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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

AIBU: A CF neighbour thread

150 replies

perplexedneighbour · 04/12/2019 22:36

OK, so this is a light-hearted(ish) AIBU – but I’d love some interesting advice on this very CF problem. With diagrams, of course.

We were cross, but we’ve decided to take a less stressful attitude. So, please consult my not-to-scale picture. We (US on map) – share the private lane with our other neighbours. None of us owns it, all of us have access rights in our deeds. We are the only people who use the North Exit. And we mostly use South as it’s easier. But North is better for large vans/ building equipment etc.

A couple of months ago, the tree (in bold) next to ‘A’ fell across the ‘A’ road. At the time, the ‘B’ option didn’t exist. CF cut the tree in bits, placed it completely over ‘A’, and strimmed/ dug / pulled out plants to create route B. (CF never uses A or B access.) A is easier than B for big vehicles, and we needed some deliveries, so we moved the tree branches so we could use A again. Next day, CF has put them back, with a sign saying it’s not our tree and we shouldn’t move it. (It’s not CF’s tree either.) We move the sign, and put the tree back – this goes on for several days, CF and us moving this tree every day. (We haven’t spoken to him for a variety of essentially sensible reasons. This is a silent row.) Then we get there one day, and the tree is where we left it, but he has gone and got a tractor, and placed an extremely heavy concrete block on the lane, completely blocking A.

We were pissed off and wondering how to move this block. But as it was making us cross, and he is a proper cunt according to other neighbours, we are thinking that actually, we’ll use his concrete block as a barrier, and build some sort of structure there. That means we effectively claim that whole corner – it’s not ours, but it now can’t be usefully used by anyone else. And it comes with the massive benefit of messing with CF’s head. We can’t let him think he’s won.

Any other suggestions? We are considering any kind of humorous/ passive-aggressive / non-violent protest, which preferably doesn’t involve us talking to him, which we know through experience would do no good and potentially some harm,( ie another concrete block which cuts us off from all access).

AIBU: A CF neighbour thread
OP posts:
Mamawingingit1234 · 04/12/2019 23:59

Where on Earth did he get a concrete block? It’s not often you see them lying around?

(Completely missing the point 😂)

What does the new B road look like? Also are you not required factors to look after the common areas? They could get involved? (we have a washing line debacle when one neighbour took against having washing out and complained to the factors who issued stern letters referring to our deeds)

Meantime Santas grotto or life sized nativity display!

Apileofballyhoo · 05/12/2019 00:01

Still wondering how B is a road.

Beveren · 05/12/2019 00:29

Who owns the road anyway?

thenightsky · 05/12/2019 00:32

I'm curious as to what the 1, 2 and 3 represent in the bottom left of your diagram. Are they an important part of the scene setting you've forgotten to tell us about?

I'd be quite happy with B as the new route out at your end. You can now annex A as part of your front garden!

StoppinBy · 05/12/2019 00:44

Haha, I love the suggestion of building a big ramp over the top of it. How high is it?

Lucked · 05/12/2019 00:47

God how fantastic if you could find a way to move it and block his drive!

Does he have right of way anyway over A or is it just you and your neighbour. Quite honestly I wouldn’t bother with the pranks I would document everything with photos and send a solicitors letters regarding your right of access and notify him that if he doesn’t rectify it you will and then hound him for the cost in small claims court. I don’t like the precedent of him getting away with it. What next.

thenightsky · 05/12/2019 01:02

The chopped up tree that he put there first wouldn't have lasted 5 mins if my DH lived on your row. He'd have had it round the back and in the drying pile for the wood burner before the day was out!

BanKittenHeels · 05/12/2019 06:19

Even if he did own it, you probably have a right of way over it and you’ve clearly been exercising that right.

I’d paint the concrete block to look like the moon and then add lots of little aliens.

SunshineCake · 05/12/2019 06:51

Does the block impact on emergency services access?

If not, overload with Christmas decorations 🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄

UnexpectedItemInShaggingArea · 05/12/2019 06:59

Lovely diagram OP.

I'd go full penguin bollard on his ass. Right across the south exit and B. With you and nice NDN having the keys.

Beveren · 05/12/2019 07:10

Put a barrier across the road immediately in front of your house but slightly to the right of the access to A, so that that section up to NDN's barrier on road B becomes your private enclave. Pre-warn the other neighbours first, of course.

DoesntLeftoverTurkeySoupDragOn · 05/12/2019 07:15

Get a massive sign printed with the simple wording "why?" and attach to the block or "why Kevin, why did you do this? It is unpleasant and unnecessary"

This.

God how fantastic if you could find a way to move it and block his drive!

And this.

RhymingRabbit3 · 05/12/2019 07:23

How bizarre... I am confused about why he doesnt want anyone to use that road. Why havent you asked him?

Raindancer411 · 05/12/2019 07:25

I don't have any silly suggestions but maybe a word with the council over whose right of way it is and that 'someone' has put a concrete block on it. If council moved it wouldn't that annoy him? 😂

MollyButton · 05/12/2019 07:26

Who does the land belong to? Who owns the lane?

DryHeaving · 05/12/2019 07:29

Joking apart, I'd ask the fire brigade to come and access whether it was a hazard or not

MsJaneAusten · 05/12/2019 07:31

I mean, this might be a daft suggestion, but how about speaking to him?

There must be a reason for this. Are you not intrigued as to what it is?

TheTinselrati · 05/12/2019 07:32

Move block and paint "I use this right of way please stop blocking it" on it.

Hoppinggreen · 05/12/2019 07:32

I’m with CF neighbour, 2 exits are enough for anyone
You’re just being greedy

DoesntLeftoverTurkeySoupDragOn · 05/12/2019 07:34

I’m with CF neighbour, 2 exits are enough for anyone

There were two exits before he started twatting about

BreakfastAtSquiffanys · 05/12/2019 07:34

It's strange that CFN has put so much effort into this. Chopping up the tree, making access B. If he was just being a twat, he wouldn't have bothered creating access B

Hont1986 · 05/12/2019 07:37

You need to speak to him.

DoesntLeftoverTurkeySoupDragOn · 05/12/2019 07:37

Hoppinggreen the OP states quite clearly that the original established exit A is better for big vehicles (vans, deliveries etc). How is it being"greedy" to want to retain the original exit??

FreedomfromPE · 05/12/2019 07:41

I am with the direct approach. A letter attached to the concrete block saying you use the right of way as noted in the deeds and you want the block removed. Address etc. Copy of it through everyone's door.

StinkyVonWinky · 05/12/2019 07:44

I really like your diagram OP. All those trees make it look really Christmassy. Grin I think you should get some gnomes for that concrete block, maybe some in Santa hats? Xmas Smile