White lines
Vehicle access markings (VAM), ‘H’ bars or ‘dog bones’ are white lines painted onto the road to draw attention to a driveway or vehicle access. These white lines are advisory only and have no legal standing.
An approved vehicle crossover (‘dropped kerb’) is where the kerb is dropped from the normal height and the path or verge is strengthened to take the weight of the vehicle crossing. Without an approved ‘dropped kerb’, the path and any pipes buried below could be damaged.
The white line will extend across the whole of the dropped kerb from the point where the kerb starts sloping down on either side of the driveway or access.
Who can apply
The resident or owner of a property can apply for a vehicle access marking to be installed if there is a properly constructed dropped kerb approved by Kent County Council.
If in doubt about this, we will check compliance with Kent County Council.
Criteria
A Kent County Council (KCC) approved dropped kerb must be in place, there must also be a legitimate vehicular access with evidence of its need.
They are provided on the understanding they cannot be used for the purpose of reserving a parking space on the highway
We cannot accept an application for a vehicle access marking where double yellow lines are already in place.
If the marking is to cover more than one access, written consent of the owner of the second access may also be required. The applicant is responsible for all costs.
You will need to be named on the Council Tax account for your property or have proof of residency.
Should a vehicle access no longer be used for its intended purpose, the markings will be removed.
Are these markings enforced
Vehicle access markings are a nationally recognised measure to highlight the presence of a driveway, but they have no legal standing and cannot be enforced.
We enforce vehicles parked partly or wholly over a vehicle or pedestrian access (dropped or raised kerb), with or without a vehicle access marking.
You can complete our online Parking enforcement request form to request an enforcement visit.
You can also ask Kent Police to deal with an obstruction by calling 101.
How to apply
If you have an approved dropped kerb, please e-mail your details and we will assess your application.
The following information is required:
- your name and address
- contact phone number
- is the application for a new line or repaint of an existing line?
- attached photographs can also be helpful
Should approval be given, the fee must be paid before we proceed further.
Installation of the line will be programmed into our Lining Contractor’s work schedule and should be completed within approximately 30 days (from receipt of payment).
Costs
The total cost for assessing your application and installing a new vehicle access marking is £200 based on a single width driveway.
If your driveway is longer than a single width, or the line will extend across more than one driveway, please contact us to discuss costs.
If your existing white line needs repainting because it is worn and unclear, the cost to have a line repainted is currently £80.
Contact us
If you have any questions regarding making an application for a vehicle access marking, please contact our Parking Team.
Email: parkingrestrictions@tunbridgewells.gov.uk
Telephone: 01892 554091