Lincolnshire County Council plans to charge £400 for H-bar road markings on dropped kerbs outside homes. The council currently spends around £25,000 a year providing this service without charge.
H-bars mark access points
H-bar markings are short white stripes painted across driveways at dropped kerbs. They help make property entrances more visible and discourage parking that blocks access. Unlike yellow lines or Traffic Regulation Orders, these markings are advisory rather than enforceable.
At present, Lincolnshire County Council meets the full cost of installing H-bars. The proposed fee would pass this cost to residents or businesses requesting the marking.
Committee reviews cost shift
The proposal was examined by Lincolnshire’s Highways and Transport Scrutiny Committee on 14 September 2026. The committee does not have authority to approve the charge but will advise the executive councillor responsible for highways.
The councillor is expected to make a decision between 21 and 25 September 2026. The council emphasised that scrutiny was part of the consultation process, not the final approval.
Rising demand and sustainability
Lincolnshire’s road-marking guidance notes that H-bars have been "much over-used" in the county. They are often installed following requests rather than targeting underlying parking issues.
The council regards the current approach as unsustainable. The proposed fee reflects not only the physical cost of materials but also staff time needed to process, assess and carry out each installation.
Who pays for access markings?
H-bars sit in a difficult position for highway authorities. While they occupy public highway space, they mostly serve private access needs. Charging residents would shift costs from the highway budget to those requesting the service.
The £400 fee reflects the council’s assessment of what is fair and sustainable amid rising demand for access protection markings.
Decision pending
No fee is currently in place. The proposal remains under review until the executive councillor makes a final decision later this month. Until then, the council continues to provide H-bars without charge.
