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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU Kids on our Driveway

31 replies

JerseySpud · 14/04/2014 17:40

I probably am but here goes.

We live on a housing estate (would be council in the uk) and whilst there is a park for the kids of the estate to play on they have decided that they like playing football right in front of our driveway.

Fine. But whats not fine is they run up and down it and then use our cars as goals. I've tried to ask them nicely not to do it as mine in particular is getting scratched because of it. But they don't seem to care, wait for me to go back into the house, and then carry on.

The driveway is at the back of the house, we go through the back garden to get to it so i can't see it all the time. But they disturb DD2 who has sleep issues anyway.

AIBU to tell their parents if they carry on or should i just ignore them and hope that eventually they will find somewhere else to play?

OP posts:
TwoAndTwoEqualsChaos · 14/04/2014 17:43

Tell their parents, especially as they are causing daamage,

Original poster
JerseySpud · 14/04/2014 17:45

I've told the parents of two of them previous when they were trying to get into our back garden when we first moved in (apparently the people before us let all and sundry in). She called them in, told them they were in for the day and then let them out as soon as i was back in my house.

If they carry on i will im just worried about being on shitty terms with the neighbours

OP posts:
elahrairahforprimeminister · 14/04/2014 17:50

Hose them down with freezing water under the pretence of washing your car.

Every day.

Wink
HecatePropylaea · 14/04/2014 17:51

Bugger nicely! They are scratching your car. Go tell the parents they either get their kids to pack it in or they pay to repair the scratching.

HecatePropylaea · 14/04/2014 17:51

Xpost. Sorry.

mrsbucketxx · 14/04/2014 19:17

Elah I was going to say that bit it depends o the area,

The parents or mates could turn nasty at your expense.

Latara · 14/04/2014 19:31

Not sure what the solution is but YANBU - would piss me right off!

HolidayCriminal · 14/04/2014 19:40

Bollards?

TheCunnyFuntIsGettingMarried · 14/04/2014 20:33

How would bollards stop kids getting on the drive?

Can you get gates OP?

CoffeeTea103 · 14/04/2014 20:47

Tell them very sternly not to do this again. Next step go to the parents.

StandsOnGoldenSands · 14/04/2014 20:51

Put a gate on it.

HolidayCriminal · 14/04/2014 20:56

Sorry, bollards would be a nuisance obstacle, but nowhere as good as a gate, admittedly.

I want to know how far away & easy to access the estate park is.

GnomeDePlume · 14/04/2014 21:07

This is where I channel my inner fishwife. I am more than happy to raise my voice at neighbour children and their friends using my drive as part of their playground.

We have had similar problems with neighbour children not keeping to either public or their own property. This was not helped by neighbour adult whining on about how her garden was too small.

Original poster
JerseySpud · 14/04/2014 21:29

Sorry i went out in the end to my sils

We're not allowed to put bollards or gates on as its basically a council house. The estate park is round the corner about 2 seconds away.

Just drives me insane, especially as i know it will be like this till October.

As i left to go out they had all moved round to the front of our house and were screaming and running aorund there. According to DH they didn't last long as someone drove into the estate fast, had to slam the brakes on and then shouted and screamed at them that they were stupid playing there.

Thank you for no one shouting at me on my first AIBU

Here is Wine for all!

OP posts:
OhNoYouExpedidnt · 14/04/2014 21:45

I would phone the non emergency police number. Every time they are there. I had a big problem with kids at my old house and the lady told me to ring them EVERY time. The community support officers will come and speak to them if they are ignoring you.

Also write down times and dates and what they are doing in a diary. It's not ok for them to be on your property.

StandsOnGoldenSands · 14/04/2014 23:06

you could use something non permanent like a roll of fencing on two poles ?
It doesn't have to be physically secured, just psychologically creating a barrier.

Purpleroxy · 15/04/2014 15:59

I'd be taking photos of them kicking balls at the car, also of the damage and reporting to the police.

OnIlkleyMoorBahTwat · 15/04/2014 16:20

I sympathise OP.

I caught two boys (5-10 ish, probably brothers) scootering on my drive a couple of times last year. I was Shock at the cheek of it. I have no idea who they were and could not believe that anyone would do this.

I went out and said 'what are you doing' to which they replied 'nowt' and I suggested that they went and did nowt somewhere else. I have seen them on a couple of occasions since and always send them away but I don't want them scratching the cars or falling over on our crappy trip hazard infested driveway.

The most infuriating thing is that at the side of our house there is a very large open patch of tarmac that they could use, without annoying anyone.

MiaowTheCat · 15/04/2014 16:55

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

SuzzieScotland · 15/04/2014 17:01

Hire a big scarey bouncer for 20 quid to give them a good telling off. Doubt they would be back again.

Original poster
JerseySpud · 15/04/2014 17:41

I will be phoning the Duty Centennier (Jersey thing) or the honorary police if they carry on.

Today i was with sil and her yard and horses with DD1 so we were late back in. They were there when i got back right out there again. its 5pm on the dot. Didn't see them at all during today which is whats strange.

But they soon buggered off when i got back thankfully. If i see them out the window there later im off to their parents. I reckon i will only need to go to one set and the rest won't bother anymore

OP posts:
Original poster
JerseySpud · 15/04/2014 17:44

Oh thats an idea Suzzie

and tempting.

I do wish DH would care about this as much as me though. He just sits there and says 'They'll fuck off if you ignore them'...

OP posts:
Custardo · 15/04/2014 17:45

grrrr bastard kids....playing and shit Hmm

insancerre · 15/04/2014 17:46

sounds like a right nuisance
every time they are there go out and tell them to move
tell them they cant play there
tell them they are keeping your child awake
tell them they will have to pay for the damage to your car
tell thwm you are going to tell their parents
tell them you are going to ring the police
they will soon get the message

SlimJiminy · 15/04/2014 17:46

What OhNoYouExpedidnt said.