What is the best type of driveway?

[Ivor Windybottom]

We had tarmac at our last house, was done by the previous owners. Badly laid with various dips. If you poured water onto it then it would vanish. But once it got wet it would pool on top. We'd get puddles after heavy rain.

It's OK though. We now have concrete. All cracked and rubbish looking.

I'd prefer tarmac in future. Perhaps with some nice red bits pressed into the surface, which I think looks nice if done properly.

 

[blackcloud]

Anyone give me some advice now as I don't know what to do now?
I emailed the council and said we want to get permeable tarmac to replace the monoblock driveway. I explained that it is clay under the driveway so a soak-a-way wouldn't work. So only other option is to have the rain water that is not soaked into the permeable tarmac to run onto the public footpath. They replied and said this. Can I ask for peoples thoughts? What options if any, do I have now.?

"Thank you for your undernoted email regarding a request by your constituent to channel water across the footway.

I can advise that the Roads (Scotland) Act 1984 is the statutory instrument for roads in Scotland and this deems that it is not permitted to allow water to flow onto the road or footway. I therefore regret to advise that the Council cannot grant permission for a drain to be constructed which results in water flowing across the public footway; this could result in a slip hazard, particularly in freezing temperatures.

I trust the above action is of assistance.


Group Manager (Roads Maintenance)
Neighbourhoods, Regeneration and Sustainability"

 

[Harry Bloomfield]

I can advise that the Roads (Scotland) Act 1984 is the statutory instrument for roads in Scotland and this deems that it is not permitted to allow water to flow onto the road or footway. I therefore regret to advise that the Council cannot grant permission for a drain to be constructed which results in water flowing across the public footway; this could result in a slip hazard, particularly in freezing temperatures.

I would look at doing what a neighbour did, with the same issue, but a impervious concrete drive, on heavy clay - they put in a deliberately leaky aco drains in, and a soak away at the end. I'm not convinced it actually worked 100%, but it seemed to satisfy the authorities.

 

[yorksbuilder]

Most people in your situation would install a drive and turn a blind eye to the requirements...

If you made if slope towards the building, is there a gulley you can drain to?

 

[blackcloud]

Hmm don't like the idea of a slope towards the house.
Would it be against the legislation if I was to put a driveway drain channel at the end of the driveway, before the road and have the driveway slope towards that? So the rain water would drain I to the drain channel. So if the council said anything I could say I have a drain channel here for the water to run into before it reaches the public footpath? Ie the attached photo?
In order to have a driveway drain channel don't I need a soak-a-way also for that rainwater that falls into the drain channel to go into?

Yeah most people would probably juat have done it anyway.
Not sure if the council acutually even enforce a driveway where water runs off into the street anyway.


Wonder if there's any other options available.