Access protection marking policy
An access protection marking (sometimes known as a ‘H’ bar marking) is an advisory marking that can be installed on the public highway, across a vehicle dropped kerb or pedestrian dropped kerb, to advise motorists that this is an area where access is required and that they should not park across this marking.
Enforcement against ‘wilful obstruction’ does not require an access protection marking as this type of marking does not have any legal standing and is purely installed as an added deterrent to deter parking and obstruction. Therefore, whilst Coventry City Council can install access protection markings, they cannot guarantee that parking or obstruction will not occur where these types of marking are installed.
If an obstruction does occur where an access protection marking (APM) has been installed the Police (on their non-emergency contact number) or Coventry City Council’s Parking Services Team (Civil Enforcement Officers) would need to be contacted as they have the power to enforce, this action can be taken with or without an APM being installed.
Criteria
To provide an Access Protection Marking (APM) proposed locations must have:
- a dropped crossing point for vehicles – where a dropped kerb has been installed to City Council standards to provide access to private, off-street parking or,
- a dropped crossing point for pedestrians – where a dropped kerb has been installed to provide access between the carriageway and footway.
An Access Protection Marking can be provided:
- at a private vehicle dropped kerb access where a disabled Blue Badge holder resides at the property.
- at a private dropped kerb vehicle access where the dropped kerb is situated within a marked parking bay
- at a vehicle dropped kerb access for a commercial property (subject to payment)
- at a vehicle dropped kerb access for a private property (subject to payment)
- at a dropped kerb provided for the benefit of pedestrians where parking is obstructing access or making access unsafe (particularly relevant to mobility impaired individuals or those using pushchairs or wheelchairs and/or wheelchair users).
Should a vehicle dropped kerb extend in front of more than one property access, the application may need to be reviewed and consent sought from the neighbouring property as to whether to extend the access protection marking across both properties.
Access protection markings will not be installed to settle neighbour disputes.
Coventry City Council will also install access protection markings:
- to maintain emergency services vehicular access when requested by such services.
- to maintain access for vehicles such as waste lorries when requested by such service.
- where there is an overriding traffic management or road safety reason for keeping access clear.
- as a part of an overall scheme of waiting restrictions.
Process
The online application form is completed, and a non-refundable administration fee is paid where applicable (this covers all initial investigative works including a site assessment).
The customer is informed of the outcome of the application assessment.
Should the application be successful, the drawings and an agreement letter are sent to the customer. These must be reviewed, signed, and sent back along with a further fee that covers the cost of installing the APM.
Once the signed drawings, agreement and fee for the works has been received from the customer a works package will be submitted to our contractor for installation.
The contractor installs the APM.
If a refresh of an APM is required, an online APM refresh/renewal form will need to be completed. There is a fee for refreshing an APM, if it was not originally installed free of charge. If highways maintenance is undertaken, such as resurfacing, APMs will be replaced as part of these works. APMs which were paid for originally will be reinstalled, free of charge, as part of these works.