Road obstructions

We are committed to keeping our roads free of obstruction and nuisance.

We inspect our highways regularly to ensure they are free from obstruction.

It is a criminal offence to wilfully obstruct the free passage along a highway.

Penalty

A magistrate's court can impose a maximum fine of £1,000 for anyone convicted of wilfully obstructing the highway.

• Abandoned vehicles
• Building materials
• Overhanging trees or bushes
• Road works
• Scaffolding
• Skips
• Street Works

To place a skip or other items on the highway, you need a permit from Highways Services.

What we can do

• Investigate reports of highway obstruction and the people responsible
• Remove items on the highway that are a nuisance and recover reasonable costs for doing so from the offender
• Require a person responsible for a tree or bush overhanging the highway, including footways, to trim it

Report a highway obstruction to us as soon as you can so we can investigate the incident.

You need to give us details such as:

• Date
• Time
• Location
• Type of obstruction

How to report

• Reporting online
• Call us

What we will do

• We will update you on the status of your report within ten days of receiving it.
• We endeavour to inspect the area within one working day of receiving a report; if needed, we will arrange for the obstruction to be removed.