In Lambeth Council’s preparatory survey for the Streatham Vale Controlled Parking Zone, almost 200 “vehicle crossovers” were identified in and around the area. These
are parking spaces in front of houses and businesses without dropped kerbs, so vehicles have to cross the pavement illegally for access. While illegality is not to be condoned, vehicle crossovers in the area have been used without comment or penalty from the local Cuncil for years.
Lambeth’s fee for legitimising a crossover can run to several thousand pounds, depending on the utilities with manhole covers close to the front of your house, in addition to the costs of installing a dropped kerb and paving your front garden. More information on this has recently been made available by Neil Salt of Streatham Action and in Heart Streatham www.heartstreatham.com.
Colette Whitehead