Fence posts near kerb

[robbo83]

Hi all,

I am looking to install some 1.5m fence posts (to make a post and chain fence) roughly where the red blocks are in the photo below to stop people walking and driving across my lawn (supermarket lorry decided to attempt a 3 point turn on it). I was told by the guys who re-turfed the grass that there is concrete along the edge of the kerb - I guess it is haunching. I stuck a rod down and it seems to hit something after 10cm or so but I need to go down about 50cm so I am wondering what to do.

Would I be ok trying to break through the concrete when digging the holes for the post? I was thinking to get one of those Roughneck digging bars or would I need something more serious?

Or should I get a pro in to do it?

Thanks!
robbo

 

[Burnerman]

It'll be fairly heavy duty concrete down there.....I'd dig down anyway, and break the concrete away where the posts need to be.
A kango type breaker could be your pal here!
John

 

[JohnD]

it's possible that you will not be allowed to erect a fence so close to the road without planning permission, if it would obstruct sightlines, especially of anyone driving into or out of your property. Post and chain might be approved, or you might be able to use bollards.

Have you considered a prickly hedge?

 

[angelboy]

The max height of a fence next to the highway is 1m unless you want to apply for planning permission.

Hedges are ok though.

 

[bernardgreen]

In almost all situations there has to be a 450 mm horizontal distance between the edge of the road and any items on the verge.

 

[robbo83]

Thanks everyone. This is a shame about the 450mm as it would look a bit odd offset that far from kerb.

I could do a hedge I guess but I wanted to put post and chain along the edge of the pathway, like in the first photo below. Would make it very enclosed if I did hedge along here too.

As shown in the 2nd photo there did used to be posts along the kerb edge before they were knocked down so do you think I would be ok offsetting by a similar distance? I wouldn't need it higher than 1m.

Cheers,
robbo

 

[angelboy]

As shown in the 2nd photo there did used to be posts along the kerb edge before they were knocked down so do you think I would be ok offsetting by a similar distance? I wouldn't need it higher than 1m.

I think you'll be ok.

If it were me, I'd sink some 150mm x 150mm posts, 450-ish high, capped, painted white with a white chain between.

Should be visible from behind a wheel but high enough so that it's not easy to step over.

 

[john4703]

In my last house I had a problem with people reversing into the end of my fence and damaging the wooden fence. I took some scrap to the local scrap dealer and saw a 4m long H section beam, (300mm x 400mm) and bought it for £15 including delivery. I dug a hole 2.5 meters deep and then asked for the H section to be delivered, the driver put in in the hole and it formed a 1.5m end post for my fence. No more problems with damaged fence. Make your fence really solid and no more problems. Many cars hit my fence but no-one complained, can you imagine someone saying something like "I am such a bad driver that I did not see the huge post and hit it and it was your fault as I should have seen it".