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.

 

[yorksbuilder]

That's a phantom drain and wouldn't comply

Threshold Drainage Solutions

A look at some of the paving design solutions used at thresholds to comply with the driveway installation planning requirements and the requirements of Document M of the Building Regulations

www.pavingexpert.com

Drainage for Pavements

An assessment of the importance of proper drainage control for paved areas

www.pavingexpert.com

 

[cdbe]

You've buggered yourself now by waving at the council - leave it a year in case they send a snooper round.

 

[Ivor Windybottom]

Definitely best not to ask the council questions!

As you're pretty much replacing like-for-like it shouldn't matter. Get it done, in the unlikely event of anyone ever moaning about it you could retrofit a pretend aco drain that goes nowhere.

 

[Nige F]

That's a phantom drain and wouldn't comply

Council might call Ghostbusters

 

[Harry Bloomfield]

As you're pretty much replacing like-for-like it shouldn't matter. Get it done, in the unlikely event of anyone ever moaning about it you could retrofit a pretend aco drain that goes nowhere.

The councils now use Googlearth, to view, what was there before, versus what it there now.

 

[pcaouolte]

Our drive slopes towards the road and has an Acco drain between the drive and the footpath. The joints in the Acco drain seem to be a bit leaky. There is a pipe from the end of the Acco drain leading under the lawn, I don't know if there is a soakaway.

If the Acco drain fills up during heavy rain it might overflow onto the footpath. No one will die.

 

[Harry Bloomfield]

If the Acco drain fills up during heavy rain it might overflow onto the footpath. No one will die.

Ours slopes down around 1:10, about 40 feet to the road. Originally tarmac, which I replaced with concrete over the past 40 years. There have never been any complaints.

 

[Ivor Windybottom]

I doubt anyone cares, unless there's an ice rink or vast pool of water.

 

[blackcloud]

Honestly didn't think there would be an issue with the council

I spoke again with a guy who gave me a quote and he said this below and would like others thoughts on this below. Also what would you all consider a reasonable quote for this job?

"We could run a pipe in to the down pipe at your neighbours and connect the channel drain outlet to this as this will be the only drain that can take the water from what I could see on site.

Putting a soak-away under the driveway would be my last resort on my view I think channel drain and permeable tarmac would be the best option and I would be more confident on this working 100% as we give you a full guarantee If we get a connection to main drain "

 

[noseall]

Honestly didn't think there would be an issue with the council

I spoke again with a guy who gave me a quote and he said this below and would like others thoughts on this below. Also what would you all consider a reasonable quote for this job?

"We could run a pipe in to the down pipe at your neighbours and connect the channel drain outlet to this as this will be the only drain that can take the water from what I could see on site.

Putting a soak-away under the driveway would be my last resort on my view I think channel drain and permeable tarmac would be the best option and I would be more confident on this working 100% as we give you a full guarantee If we get a connection to main drain "

Is permeable Tarmac going to work with impermeable clay? I suppose you will have the hard core layer there to soak some of the rain.