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Original poster

AIBU to complain about neighbours turning adjacent land into a lorry park and bonfire?

59 replies

Redmistdecended · 13/08/2026 08:31

Long time lurker, first time poster, please be kind.

We moved into our new property about three months ago. It’s a lovely house, and to the right-hand side is a large patch of grass. When we viewed the house, I was already imagining spending hot summer days out there with my DD, as we don’t have a front garden.

On moving day, however, there was an 18-wheeler parked on the land. The owner came over and rather gleefully informed me that he’d bought the land and was turning it into a car park for his monster trucks.

I honestly feel like we should have been told about this before buying the house, but obviously that’s water under the bridge now. What I wasn’t prepared for was quite how much of an impact it would have.

Over the first couple of weeks there was a huge amount of work done. They’ve created a large mound of earth, which now blows dust into our house, put up what I think is pretty ugly Harris fencing and planted a load of trees, which have subsequently all died. There are now large vehicles parked right up against the edge of our drive, to the point that my view when pulling out is becoming obstructed.

They’ve also damaged/removed part of the fence at the back of our property. They’ve repeatedly said they’ll replace it, but it’s been weeks and nothing has happened.
The whole thing is now a complete eyesore, and I’m genuinely worried about what it’s doing to the value and enjoyment of our property.

Then last night was the final straw.

It was the hottest night of the year, and they decided to have a fire in their back garden. At first I assumed they were just burning a few bits and thought it would be over fairly quickly. But at around 11pm, when I was getting ready for bed, I looked outside and there was smoke absolutely billowing towards our house and directly into my two-year-old’s bedroom window.
I completely lost my temper.

I went through the broken section of the fence and confronted them. I was absolutely furious and, I’ll admit, I was swearing and called them disrespectful pricks. Not my finest moment, but after weeks of putting up with everything, seeing smoke pouring into my child’s bedroom at 11pm pushed me over the edge.
I’m now concerned that this isn’t a one-off, either. They’ve got a large pile of material next to our house and it looks very much like they intend to burn more of it.

So, what do I actually do here?

I’m thinking about contacting Environmental Health because of the smoke/dust, and I also want to find out whether the car park/monster truck use, earthworks, fencing etc actually have the necessary planning permissions.
I’m also wondering what, if anything, I can do about the damage to our fence and the effect all of this is having on our property.
I know I’ve been extremely emotional about it, and I’m probably too close to the situation now, so I’d really appreciate some practical advice about what avenues I should be looking at.
Am I completely overreacting, or is this something I should actually be taking up with the council/planning/environmental health?

And if there is any recourse with my solicitors regarding this eyesore, any help much appreciated.

AIBU - To start a war with my neighbours?

OP posts:
Mellowautumnmists · 14/08/2026 11:04

Redmistdecended · 13/08/2026 13:12

Update:

I’ve spoken to the local council and they do not have any planning permission to build a carpark it’s supposed to be a garden extension… and it’s not even approved!! What now?

Did the council say who the owner is?

Is the council going to contact the owners?

Can you work out who the owner is - ie is the land attached to a property nearby to yours?

You should be able to access planning applications online via your council’s website. Have you looked and if so what does this show?

Can you draw a rough plan so we can see what’s going on exactly?

GrantMyWishes · 14/08/2026 04:24

OP, my advice would be to make an appointment with someone at the Citizen's Advice Bureau, they will be able to tell you all the right steps to take. It's great that people on MN are doing their best to help, but unless we know exactly where you live etc., we could be giving you totally wrong information and wasting valuable time during which you may need to be taking action.

Heretohelp1111 · 14/08/2026 04:19

What have the council say they will do? Surely there is an investigation and a planned visit and your best bet is to submit as much evidence as possible?

JulietteHasAGun · 14/08/2026 04:15

Redmistdecended · 13/08/2026 13:06

To be fair they were apologetic and agreed to put it out immediately

Show quote history

Well that’s something. In the current weather if they hadn’t you would have to call the fire brigade. Not worth the risk of it getting out of control and your house burning down.

Madwoman94 · 14/08/2026 03:31

Make sure they are the owner and it’s not title less land they are attempting to claim

Youll have to check on the land registry and ask round neighbours

Francestein · 14/08/2026 02:10

Ask the council to fine the owner

CoffeeBotherer · 14/08/2026 02:06

As others have said, it's a change of use. I'm still looking into buying a house with a few acres of paddock and will put in an application even though I just want to make some ornamental/rewild and the rest an orchard. Obviously what they've done is a more serious change.

Huckleberries · 14/08/2026 00:41

Redmistdecended · 13/08/2026 13:12

Update:

I’ve spoken to the local council and they do not have any planning permission to build a carpark it’s supposed to be a garden extension… and it’s not even approved!! What now?

This is why your solicitor didn’t say anything

No formal application has been made so there was no paperwork for them to look at

You need to complain to Planning immediately

Who owns the land? Let them know as well.

RogueFemale · 14/08/2026 00:11

Redmistdecended · 13/08/2026 13:12

Update:

I’ve spoken to the local council and they do not have any planning permission to build a carpark it’s supposed to be a garden extension… and it’s not even approved!! What now?

You now have to take this very very seriously. Ensure that the land owner complies / council enforces any non-compliance.

And get on to your local councillor.

