To ask who I’m supposed to report my CF neighbour to?

Police need informing as well as the local council

If the provision of a park was a condition of getting planning permission, won't the planning department get involved?

If not try your local councillor, a few pictures of them with sad faced children in the local press could embarrass the CF neighbour into removing the chain.

I agree.

Or they lack confidence in challenging a woman who is clearly a very 'forthright' character?

Or it might be that the majority of those wanting to use it are children and teenagers, who are too scared to challenge an adult and/or don't even realise that she's done this of her own accord and without any authority.

If anything, that would make her stance even more ridiculous - if they aren't the rowdy, destructive troublemaker kind who would just force their way in anyway, but just respectful young people who want to quietly enjoy the park, but accept that they can't, because 'adults said no'.

In an ideal world, people would all unite and challenge all CF behaviour and get it stamped out pronto; but in the real world, people often get away with it.

https://www.gov.uk/right-of-way-open-access-land/use-public-rights-of-way

OP has tried the managment company, she says so several times. They are not helping. I have suggested the directors too, but she says she has no record of them.

I assume you have an estate management company, and probably estate directors. If you have estate directors I would go to them, if not, report to the management company.

Well for what it's worth, I can't believe the OP is the only one troubled by what this woman has done. So either others agree with the gate being bolted, or no one is willing to back the OP. It's very odd.

It's mad to be having to think of ways to prevent her doorcam from seeing you reversing her outrageous CF action.

Would she even have the nerve to report it, anyway? How would that even play out?

"Yes, I decided to padlock the access to a communal facility, so that the community couldn't freely use it anymore - and then people who wanted the community facility to be available to the community as intended by those who established it came and cut it off... so they are the baddies, you see."

It's like the old "Muuuuum - Susie broke my doll when I whacked her over the head with it!!"

Have you read any of this thread at all?

Well then by the sound of that it still belongs to the developers and not the home owners. The management company is acting for the developer, and the home owners are paying towards the upkeep. I know I have asked this several times already and I am not trying to be awkward, but then you haven't addressed it either, where is it written down that you all own a share of the road?

Although you are inconvenienced by what this neighbour has done, the fact is she's done it on property that belongs to the developer (at least from what you've now said) and if she is in breach of the lease (that is, the rules of what you can and can't do on that land while living in a house purchased on it) then you need to take it up with the developer.

That said, the developer sounds like they're not interested, and you've said the management company is willing to help either, so after that it really is anyone's guess who you take it up with. However, if the day comes when the council do wish to adopt the road, this will all come to light, as technically everything to do with the road (including it being up to standard) .

Or alternatively go with some big golf umbrellas and hold them at an angle so your faces are never on camera

If you go in a group someone can stand in front of the ring doorbell which will block her view and she won't know who cut it... But I'm pretty sure that she wouldn't complain of the damage when the counter complaint would be that she has blocked access to which you are all entitled

If you are worried about her catching it on camera, get someone with a big van to block the view for a minute, jump out, cut the chain and stick it in the bushes and get back in the van.

We had a similar situation near us, but the developers were complicit in it.

Permission was given for a new estate of posh, expensive houses to be built, with the proviso that shops and other community facilities were also built.

Well, the houses were built; but then somebody decided that shops and communal amenities might attract 'the wrong kind of poor people' and lower the value of their homes - so, many years later, they still remain noticeable by their absence.

I don't know whether the council actually took the developers to court to fulfil their agreed obligations, or whether the council's stationery supply deliveries contained an usually large number of brown envelopes or what...

How can it possibly be illegal to cut off a padlock that has been pit there to prevent legal access to a facility?

Could I just put a chain and padlock across my neighbour's front door - and then, when they cut it to access their own home, complain that they've caused criminal damage to my property?

If you're allowed to just leave your padlock on property that doesn't belong (exclusively) to you, how come all the councils that have cut off thousands of 'romance' fad padlocks dangerously weighing down bridges haven't been done for criminal damage?

Not that it makes a difference, but does she have an issue with bad behaviour of children from the other area when using the park, or is she just a misanthrope who wants to stop children from developing normally and enjoying themselves?

This reminds me of the recent thread about the CF who padlocked the door to the communal gardens for the whole block, just because he thought that he alone owned it and had the sole right to dictate how it should be used and by whom.

Report it to the management Company.

In the meantime undo the hinges, lift the gate off & leave the chain / padlock intact 🤷‍♀️

In that case contact your local authorities S. 106 officer, their role is to enforce planning obligations. Despite being privately owned this will definitely have been designated as public open space within the planning application, they’ll be able to enforce the removal with the owner as it will be a breach of conditions not to maintain the open space.

I’d also get your local ward councillor involved, they’ll be able to push a timely response within the council.

Op - you need to knock on the door and talk to the neighbour. I do think you can start by asking if they know who’s put the chain on, say how there’s a group of you who are all annoyed by it and the management company don’t seem to be replying, as they live near by they might know who’s put it on the gate. (Add a rant about how annoying it for those of you who live here, that older people and dog walkers enjoyed being able to do the loop etc)

if she insists tell her you’ve given her fair warning and it will have to be cut off if she won’t remove it as she doesn’t have right to control the gate- that it’s not fair she’s decided to make it private access just for her. Why hasn’t she got keys cut for the whole estate? A keypad lock could be installed but she can’t make it private for just her.

then ask the management company to remove the gate

You report it to the developer or their managing agent.

If it's unadopted the developer is still responsible so I would give them a call.

If they're in the process of getting the estate adopted by the council they'll want to stamp this out.

Otherwise I assume this lady is happy to pay for the street's upkeep. Electric bills for the streetlights, filling in any pot holes to spec, any trip claims if a flag is a bit wonky😉