To expect them to shut the gate?

[nomoreheels]

Our new postman & some of the leaflet delivery people have a bad habit of leaving our gate wide open as they leave. We always have it shut because:

• when it opens it alerts us that someone's there & we sneak a look from upstairs (particularly useful when it's dodgy youfs up to no good; sadly we get ASB sometimes. Or for screening if I don't want to answer, eg religious folk)
  

• it stops dogs from getting in & chasing our cats or doing their doggy business
  

• and finally, we hate how it looks when it's wide open. Personal taste perhaps, but there's a lack of taking pride in homes in our area (lots of litter, weeds, crumbling exteriors, broken gates) - so we try to keep it looking as nice as possible.
  

I think if the gate is shut when you come through, close it on the way out. It only takes a second.

I'd be curious to know whether gate closing is covered in Royal Mail delivery policies - anyone know?

I am on a short fuse anyhow as DD has just started teething at 3 months & I'm seriously sleep deprived, so it's bugging me even more than usual. Would IBU to give the next culprit an earful the next time it happens?

[tallulah]

This winds me up too. The postman, paper boy and DH all leave the gate wide open. We have a 4 yo who can open the front door, and having the gate shut gives me an extra few seconds to catch her if she does abscond.

One of my neighbours has a "Please shut the gate" sign on their gate. Don't know where you get them, or whether people take any notice.

I think if you did give someone an earful they'd just look at you like

[TheMagnificentBathykolpian]

Get one of those spring thingies that automatically closes it.

[TidyDancer]

Yes, this happens at my house as well. I've opened the door and asked the postman to shut the gate before, it's seriously annoying. I don't want a child or animal escaping from my house, so there's a bloody reason for the gate!

[ChippingIn]

YANBU

Get a sign for the gate - along the lines of 'If you can't shut the gate don't bloody open it!'

[nomoreheels]

Good point re: DC safety too - not relevant for us yet, but one day...

Yeah, they'd probably give me a look but I might feel better!

[nomoreheels]

A spring is a good idea, I'll look into it. A sarcastic sign would be satisfying but probably ignored. :)

It's annoying as we had a lovely postie before, who was very polite whenever we spoke & always shut the gate. I miss him!

[TidyDancer]

But it could be relevant, nomoreheels! How is the postman (etc) to know if you have a menagerie of animals and children in the house?! They should just shut the bloody gate as standard.

[wishiwasholdingaachinegun]

I think it's good manners to close any gate/door that you've opened.

I have a slidey porch door and some postmen leave that open. Bloomin' annoying.

[nomoreheels]

Quite right Tidydancer, was just musing that I hadn't thought of that. They should definitely just do it as standard.

I've just found a RM forum which said that it's unofficial good practice to close gates as long as they're in good working order.

[redyam]

You could get more and more upset Or....... You could just get a spring that shuts the gate automatically.

[TidyDancer]

Oh I know, I was angry on your behalf, not angry at you. :)

It's not beneath me to chase delivery people up the road to tell them to do it. It's not asking too much is it?!

[JjandtheBeanlovesUnicorns]

YANBU, I share a gate with my neighbour, path down the middle of two front gardens iyswim, I shut it and the sad bastard husband walks straight out when my door closes and opens it. It is driving me insane!!!

[nomoreheels]

Ha Tidydancer, good on you for telling them off.

I've just had a look for springs but they're for wooden gates & require drilling to fasten them. Mine is wrought iron & I wouldn't feel safe drilling into it - but the bars are quite thin as well.. Help!

[TheMagnificentBathykolpian]

new gate?

[nomoreheels]

No can do, we're skint & besides, it's a nice period gate. I'll just have to get some metal drill bits (thankfully I already have a good drill & goggles) & try to find a spring with a small fixing area.

Now added to my already long list of non-essential DIY... :)