Neighbour complaining about our garden lights

[Slave2love]

Very petty and silly subject I know but here goes.
We have a small hedge on the edge of our front lawn to separate our garden from the neighbour's driveway. (Only recently planted, very small at this stage) further in on our lawn we have put a few small solar lights. Next doors drive is only just wide enough to squeeze 2 cars side by side and there is very little room to open doors etc. Until we put the hedge and lights in they were opening their car door fully over our garden in order to get out (also stepping on our land at times). Now I appreciate that we have made it awkward for them to open the doors fully now but surely they are not entitled to use our garden in order to get out of their car? They are new to the street but we knew of them previously and children are actually in the same class at school. Neighbour has asked this morning if we can move the solar lights. All has been pleasant with them up until now despite them being quite selfish neighbours. I could understand if the lights were on the boundary line but they are much further in. I feel it is them who have created the problem by parking 2 cars on a drive only really suitable for one. AIBU to not want to move the lights?

[TheLightSideOfTheMoon]

Move them.

Replace with a chunky fence.

Watch from your porch and cackle.

Seriously, you like your lights? You keep them. Fuck it, buy more!

[GreenFingersWouldBeHandy]

Are they asking you to move the lights because they can't get in/out of their car? Or because the lights are shining into their house and disturbing them?

[AdobeWanKenobi]

I agree with @TheLightSideOfTheMoon move them, but build a wall.

There is no way a solar light is disturbing anyone at this time of year as the sun isn't strong enough to power them for anything more than an hour of an evening. They just want to be able to step over.

We do need a diagram though

[Jupiters]

Do they want them moved to make it easier to get in/out of their car, or because the light is disturbing them in their house?

[NotSuchASmugMarriedNow1]

Move them. Seriously. Don't fall out with your next door neighbours.

[TheEmojiFormerlyKnownAsPrince]

Do they have to park side by side? My drive isn’t big enough for that

[Gallivespian]

I don't understand -- if the hedge is now on the edge of their drive, so that they can't open the car door without bashing it, why are they asking you to move solar lights which you say are much further into your property (ie on your side of the hedge)?

[Flymetothetoon]

Definitely need a diagram OP

[user1471449295]

Solar lights don’t exactly give of loads of bright light.
Your land, if you want them there then keep them. Same with your hedge.

[Winterdaysarehere]

My friend put a little picket fence up. Cheap and cheerful!!
And of course you need more lights. Maybe a gnome?

[wink1970]

If they are not complaining about the hedge but they are complaining about the lights, it's probably not about opening their car door.

Perhaps they don't like the glow at night?

[LIZS]

They probably don't function well in winter anyway. Take them out and reconsider for next year. Are they angled at their side?

[saraclara]

Have they said why they want them moved? I'd simply say no, and that they're well on your land so you don't understand the problem.

[IWorkAtTheCheesecakeFactory]

Solar lights barely light up more than a couple of feet around them. If they’re on your side of the hedge I’m amazed they can even see them from their side.

What issue are the lights causing them?

[DuckWillow]

Okay....just going to ask.

Why is it an issue that they open their car door over your garden?

Honestly this wouldn’t bother me.

Does them doing this cause you any issues or cause any damage to your garden?

If not it seems petty to stick up hedges and lights with the sole purpose of making their life more difficult when they get home.

[ActualHornist]

I would move them to be neighbourly.

It’s really not worth the potential battle IMO. Put them on the other side if you can.

[ActualHornist]

Why are people seemingly incapable of reading the OP? It’s clearly stated it’s hindering the neighbours getting in and out their cars not to do with the lights.

[Nanny0gg]

If two drives are next to each other it's not unusual for car doors to open over the next door one.

Is it that big a problem?

[RatherBeRiding]

I would be inclined to ask them why they want the lights moving. Fair enough if the light was shining into their home and disturbing them. But if they want you to move your own lights that are sitting harmlessly in your own garden simply to allow them to open their car doors over your garden then I'd ignore the request.

Or, as others have suggested, remove lights and replace with picket fence!

[JacquesHammer]

Are they using your garden to get out of their car and walking all over it and destroying things? Or are they simply opening their door wide enough to get out onto their drive, but the door goes over your garden?

[IWorkAtTheCheesecakeFactory]

Why are people seemingly incapable of reading the OP? It’s clearly stated it’s hindering the neighbours getting in and out their cars not to do with the lights.

Indeed, why are you incapable of reading? The lights are further into Ops garden than the hedge. The hedge is what is preventing them using OPs garden to get into their cars. (Which is exactly what physical boundaries are for.) but they haven’t asked her to move the hedge, just the lights.

[TheYear]

A diagram would be helpful before we can comment.

[Jaxhog]

I would be inclined to ask them why they want the lights moving. Fair enough if the light was shining into their home and disturbing them. But if they want you to move your own lights that are sitting harmlessly in your own garden simply to allow them to open their car doors over your garden then I'd ignore the request.

This.

What are they going to do when your hedge grows bigger?

[MeTheCoolOne]

I'd move them. It wouldn't bother me if they stepped on to MY land unless they were complete knobs about other things.
I wouldn't want them to park on my land but I really can't see any issue with them stepping into it. Parking can be a pain in the arse and if it means they can park in their drive then I'd happily help them out.

[AJPTaylor]

Oh I would just build a wall 2 inches into my boundary.