Report a pavement or road obstruction

We're responsible for keeping the borough's roads, pavements, verges, footpaths and bridleways fit for the motorists and pedestrians who use them. If you wilfully obstruct any of these, you may be guilty of an offence under the Highways Act 1980.

Types of obstruction

Obstructions are objects unlawfully placed on, or which overhang, the highway. They can be hazardous to pedestrians, especially those who are elderly, blind or disabled - forcing them to walk in the road because they can't pass the obstruction.

Obstructions include:

• builders' skips

• scaffolding or hoardings

• building materials

• temporary works

• tree branches and hedges

• mud or debris

• illegal signs

• street traders

• encroachment on highway boundaries (where someone illegally occupies an area of the highway)    

Caravans and trailers

It's an offence to keep a caravan or a trailer on the public highway for longer than 24 hours. If you own a caravan or trailer, you should store it on your own property.

Fallen trees

If a fallen tree is causing an obstruction, find out how to report a problem with a tree. For fallen trees causing a dangerous obstruction of a road or pavement, call our 24-hour emergency helpline on 01226 773555. Call 999 if a fallen tree may be a potential risk to someone's safety, or where there's been a collision with a tree and people have been injured.

Before making your report

Before reporting a pavement or road obstruction to us, you can check if it's already been reported using the map below.

Report an obstruction

If the road or pavement obstruction you're reporting isn't on the map, please tell us about it using our online form. Don't use this form to report:

• potholes

• a damaged pavement

• obstructive parking

• fly-tipping

• fallen trees

• obstructions on private land (contact the landowner in these cases)

Call our 24 hour helpline if the obstruction is likely to cause a road traffic accident.

You'll need to show us on a map where the obstruction is by clicking to drop a pin. You'll also need to tell us as much detail as you can about the nature of the obstruction. You can upload a photo of the obstruction as well, if you have one.

Please note, reports won't be picked up outside office hours or over bank holidays.

After you've made your report

After you've submitted the form the obstruction you’ve reported will appear as a pin on the map. You might need to wait a couple of minutes and refresh your screen to be able to see the status of your report. The pin will stay on the map for at least 28 days, during which time you can come back to the webpage to check the status of your report. Once the pin drops off the map you won't be able to make further enquiries about your report, unless you have your reference number.

What we'll do

When we receive your report we'll investigate the obstruction and if it's unauthorised we'll take appropriate action.