FOI Request 2281

Subject: Emergency Access Road on a Housing Development

Status: Closed

Date received: January 2026

Question Asked:

I have a query about the standard of an emergency access road off Howey Lane, Congleton.

In general

1. Are you a statutory consultee for housing development planning applications?

2. Do you inspect emergency access roads on completion to check that they are fit for purpose?

3. Are there regulations concerning the standards for an emergency access road?

Specifically

4. Did you comment on the Falcon Rise, Congleton development by Seddon Homes? There is an emergency access road shown on the plans, and this provides a link to Howey Lane and then Moody St, which is the most direct route between the development and the local fire station.

5. Have you inspected this road since completion? Is it fit for purpose? It appears inadequate to us.

a) It has a kerb that is several inches proud of the tarmac surface of Howey Lane and of the unmade ground on the other side. Could an appliance cross this kerb? Should the emergency access road be flush with Howey Lane’s surface?

b) There is unmade ground between this kerb and the grasscrete surface of the road. Presumably this unmade ground would not bear the weight of an appliance, particularly if the soil was saturated?

c) There are two pairs of locked bollards at either end of this emergency road. Is this recommended? Unlocking four bollards is going to slow down your access. Given the width of this road, it would seem that one central bollard at either end would suffice (and indeed from the ground markings it looks like originally there were only central bollards).

6. If you haven’t inspected it, would you be able to asap?

7. Additionally please could you keep us informed of the outcome.

Our Response:

This FOI request was closed after there was no response to a request for a full name to be provided.

Outcome: Closed

FOI responded to within timescales: YES

Further action: NO