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Original poster

What could I put across a cut through to make it less like a cut through and maybe reclaim it?

100 replies

AllAtHome · 17/08/2018 19:37

So, we bought a house and to my horror part of the garden has a path that has been used as a cut through. As far as we are has been as long as the old owners were there, therefore has been turned into an official path.

Obviously, because of this it’s not 'ours', so we can’t block it off. My plan (if possible) is to make Iook less and less like a cut through, so that those that use it will continue to do so, but as the years pass newer people will not know about it and older people will move away/ forget.

Please tell me this is possible...

So far, I’ve thought about bushes that can get bushier...

OP posts:
Thread gallery
5
IHeartKingThistle · 17/08/2018 19:40

We had a hydrangea that used to grow over our garden path. Was very annoying having to cut it back all the time. I imagine not cutting it might have dissuaded people from using it.

AssassinatedBeauty · 17/08/2018 19:42

Do you know your exact legal position on this?

Trialsmum · 17/08/2018 19:43

Yes something bush on either side of the entrance and exit and they’ll grow together. Although I guess someone could cut it if they wanted to.

Original poster
AllAtHome · 17/08/2018 19:48

Do you know your exact legal position on this?

No, not yet - I’m trying to find out more (and hope this doesn’t mean an obligation to keep it clear...).

OP posts:
Original poster
AllAtHome · 17/08/2018 19:49

I wouldn’t necessarily stop someone from cutting it back, but I’m trying to play the long game - those that know will use, those that don’t, won’t. Hopefully over the years it will stop being used and we can claim it back...

OP posts:
FogCutter · 17/08/2018 19:50

Information about this should have been in the info your solicitor gained and they should have alerted you to any concerns.

Could you contact your solicitor to ask?

booklover21 · 17/08/2018 19:52

That's awful! Does it encroach on the privacy of your garden (or is your garden quite large)? Can you add a diagram?

Tartyflette · 17/08/2018 19:52

One or more hedging-type roses (eg Rosa Rugosa) which you can keep in check for as long as necessary then if you find there is in fact no right of way you can let them run free. Or brambles.....

Original poster
AllAtHome · 17/08/2018 19:53

Yes, I’ll be contacting the solicitor on Monday. I’m not sure why it wasn’t mentioned.

Will be back with a diagram Grin

OP posts:
WipsGlitter · 17/08/2018 19:56

Our neighbours had a problem with people driving over a corner of their garden so they put a massive potted plant (in a pot) there. It worked!

Original poster
AllAtHome · 17/08/2018 20:01

Will explain diagram when I’ve seen it’s uploaded properly!

What could I put across a cut through to make it less like a cut through and maybe reclaim it?
OP posts:
Original poster
AllAtHome · 17/08/2018 20:06

We’re in a row of houses.

The hatched is public land, but is separated from the path to us (blue) by a low wall.

The blue lines are public paths (not road). The road ends further down. The green is our garden and goes around the house.

The black squares are houses build at a later date, with their own (blue road - not just path) to get to them.

The read thick line is 'no mans lane' created due to the way the houses were built.

The red dashes are the path that goes across our land. People use it as a continuation of the official path, across garden path (it is distinctly different) to access the road on the other side of the newer houses.

It is at the front of the house.

OP posts:
Original poster
AllAtHome · 17/08/2018 20:10

Argh @ typos

OP posts:
Original poster
AllAtHome · 17/08/2018 20:11

I think the no mans land should have been blocked off when the houses were built...

OP posts:
StoatOfManyColours · 17/08/2018 20:12

Bloody hell, OP, so people are cutting diagonally across your front garden? Surely if this was an official route it would be in your deeds?

BlueAnemone · 17/08/2018 20:13

Hopefully your solicitor can confirm that it's not a public right of way, and you can block it off. I'm sure from similar threads that a true right of way would have been made known to you before purchasing the land. If it's a casual 'the last owner didn't mind', well there have been threads like that too, and the general consensus is that it's best to define your boundaries now. Could you fence it off?

Original poster
AllAtHome · 17/08/2018 20:13

No, not an official route, but I believe it has become one due to it having been allowed for such a long time..

OP posts:
Dermymc · 17/08/2018 20:14

You need to find out the legal position. If there is a footpath there then there's not much you can do. If there isn't a legal right of way then I would just block it off on your land.

iloveredwine · 17/08/2018 20:14

fence round your garden! I would not be happy and be out with the water guns!

museumum · 17/08/2018 20:14

What’s the rest of your garden like and what’s the path surface? Personally I tend to avoid muddy cut throughs so if you can make sure it gets really wet and boggy that might help.
Or nettles 👹

FogCutter · 17/08/2018 20:14

Is there a fence around your garden? Is so could you extend that to cover the place people are coming into your garden?

titchy · 17/08/2018 20:15

Gate at end of blue path? Re-route unofficial path round side of your garden? Create very uncomfortable surface where the unofficial path is (broken glass Grin) - check your liability though. In fact check that anyway. Who uses it - people in black houses? Where does red path lead to?

museumum · 17/08/2018 20:16

Also - can people get from the red to the hatched to the blue? If they can then I think that even if it is a right of way you can divert it round that way. Farmers often do this round their farmyards.

NeverTwerkNaked · 17/08/2018 20:16

Your survey should have noted this?

titchy · 17/08/2018 20:16

Ooh how about a style?