that the flooding will hopefully stop and I can rebuild the wall. Currently weighing up my prospects of a court action against both parties.
The council have finally started re-excavating the drainage ditch, so hopefully the flooding will stop.....but they are still refusing to accept liability and blaming the developer (Goymour Homes)....who in turn is blaming the County Council.
So, anyway...the main thing is that the flooding will hopefully stop and I can rebuild the wall. Currently weighing up my prospects of a court action against both parties.