If you do nothing, what happens next is much worse. You are tacitly agreeing to the change of use to a truck parking lot, I've you've never complained about it - then it gets planning approval.

hahabahbag · 13/08/2026 16:02

One lorry (as in a single owner operator vehicle) cab will require planning as it’s business bus shouldn’t be an issue, multiple vehicles is a different matter

MrsMoastyToasty · 13/08/2026 15:41

Are there any weight limits on the approach road?

(We- local residents- managed to get a proposed Tesco planning application rejected because they wanted to use roads with a 7.5 ton weight limit for artics to make deliveries).

Beautyfadesdumbisforever · 13/08/2026 15:31

That’s really good news that it was sold as a garden extension.
Hopefully now the Council know they will deal with it but I would make sure you read the minutes of all the meetings and if necessary make a formal written complaint.
i do know that some Councils had started selling off wide grass verges and any odd wide junction sweeps. It brings in extra cash and they no longer have to maintain them but I’m sure there must be some tight restrictions of how they are used.
Good luck, get them to fix your fence and let the Council do its job albeit slowly.

Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g · 13/08/2026 13:14

Now that you've alerted the council planning department they should visit and issue an enforcement notice, or whatever the procedure is. If this doesn't happen promptly I'd get onto your local councillor and enlist his/her support. Good luck!

Hankunamatata · 13/08/2026 13:14

Are you taking actual monster trucks

Or hgv lorries and trailers?

Original poster
Redmistdecended · 13/08/2026 13:12

Update:

I’ve spoken to the local council and they do not have any planning permission to build a carpark it’s supposed to be a garden extension… and it’s not even approved!! What now?

OP posts:
Hankunamatata · 13/08/2026 13:11

They apologised.

Calmly go to them that you want the fence repaired by x date or you will get quotes and want the the money to pay someone to repair it.

Original poster
Redmistdecended · 13/08/2026 13:10

Beautyfadesdumbisforever · 13/08/2026 11:01

I think as another people have said check what the land can be used for.

A man has bought a piece of land and is using it to park his large lorry on. Burning anything at the moment is total madness but is he just clearing the site? He is fencing it and had planted trees.wrong time of year to plant trees but hopefully he will replace them then it won’t be such an eyesore.

i know you are hugely disappointed and very angry but you were making plans for a piece of land you didn’t own.

I would give everything time to settle down.
I’m not sure he has done anything heinous, he certainly won’t think he has.
I’d think long and hard before going out of my way to fall out with him,
check all of your facts, information is power and then try and have a reasonable and calm talk with him not at him.

Thank you this is good advice.
Again wasn’t planning much just a nice place to sit and watch the horses opposite. The fire starting is my main concern that field opposite is bone bone dry.

OP posts:
shineyshoess · 13/08/2026 13:10

They would have needed planning permission to change the use. Definitely contact the local authority

Original poster
Redmistdecended · 13/08/2026 13:08

MabelAnderson · 13/08/2026 11:14

I don’t understand the bit about you planning to spend hot Summer days on the land with your dd, did you think the land belonged to you ?
Other than that, yes call environmental health re the bonfires , and other advice given by pps. Very anti social and unpleasant to have a bonfire right next to a house. Also really dangerous to be having any kind of fire at the moment.

When I had driven past there was an old man sitting there under an umbrella with a drink, it’s public land just a big grassy verge on the corner. There is also a large paddock with horses opposite. The kind of place where you’d see the street kids playing back in the day, I wasn’t planning on anything really just thought it would be nice to sit and watch the horses.

OP posts:
Original poster
Redmistdecended · 13/08/2026 13:06

Goldengirl123 · 13/08/2026 09:58

What did they say when you confronted them?

To be fair they were apologetic and agreed to put it out immediately

OP posts:
MabelAnderson · 13/08/2026 11:14

I don’t understand the bit about you planning to spend hot Summer days on the land with your dd, did you think the land belonged to you ?
Other than that, yes call environmental health re the bonfires , and other advice given by pps. Very anti social and unpleasant to have a bonfire right next to a house. Also really dangerous to be having any kind of fire at the moment.

RogueFemale · 13/08/2026 11:09

@Redmistdecended The local authority have a lot of legal enforcement powers, including even land which is just visually an eyesore. I'd get in touch with your local councillor to ask which department or departments to contact. And yes, check with planning to find out what is allowed on this land.

Beautyfadesdumbisforever · 13/08/2026 11:01

I think as another people have said check what the land can be used for.

A man has bought a piece of land and is using it to park his large lorry on. Burning anything at the moment is total madness but is he just clearing the site? He is fencing it and had planted trees.wrong time of year to plant trees but hopefully he will replace them then it won’t be such an eyesore.

i know you are hugely disappointed and very angry but you were making plans for a piece of land you didn’t own.

I would give everything time to settle down.
I’m not sure he has done anything heinous, he certainly won’t think he has.
I’d think long and hard before going out of my way to fall out with him,
check all of your facts, information is power and then try and have a reasonable and calm talk with him not at him.

fishfingergermanbight · 13/08/2026 10:34

With current weather I’d be most concerned about fires in the short term. Have a word with your local fire safety officers, or the fire brigade themselves. They might be able to intervene to prevent more.

MissKittyCat · 13/08/2026 10:18

If he is using HGVs as part af a business he will need an Operators Licence. This will state where the vehicles are to be kept, which must be somewhere suitable with appropriate planning permision etc. You can search for O licences on the gov.uk website. You can report him to the DVSA if he isn't operating correctly.