On Sun, 8 Apr 2012 09:37:43 +0100, Roland Perry
wrote:

In message , at 20:45:44 on
Sat, 7 Apr 2012, Charles Ellson remarked:
Compulsory purchase powers are available to local and national
government and to various other bodies under a range of legislation
and for varying purposes. Property will not always pass by purchase,
e.g. some of my drains are now the property (along with responsibility
for repair and upkeep) of the local water company due to recent
legislation affecting common drains.

The correct term is "sewer", not "drain".

"Private sewers and lateral drains" it says here.

Exactly. That's the terminology which has no space for the concept of
"common drains".

The description two above ignores the different treatment of common
and non-shared drains so there is a dirty great interpretative hole
available to put "common drains" in. The phrase "common drain" might
(or might not?) be missing from the water/sewerage companies' leaflets
but it certainly isn't from e.g. planning matters :-
"Extension is shown to be constructed above a common drain and will
required the relocation of the existing manhole and SVP."
[Burgh of Brent planning report case 10/1812]

"Who owns inspection chambers?

For transferred sewers, Southern Water will own manholes and
inspection chambers (and covers). Householders will generally be
responsible for inspection chambers on drains, but water companies
will typically need access to the chamber at the head of the lateral
drain (the first one inside the property boundary)."
[http://www.southernwater.co.uk/Domes...shipQandA.asp]

So, in my case I've only got a couple of short bits of pipe to worry
about as the rest is common.

In my previous 1920's house there were two of the large rectangular
pressed steel manhole covers in my drive. The one nearest the road was
already the water company's responsibility and the other remains the
householder's responsibility. I wonder how big a dent in the cover is
required before you can require the water company to replace them?

pedant
sewerage company
/pedant
(one all ?)