Councils responsibility for alleyway?

[Paul]

Hi All,

I live in a terraced street in an area that has lots of alleyways
leading to back gardens etc.
One of these alleys runs alongside my flat.

Often people dump rubbish in the alley. As of the weekend there are 2
large armchairs, a mattress and lots of other junk. The alley is
inaccessible.

In the past I've reported this to Croydon council who have removed it,
however this time I received the following email:

"The map below shows the area of public highway maintained at public
expense with red hatch lines, as you can see the area you mention is
not marked in this way."

"The alley is the responsibility of all of the properties that are
served by it, and not cleansed by the Council or our responsibility to
keep them clear and accessible. However if all the items are brought
to the front edge, by the footway we can arrange clearance. Please
advise when this has happened and we should be able to clear within
two days."

The items are already at the edge, so this is not a problem.

My question is, who actually owns the alleyways? I assumed they are
owned by the council. Certainly some of the other alleys have notices
from the council saying fly tipping is an offence.

Any thoughts?

Paul
(posted via google as my current provider doesn't carry uklm)

[Invisible Man]

Post by Paul
Hi All,
I live in a terraced street in an area that has lots of alleyways
leading to back gardens etc.
One of these alleys runs alongside my flat.
Often people dump rubbish in the alley. As of the weekend there are 2
large armchairs, a mattress and lots of other junk. The alley is
inaccessible.
In the past I've reported this to Croydon council who have removed it,
"The map below shows the area of public highway maintained at public
expense with red hatch lines, as you can see the area you mention is
not marked in this way."
"The alley is the responsibility of all of the properties that are
served by it, and not cleansed by the Council or our responsibility to
keep them clear and accessible. However if all the items are brought
to the front edge, by the footway we can arrange clearance. Please
advise when this has happened and we should be able to clear within
two days."
The items are already at the edge, so this is not a problem.
My question is, who actually owns the alleyways? I assumed they are
owned by the council. Certainly some of the other alleys have notices
from the council saying fly tipping is an offence.
Any thoughts?
Paul
(posted via google as my current provider doesn't carry uklm)

Is it the sort of area where the original developer might have never
sold the alleyway on? AFAIK councils do not automatically take
responsibility for areas not sold off. Councils do not automatically
adopt new roads.

There is a byway behind our house which is signposted as a public
footpath and provides access to quite a few garages. It is however owned
by our next door neighbour.

If you own your house there might be something in the paperwork as to
responsibilities for the area. Otherwise it could take some sorting out
if it becomes unsafe.

[Paul]

Post by Invisible Man

Post by Paul
Hi All,
I live in a terraced street in an area that has lots of alleyways
leading to back gardens etc.
One of these alleys runs alongside my flat.
Often people dump rubbish in the alley.  As of the weekend there are 2
large armchairs, a mattress and lots of other junk.  The alley is
inaccessible.
In the past I've reported this to Croydon council who have removed it,
"The map below shows the area of public highway maintained at public
expense with red hatch lines, as you can see the area you mention is
not marked in this way."
"The alley is the responsibility of all of the properties that are
served by it, and not cleansed by the Council or our responsibility to
keep them clear and accessible.   However if all the items are brought
to the front edge, by the footway we can arrange clearance.  Please
advise when this has happened and we should be able to clear within
two days."
The items are already at the edge, so this is not a problem.
My question is, who actually owns the alleyways?  I assumed they are
owned by the council.  Certainly some of the other alleys have notices
from the council saying fly tipping is an offence.
Any thoughts?

Is it the sort of area where the original developer might have never
sold the alleyway on? AFAIK councils do not automatically take
responsibility for areas not sold off. Councils do not automatically
adopt new roads.
There is a byway behind our house which is signposted as a public
footpath and provides access to quite a few garages. It is however owned
by our next door neighbour.
If you own your house there might be something in the paperwork as to
responsibilities for the area. Otherwise it could take some sorting out
if it becomes unsafe.

Thanks for the hints Invisible Man & Usenet Nutter.
Unfortunately I'm only renting this flat.

I'll grab a copy of the land registry plans to see what that shows.

Someone suggested in future I should drag the offending junk onto the
footpath and report it anonymously...

