road drains and other services

consumer done over · 25 Jul 2008

Hi,

Got a letter from council that they will be renewing the footpaths on our road. It turns out they are also digging up the road to renew rainwater drains (they did not notify us of this).

Does anyone know the depth of road rainwater drains and the depth of other services such as electrics water and gas pipes?

This council is well known for messing up people's supplies as this has happened in nearby areas.

I want to have the necessary knowledge in case something happens and i have to write to them.

Thanks

chessspy · 25 Jul 2008

your local council offices will have the drawings showing all services and locations and depths of same.
you may have to pay for the drawings, but you are legally entitled to access them.

consumer done over · 25 Jul 2008

chessspy said:
your local council offices will have the drawings showing all services and locations and depths of same.
you may have to pay for the drawings, but you are legally entitled to access them.

would they be directly responsible for repairing any damage or would they fob off the consumer to the relevant utility?

chessspy · 25 Jul 2008

I suggest you get the drawings, and then if there is any problem, you can contact a solicitor and explain that as you were able to easily (and legally)get such information, so should the road contractors, and so it must be negligence if there is any damage.

JohnD · 25 Jul 2008

the utility companies will demand the contractors pay for any damage.

Contractors keep a budget allowance in their contract price to pay for the damage they expect to do.

noseall · 26 Jul 2008

any contractor wishing to work or tender for contracts, regarding public highways, must have the relevant liability insurance. it has to be proven that it is up to date and has a high enough indemnity limit.

consumer done over · 26 Jul 2008

thanks chaps.

i take it that my first port of call if anything happens is the relevant utility who would then take it up with the contractro directly?

The numpty in the council office wrote to us about footway works, turns out they are digging up rainwater drains and redoing the whole lot....

their website shows work as complete when they only started three days ago

Newboy · 29 Jul 2008

Or you could look on the positive side - you local council is spending your money on something that should benefit you directly!

I wish our local council would spend my money on something to benefit me!

skwdenyer · 14 Oct 2008

consumer done over said:
i take it that my first port of call if anything happens is the relevant utility who would then take it up with the contractro directly?

If they dig through an electricity cable, they will usually know about it themselves before you do

With the wholesale renewal of London's water mains, we had whole sections of the area (10,000 properties) cut off of for many hours at a time. On one occasion, the chap with the back hoe was on his first day on the job, dug up a main feed, and ran off as he couldn't face the locals (street full of restaurants getting ready for evening service)...

But, yes, if you hit a problem, contact your utility supplier, who will sort it. It is very unlikely that you would have any case against the contractors as (a) they would be the agents of the council, and (b) you have no utility supply contracts with the council. It is therefore hard to see how you could sue a contractor or, more particularly, where the cause of action would be.

mattylad · 15 Oct 2008

And although since the original thread was in July - this may be too late.
Although at the speed council services work - maybe not.

If your concerned with any potential damages, walk along your front street taking photographs galore as evidence of "before".

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road drains and other services

Newboy

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