Downpipe draining onto public pavement

[Annadee]

Hi there,

Our downpipe that runs between us and neighbour (terrace) drains straight onto the public pavement - of which is on a slight incline. I see this as 'wrong' - for H&S ice in winter, but also, there is a drain 10ft away on the road that water does drain to in a round-a-bout way (water thankfully drains away from walls of houses). As the pavement belongs to council, is it their responsibility to install a water channel to the road? Can anyone point me to the official information on this? Has anyone successfully requested the council to do this and how? Many thanks, A

 

[johnny2007]

It depends whether the downpipe was always there or if it's been moved by some bright sparks.
In historical villages where houses have no front garden, it's common to have downpipes discharging water onto the pavement.
Not always there's a water channel there.
Councils nowadays react rather than act, so possibly they'll wait for someone to be injured before doing anything.
For your own piece of mind and possibly pass the liability to the council, tell them.
They could dig a channel or install a grate, ignore the problem or let you know that your downpipe shouldn't be there.
With this last option, you need to be ready to prove that the downpipe has always been there.
That could even be via old photographs (neighbours, online, etc.)