Wearing Surfaces and Paving

One of the most pleasant features of the fabric of established rural settlements is that few of the external surfaces or paving are over elaborate or unessential. This simplicity applies to footpath and paved areas, to the forecourts of shops and community buildings, to the edges and trims of roadways and to street furniture.

The quality of our village surroundings must very often justify the investment in good quality paving of natural stone flags and setts. If these are expensive it is often possible to economise by laying a single line of paving following 'desire' lines established by customary use bordered with cobbles or cheaper concrete blocks.  

There are numerous alternative manufactured paving products for all applicants. Small setts can be used to line run-off channels between road and grass. Road verges can be defined with stone or specialised concrete blocks, though our country lanes are spoiled with heavy standardised concrete kerbs and gutter blocks. The natural look of grass lying over the edge of the road surface is preferred. Car parking can be very intrusive, extending the area of hard surfacing beyond the access road surface but should be identified from it by a change in surface to smaller interlocking blocks or setts. The surface of the car parking area should be capable of withstanding the effect of wheel turning or rolled asphalt softened by hot sun is a poor surface of the location. In less heavily used areas and in private drives the use of brown river gravel produces a satisfactory surface in a colour sympathetic to natural stone.

Steps to house fronts or in steeply sloping paths can be defined with setts or with full paving slabs.

New roads and pavements tend to be governed by standards designed for urban areas. When applied rigidly in a rural context they constrain traditional housing layouts and elements such as cul-de-sac, geometric turning heads, regulation pavements and kerbs appear incongruous. Where possible, proposals should follow and respect the traditional layout of settlements. A flexible approach to the application of highway standards and innovative new solutions responsive to the character of the area are needed. On some sites it may be necessary to accommodate existing rights of way within the development, or seek an acceptable diversion.

Good examples of the simple use of natural paving materials can be found in many settlements. Often this will take the form of stone-flagged footways with cobbled margins. While cost may sometimes preclude extensive use of natural paving materials, a careful mix of traditional and modern materials can be very effective. Roads will benefit from a surface dressing of coarse aggregate.