Lowering the top of a drain inspection chamber - Can it be done?

[loyalwhite]

Hi all

New around here, first post. Hi.

I have a split-level patio in my garden. It's pretty much in two halves, with the upper half being just a brick's height higher than the lower half meaning that you have to step up and down between the two halves of the patio.

For two reasons, I'd like all the patio on one level. Reason 1 is that my toddler keeps falling down the step, and reason 2 is that we can't put any furniture in the middle of the patio, because of the step. So even though the patio is quite big, when we put out the table and chairs we are hemmed in to either the upper level or lower level.

So I was thinking of getting a contractor in to lower the level of the upper half of the patio. (I'm assuming that raising the level of the lower half is not an option as the lower level half meets the house at the back door, and that would mean that there would be insufficient difference in height between patio and house.)

The problem is, there is a drain inspection chamber in the upper level half of the patio. Is it possible to lower it? I have searched around on this site and others and found lots of information on raising the level of access points to inspection chambers, but nothing on lowering them.

Forgive my ignorance, but is it simply a case of chopping the top and putting the lid back on? Or is there more to it than that and if so, what are the issues?

I hope someone can offer an opinion.

Cheers,

loyalwhite

[Pablo]

We need a picture of the chamber with the cover off so we can see what the type and depth it is. We could only guess without seeing it.

[Tony McC]

As long as there is sufficient depth within the chamber, lowering the cover level is possible. What type of chamber is it: brick, concrete, placky?