Hi I'm a little frustrated to say the least.. ..I've just made a drop off in a street in Newcastle upon Tyne (1.00am) - I noticed when I entered the side road that it was 2 way traffic but had calming area at the entrance/exit for one vehicle only to pass. It had 2 huge black and white "Sharp Deviation" or "Chevron" road signs on two black poles around 15 feet from the junction. I am pretty sure as this road is a normal road with no tight deviations that the wrong sign has been installed. I would assume when a chevron sign has been used it is informing motorists of dangers to tight bends (?) I was unfortunately distracted and forgot the road tethered into a calming area with exit for one vehicle. I parked the vehicle on the right hand side of the road. From that position, I then reversed - checked mirrors etc and haven't noticed the black pole (which is a foot into the road) as the street has extremely poor lighting (it was 1am and the road is nearly in darkness). I've caused major damage to the side of my car with damage done to the side bumper and rear quarter panel before it gets to the wheel arch. I am annoyed with myself but I'm equally annoyed that I can't understand the mentality of why the council has placed a Sharp Deviation sign on 2 black poles with each pole causing an obstruction on the path (for wheelchairs) and the road. It's baffling and I've genuinely can't remember seeing another road with this type of signage. I would like to assume the correct sign which should have been placed is the road would be the mounted yellow plastic signage (yellow and white plastic bollards with a blue arrows). There is also no coloured road surface to inform drivers its a calming area. I would like to know if I have a case to take legal action against the council for damage done to my vehicle. I've obviously made the error by not checking everywhere before moving but feel I have not been helped by the poor decisions of the Council. I have attached the files but will try to also add the photos to this thread too. Hopefully I'm reading this correctly.... I've just searched to see if there is a minimum width which councils are required to abide to for clearance for wheelchairs (as the pole is also cemented into the path). I've found this: The British Government have set a recommended minimum width, to be enforced by local Authorities. What is the minimum width? Answer: "1800mm on access routes to buildings, from bus stops or car parks with a deregation down to 1200mm around existing obstructions -'Manual for Streets 2' CIHT 2010". I do not believe the clearance is 1200mm and will check this tomorrow. If the width is less than 1200mm is the signage illegal? Thank you in advance for any help C

Hi All My parents have a BT telegraph pole in their back garden. It was there when they bought the place in the early 80s and may have been there since the original build in the 50s. Apart from being a bit of an eyesore it hasn't caused any real problems. Now they have received a letter informing them the pole has been recorded as faulty and in an unsafe condition and will be renewed 'in or close to it's current location' within 6 weeks. The unsafe condition part has me slightly puzzled. Only my parents or their neighbours can get close enough to this pole to note any deterioration and neither has contacted anyone about the pole. It appears as solid as it ever did and does not even seem to wobble in high winds. The cynic in me suspects it may have something to do with upgrading to fibre for BT infinity. I'm concerned as it's difficult to see how they will achieve this without causing substantial damage. The pole sits on the boundary between my parents house and the neighbours so it will likely affect them too. I'm planning to speak to them and show them the letter as I don't want them to think that my parents have instigated this. Obviously we would prefer the new pole to be sited elsewhere. I know they're not keen to move these things normally but as they've stated this one needs replaced anyway perhaps that will help. It wouldn't need to move far to be beyond the property line. My parents aren't aware of a wayleave on the property. About 20 years ago they were having some work done on the house and contacted BT to remove a large bracket attached to the rear wall which they did without complaint and without attempting to charge for the work. I'm planning to photograph the garden extensively to show it's condition prior to work commencing. I would be very grateful for any advice as to what our rights are. We are in Glasgow in case Scots law applys differently to situations like this.

Hastings Direct They might be cheap, but that counts for nothing if you have to endure the way they treat you if anything goes wrong. I added my housemate to the policy, which was a tortuous process. Then without permission, they kept her bank details and then took money out of her account, (not mine) just before Christmas last year, which left her financially knackered. This would have been bad enough. They then claimed that they'd informed us this would happen in a letter, and despite us reading the letter to them over the phone, would not admit they were in the wrong. They eventually gave us some nominal "hush money", but I didn't ask for or agree to this. Then, they messed up my renewal again (penance for causing a fuss?), and because they didn't act on it when I asked them to, they then tried to stiff me for an extra £500 quid "the next cheapest quote". Hmmm... Forgot to mention this earlier, but when they didn't act on the renewal, rather than telling me they hadn't done anything, they informed DVLA who wanted to take legal action. Of course HD didn't think this was worth mentioning to me. This prompt from DVLA meant I found out that HD had done nothing and that's when they said they wouldn't honour the original quote, even though it was their fault. They did in the end, after more 0844 calls and misery. On top of all this, they have now sent me a renewal quote for.... £500 more than last year. They are fully aware of the stress and financial injury they've put me and my housemate through, yet still try to fleece me at renewal. I've asked for them to comment on the legality of holding non policy holders bank details and taking monies with no authority - no response. They informed me in a letter that they'd deal with this complaint - no response. They told me that someone senior (above a gentleman called John McGrath) would call me - no response. A customer services member of staff wrote to me, informing me that if (!) I was unhappy, on top of the complaint, I could take this to the Financial Ombudsman, details enclosed - no enclosure. I've asked the Financial Ombudsman for advice. They ask that I exhaust my complaint with HD first. What do you do if they promise to call and deal with it? Learn from my and others experience. Run a mile from this lot.