To have a chat with my friendly local policeman?

[Horsemad]

About my neighbour's son?

Neigbour's son objects to my son and his friends playing footy on the grassed area in our road when he is visiting his mother as he is paranoid they wiill damage his car.

We have taken his points on board and told kids to move around so they are not near his car when he visits.

Today, on leaving, neighbour's son asked the kids if the ball had been near his car - they said no. His mother told him to leave it and just go, and he said, 'no 'cause I don't trust these little bastards.'

I'm getting slightly narked that he is still whinging and swearing at the kids, who have complied with his request and refrained from playing near where his car is parked.

How can someone who doesn't even live in this road dictate to the kids who DO live here, where they can play? Previously, he has threatened to 'deck' my husband when my husband went to chat amicably about the situation and he has also threatened to 'belt' the kids if his car is damaged whilst parked here.

For the record, they are not rude, not vandalising anything and at least they are near home, where I can see who they are with and what they are upto and not roaming round the village like most do round here.

yeah cause playing with a sponge football is so much fun and just like the premier leage

South - you got it!

horse It would make every difference if it hit his car. It would mean that his car wouldn't be damaged and he couldn't claim compo off you. It would also mean that you could tell him the children's games would not damage his car.

Where's the harm? It seems like a solution that would keep everyone happy?

Afaik - he couldn't claim compo off her anyway as a child hit it. He'd then also have to prove that he knew which child hit it, and would have to have an independent witness, no?

It sounds absolutely as if it didn't matter if it was a sponge football or fairy dust that hit it - he has a bee in his bonnet, and is enjoying the rant. Also, if I've read correctly, the kids don't actually play near the car anymore anyway.

I'd have an informal word with the CPO along the lines of "this is the situation, what do you think...". Oh, and send the dads out for a game of footy and see if he's as much of a big man then

www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-458961/Parents-face-100-fine-children-play-football-street.html

nolembit - Interesting reading; our kids are not on the highway, but on a grassed area which is for the use of residents.

horsemad is his car parked on the grass then? I just wondered how he could be worried about it being hit if the kids were playing away from the road.

If the ball were to run out onto the road it could be considered a nuisance to a road user which is what section 161 of the Trafic Act is concerned with.

nolembit his car is on the highway, or sometimes on his mother's drive and the grass is opposite their house and stretches round the back of our property which is where they play.

horsemad perhaps a chat to your local PC would clarify the situation but it may be that he advises you that the kids should not be playing football there - if there is the possibility of the ball going onto the road. Not only could it be hazardous to a road user but if a kid were to run after the ball when a car was coming they could be injured/killed.

As for his swearing/threats if he is on public property whilst doing this he could be commiting a public order offence. I hate people swearing in front of my kids.

nolembit thanks, I am going to speak with the police just so I actually do know my/our rights.

If it is not allowed, then the kids will have to give up playing. I am just a bit miffed that despite our attempts to co-operate, he is continuing to be a pita!

If he's that upset about it it's a shame he can't just park up somewhere else when he visits his mother. If he's on his mother's drive then fair enough, but on the public highway you takes your chances (I speak as an onstreet-parker with the dents and scratches to show for it).

No excuse to be threatening, though it does sound like his mother's trying to make him see sense.

Harriet - the irony is that he lives 5 mins walk away!! If I were that precious about a car, I'd leave it in the garage! I think his mum does realise he's being OTT, I have no gripe with her.

Update... spoke to a PCSO who said she will speak to son of neighbour. She said he needs to be told to 'wind his neck in' (those were her exact words!!) and that his language is not acceptable around children. She said they are not doing anything wrong in playing there and that it is a nice safe area for them to play so she can see why we are loathe to stop them playing.

She was fully supportive so hopefully this will resolve the situation.

I think Mitmoo is a sponge ball salesman

AIBU that I'd buy said sponge ball, dip it in a puddle and splodged it all over his pimped ride????

Does Mitmoo have shares in sponge footballs?

They sound uber-dull and won't hone the skills of the next Rooney or Beckham.

God, my brothers spent their yoof kicking footballs around the streets and the balls only landed in a neighbour's garden sometimes.

I think it's a real shame kids can't bloody well kick a ball around these days - there are precious few parks and playing fields left.

x-post AKMD