--
Paul

[Dr Zoidberg]

Post by Paul

Post by Invisible Man

Post by Paul
Hi All,
I live in a terraced street in an area that has lots of alleyways
leading to back gardens etc.
One of these alleys runs alongside my flat.
Often people dump rubbish in the alley. As of the weekend there are 2
large armchairs, a mattress and lots of other junk. The alley is
inaccessible.
In the past I've reported this to Croydon council who have removed it,
"The map below shows the area of public highway maintained at public
expense with red hatch lines, as you can see the area you mention is
not marked in this way."
"The alley is the responsibility of all of the properties that are
served by it, and not cleansed by the Council or our responsibility to
keep them clear and accessible. However if all the items are brought
to the front edge, by the footway we can arrange clearance. Please
advise when this has happened and we should be able to clear within
two days."
The items are already at the edge, so this is not a problem.
My question is, who actually owns the alleyways? I assumed they are
owned by the council. Certainly some of the other alleys have notices
from the council saying fly tipping is an offence.
Any thoughts?

Is it the sort of area where the original developer might have never
sold the alleyway on? AFAIK councils do not automatically take
responsibility for areas not sold off. Councils do not automatically
adopt new roads.
There is a byway behind our house which is signposted as a public
footpath and provides access to quite a few garages. It is however owned
by our next door neighbour.
If you own your house there might be something in the paperwork as to
responsibilities for the area. Otherwise it could take some sorting out
if it becomes unsafe.

Thanks for the hints Invisible Man & Usenet Nutter.
Unfortunately I'm only renting this flat.
I'll grab a copy of the land registry plans to see what that shows.
Someone suggested in future I should drag the offending junk onto the
footpath and report it anonymously...

Well the council do seem pretty helpful and have offered to clear the
rubbish as long as it's at the edge so I don't see that there's any
point in doing it anonymously.

As for their responsibility , it's quite likely that the alleyway is
privately owned , and the deeds would help to clear this up.

[Usenet Nutter]

Post by Paul
Hi All,
I live in a terraced street in an area that has lots of alleyways
leading to back gardens etc.
One of these alleys runs alongside my flat.
Often people dump rubbish in the alley. As of the weekend there are 2
large armchairs, a mattress and lots of other junk. The alley is
inaccessible.
In the past I've reported this to Croydon council who have removed it,
"The map below shows the area of public highway maintained at public
expense with red hatch lines, as you can see the area you mention is
not marked in this way."
"The alley is the responsibility of all of the properties that are
served by it, and not cleansed by the Council or our responsibility to
keep them clear and accessible. However if all the items are brought
to the front edge, by the footway we can arrange clearance. Please
advise when this has happened and we should be able to clear within
two days."
The items are already at the edge, so this is not a problem.
My question is, who actually owns the alleyways? I assumed they are
owned by the council. Certainly some of the other alleys have notices
from the council saying fly tipping is an offence.
Any thoughts?
Paul
(posted via google as my current provider doesn't carry uklm)

Possible a Land Registry check would give you the answer !!

[mogga]

Post by Paul
Hi All,
I live in a terraced street in an area that has lots of alleyways
leading to back gardens etc.
One of these alleys runs alongside my flat.
Often people dump rubbish in the alley. As of the weekend there are 2
large armchairs, a mattress and lots of other junk. The alley is
inaccessible.
In the past I've reported this to Croydon council who have removed it,
"The map below shows the area of public highway maintained at public
expense with red hatch lines, as you can see the area you mention is
not marked in this way."
"The alley is the responsibility of all of the properties that are
served by it, and not cleansed by the Council or our responsibility to
keep them clear and accessible. However if all the items are brought
to the front edge, by the footway we can arrange clearance. Please
advise when this has happened and we should be able to clear within
two days."
The items are already at the edge, so this is not a problem.
My question is, who actually owns the alleyways? I assumed they are
owned by the council. Certainly some of the other alleys have notices
from the council saying fly tipping is an offence.
Any thoughts?
Paul
(posted via google as my current provider doesn't carry uklm)

Gate it off and see who complains...

The council here do nothing with alleys once they are gated off.

[Road_Hog]

Post by Paul
My question is, who actually owns the alleyways? I assumed they are
owned by the council. Certainly some of the other alleys have notices
from the council saying fly tipping is an offence.
Any thoughts?
Paul

Just summing up the various replies from others. It probably belongs to the
original devloper, if you were the owner of the flat, you can apply to have
the right of access applied, because the ownership has effectively lapsed.
This is what I did with a dirt track road that ran behind our terraced
house, which was there to access garages at the rear of the houses.

I rented the house out and moved away, a year or so later, the letting
agency informed me that the other houses at done the same and then gated the
lane with locks and all house owners issued with a key. However as you are
only renting, I suggest the dragging it to the main road as suggested by the
council.