Large stones should not be placed on the highway because they constitute an obstruction to the highway.  Divisional staff will take action as follows when stones are placed on the highway and become a problem, or in response to a complaint from a Parish/Town Council or from other elected representatives.

• Large stones may be considered to be anything equal to or larger in size than a standard house brick
• Large stones deposited on the carriageway or footway (S.148 and S.149 Highway Act 1980) should be regarded as a danger and removed within 24 hours.
• When large stones are deposited on the highway verge, they should be inspected and suitable records and photographic evidence should be taken. The owner should be contacted as soon as possible, informed of the problem and be requested to remove the stones from the highway verge
• Where the problem is deemed by the supervisor to be a danger the stones should be removed without further notice and stored for not less than four weeks. A charge of £20 per stone should be levied upon collection.
• Where the problem is deemed by the supervisor to be a nuisance rather than a danger, the site shall be re-inspected 28 days after the initial notice date to ensure compliance with the request for removal.
• In extreme cases where stones are repeatedly replaced and the owners continue to be unwilling to move the obstacles, then an application to the local magistrates court will be considered.

Reporting a problem
To report a problem with large stones on the highway, please use the highway defects form.

If the defect constitutes a danger and requires urgent attention, please use the number provided.