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AIBU?

To want to stop this..

47 replies

DizzyBlondeMum2 · 05/01/2017 23:08

..we moved into a new build in August. A quiet 'cul de sac' of 5 houses on an unadapted road/private drive in the middle of a bigger estate.

We are responsible for upkeep of the private drive and most of us chose our homes to be on a quiet road without through traffic for one reason or another. For example we have a DS age6 with DS, who has really poor road awareness so it's much safer for him with only immeadiatebneighbours passing.

A new bit of the estate was occupied over Christmas and a number of neighbours we don't know and who don't have responsibility for the drive are now using our drive as a short cut. It's making the road much busier than it should be, and they drive quite fast. Also they're adding wear and tear that we'll have to sort out one day.

Would it be unreasonable to find a way to stop them! How? Suspect they don't realise it's an unadopted road.

Or are we just being entitled?

OP posts:

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Manumission · 10/01/2017 14:47

Dizzy you're on some kind of slow-burn wind-up revolving around the meaning of "cul de sac" aren't you?

GreenTureen · 10/01/2017 14:46

great to hear that it would be reasonable to make people aware and make use inconvenient with parked cars or traffic cones

If there's no public right of way, surely a sign stating 'Private Property' or similar could be erected? I'd be careful about dumping your card in the middle of what (clearly) appears to be a public road op - if I was one of the neighbours and saw this, i'd probably ring Highways to ask for a tow tbh.

GreenTureen · 10/01/2017 14:43

I'm another that doesn't get it. If neighbours are using the street as a through road then it's not a cul de sac.

AQuietMind · 10/01/2017 14:40

I thought a cul de sac was one road to a dead end?

RedHelenB · 10/01/2017 14:27

You do need to check if it is a public right of way though surely before blocking with a car?

DizzyBlondeMum2 · 09/01/2017 22:35

One of the neighbours has parked blocking the road tonight. Perfect. Its right at the far end so anyone driving down the shared drive will have had to reverse all the way back. He he.

Think occaisonal blocking might work like your gate justwantto. Thanks for sharing your succesful solution x

OP posts:

justwanttoweeinpeace · 09/01/2017 17:57

We had a very similar problem and we put up a gate. It was a bit of an arse at first but we found that just the possibility of it being closed encourages the other neighbours to use their own entrance. We open and close it pretty randomly now and the traffic has decreased a lot. I'd imagine a chain would do the same.

HorridHenryrule · 09/01/2017 17:53

I would get it blocked as soon as possible before any real damage is caused. If in the future you want to sell it might become an issue if its not maintained properly.

rollonthesummer · 09/01/2017 00:05

I can't picture this at all/how is it a cul de sac?

DizzyBlondeMum2 · 09/01/2017 00:01

Thanks all for your feedback.

Great to get confirmation that it's reasonable to do something. Was expect lots of you ABU and entitled.

It was always a potential issue and I did follow up with the solicitor. Hence knowing it's owned by us and the neighbours, we are responsible for repair and our properties have the right to acccess.

So what we can do is limited but great to hear that it would be reasonable to make people aware and make use inconvenient with parked cars or traffic cones. A locking bollard In the centre may be an option if it gets very bad, then we can all get into our homes from one end or another but through traffic can't get past. Would love penguin cones but have you seen the price!,

Crumbs - our 6 year old with DS and poor traffic sense is always properly supervised but can still take it into his mind to dash off. Hence having bought on a private road where traffic is minimal so he can have some (supervised) independence going in and out of the house.

Thanks again ladies!!

OP posts:

User006point5 · 06/01/2017 09:03

Yes, there are lots of private roads near me, but everyone can drive on them, because they are public rights of way. Obviously, this makes it expensive for the owner of the road - which is a company owned by the residents - as they have to maintain it. One road has humps, which does encourage drivers to use alternative routes.

CocktailQueen · 06/01/2017 08:44

Good point, Wings!

CocktailQueen · 06/01/2017 08:43

Maybe the builders have left your road as they plan to build more houses that can be accessed from it - so it's not a cul de sac. It's a private road at the moment that leads somewhere? Your first port of call should be the builders. Ask them what their plans are.

I'd also go to the council ann get them to adopt it - or you could have huge maintenance bills in future, and not everyone may be happy to pay them (this happened to my sister, who lives on an unadopted road).

WeAllHaveWings · 06/01/2017 08:41

There is a difference between a road not being adopted by the council yet/being responsible for its upkeep and actually owning it (private road).

Do you know who actually owns the road? You probably need to speak to a solicitor to determine if it is a public or private road and what you are allowed to do. An unadopted road is usually a public road, but it is just not maintained at public expense. If it is a public road you cannot block it.

GlitteryFluff · 06/01/2017 08:34

I don't think you're being entitled.
How do your neighbours feel?
Do they want to be able to drive through both sides?
Does the extra traffic annoy them?
Have they twigged they have to pay for the damage to this road that the extra traffic will inevitably cause?
Are they willing to chip in with money or be inconvenienced by chains etc?

Mouikey · 06/01/2017 08:32

As an aside I'm not sure it is the builders responsibility to sort it out (unless something has not been completed) - you purchased it and should have had a solicitor on board.

For me private roads which are shared are an absolute no no given this situation and having to get everyone together to pay for repairs. On that note is there a management company that you pay into for long term maintenance? If there is the other option if for all the residents to complain to them to get something done - it will actually be the residents who will pay for it but it would be organised centrally through the company (or should be).

Mouikey · 06/01/2017 08:29

If they are both new build the discussion with the council (county generally) about adoption would have happened during or just after planning. Many councils no longer adopt roads due to the cost of long term maintenance or the road may not be adoptable due to its design. It is unlikely (but not impossible) that the council will adopt it now.

Putting any kind of bollard or gate in may require planning permission (so check first).

I'm not entirely sure how this road serves a new development (phase 2) yet is private - was this raised when you purchased it? Have you looked at the original plans for your phase and the new phase? Has the developer undertaken everything he was supposed to (i.e. Do the plans show gates that haven't been installed? Unlikely but worth a look).

Sadly I'm not sure how much you will be able to actually do. Talk to highways and planning (separate departments possibly separate councils depending on where you are). I would also talk to the developer too.

pklme · 06/01/2017 08:20

It's the builders responsibility to sort this out!

In the meantime, park all your cars haphazardly all over the road. It's yours, you can. Make it so inconvenient to drive along they all go back to their proper road.

pictish · 06/01/2017 08:16

Diagram is needed. I can't imagine a cul de sac that people can drive through. I'm not getting a picture here.

ageingrunner · 06/01/2017 08:12

Sketch please

ageingrunner · 06/01/2017 08:12

I was also wondering how they can use it as a short cut if it's a cul de sac?

Christmassnake · 06/01/2017 08:09

Need a picture pls

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ProfYaffle · 06/01/2017 08:04

There's a road near me who had a similar problem. They installed gates at either end, not locked but just the need to stop, get out and open them has stopped the road being used as a rat run as it's no longer so convenient.

icy121 · 06/01/2017 07:53

The council probably haven't adopted the road bc it wasn't built to Highways Standards (much more expensive for the developer).

Block one end with collapsible bollards, or a locked gate.

RedHelenB · 06/01/2017 07:48

I would get the council to adopt it if you can. Trying to keep people out when it is a shortcut will be a nightmare.

Warning - do not buy houses on unadopted roads - can be a nightmare to sell on!

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