What makes Kerbo Charge unique? (and a short history of pavements..)

We’re not the only people building cable gullys. But we are the only people who’ve chosen a polymer construct. But why?

Early on we spoke to Milton Keynes City Council about our emerging product concept and they were very clear – pavements are not flat (even in Milton Keynes) and so our product must be able to bend with the pavement surface.

The trick was to create a flexible product that would also be strong enough to withstand the pressure of a high heel or a large and heavily laden articulated lorry. Oh, and a reliable self-closing lid without any consumable parts.

This proved quite hard and at some point we’ll share some pictures of early iterations – they didn’t work very well…

Our first installs in Milton Keynes were actually on pretty straight pavements so we didn’t get to test out the true flexibility of the product. But this week we made our first REALLY bendy pavement install in Reading.

And so here it is, as you can see the install team have achieved an excellent flush finish.  It does mean the lid is slightly stiffer to open than a totally flat install but it still works very well.

Here at Kerbo Charge we’ve become slightly obsessed about pavements, so what better time to share a short history of pavements?

A short history of pavements…

If the streets of the UK could speak, they would spin centuries-long tales of kings and commoners, wars and peace, and change and tradition.

Our journey begins in the Roman era, around 43 AD, when the Romans brought their penchant for road construction to the British Isles. The first pavements were born out of necessity, as well-constructed roads played an essential role in maintaining control over the expansive Roman Empire.

After the fall of the Roman Empire, road and pavement construction took a backseat. It wasn't until the 16th century, when trade and industry flourished during the Elizabethan era, that the maintenance of roads and the introduction of pavements came back into focus.

The true revolution in pavement construction came with the 18th and 19th centuries. Influenced by the burgeoning Industrial Revolution, John McAdam introduced the 'Macadam' pavement system, which used tightly compacted layers of small stones. This technique drastically improved the durability and weather resistance of pavements, making them more suitable for increased traffic and new forms of transport.

So now you know where macadam comes from on the side of tarmac patch up bags!

As cars became common place in the 20th century this further changed the landscape of UK - pavements became a distinct space for pedestrian safety.