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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think people shouldn't walk to my village?

390 replies

Bohwens · 21/04/2020 13:57

Hello,

With the knowledge that this will make me sound quite snooty, I firstly apologise and explain it is because I worry for my own and family's safety as we are all asthmatic and at heightened risk from COVID-19.

We live in a very pretty little village, in a small conservation area in a semi rural location. We are about 2 miles from the nearest modern housing estate. Usually, the lane through the village has a couple of regular dog walkers.

Now that we are lockdown and people are getting out to exercise in the sun (great), the lane is like a motorway. There is a constant stream of people from the housing estate coming for their walk to the village. I understand it must be dull to walk around a modern housing estate. Over 500m there were 30 people. Usually you might see 1. We can't even go for a short walk without risk of coming into contact with people.

Entire large families are coming with 5-6 children out of control on bikes etc, treating the lane past our houses like a park. I've spotted people touching our walls, gates etc, even caught one nosing in the garden!

Many of these people are not staying into the side to observe social distancing, and have dogs off the lead that need to be fetched away.

AIBU to think people should stick to their own areas for their exercise? In a way, I something feel that if they wanted beautiful walks outside their front-door they should have coughed up the extra £100k to live here...

OP posts:
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WitchWife · 21/04/2020 14:47

I can't afford to buy a house or flat anywhere OP. As a result I've had to give up walking altogether, even within my rented place. Now my feet have fused together and if I need to go anywhere or have a shower I have to be towed there by a miniature cart pulled by dachshunds. It's a royal pain living by your new rules.

IrisAtwood · 21/04/2020 14:48

1/10

Doggybiccys · 21/04/2020 14:49

Log it with 101 OP.

On another but similar note - I know someone who refused to buy a beautiful well priced house because you could see an Aldi in the distance from the attic window!! Wonder if Waitrose would have been ok?

Burntmybiscuits · 21/04/2020 14:49

In a way, I something feel that if they wanted beautiful walks outside their front-door they should have coughed up the extra £100k to live here...

Final nail in the coffin for me. OP, you are more than snooty. What a Horrible attitude. If they can reach your village by foot, then the land is more than open to them, as much as it is to you. I'm actually seething at your horrible comment!

Toilenstripes · 21/04/2020 14:49

Oh Hyacinth, is that you? Sheridan sends his love.

SuitedandBooted · 21/04/2020 14:50

It is local - it's 2 miles (actuallyit's probably less, because I doubt that many familes are doing a 4+ mile round trip with small kids).

If you want more isolation you should have bought somewhere in a rural location, not on the edge of a town. I live in village where I walk 3 times a day with the dog, and rarely see anyone, and if I do, I know who they are!

Just keep your distance, and go out early or later in the day. I understand your anxiety, but this will be over at some point
xx

skodadoda · 21/04/2020 14:50

If people in Street A in the housing estate didn't want people from Street B walking through their street would that be ok? It is no different to your ridiculous complaint. You can't dictate what direction people walk in when they leave their front door for a walk, on public pavements that are local to them!!
At a different level this is how gang warfare operates.

ItsABitOfAShitFightMate · 21/04/2020 14:50

Ugh, such vermin, how distasteful.

Can you get the gardener to shoot them?

CarolineIngalls · 21/04/2020 14:51

This can't be genuine.

TheWordmeister · 21/04/2020 14:52

I can’t see anything wrong

We live in a similar set up and I am seeing lots of unfamiliar faces on my walks/runs. Good for them, I say. Apart from the wanker that drove here to fly tip a mattress 😡

MrsTerryPratchett · 21/04/2020 14:52

You were doing so well OP, until: I something feel that if they wanted beautiful walks outside their front-door they should have coughed up the extra £100k to live here...

If this virus has taught us anything, it's that lower paid workers are more useful in an emergency than rich people.

Sparklingbrook · 21/04/2020 14:54

It sounds terrifying OP. Poor people bringing their nasty germs to your village.

I think you should have coughed up some more ££s and bought a house that was a bit more remote in it's own grounds maybe? Having a lane run past your house is asking for trouble.

BertiesLanding · 21/04/2020 14:54

YABU, and I think a part of you knows that. But YANBU to feel fear, which comes through in your OP clearly. If you'd written this from that point of view rather than a social/financial one, then I think you would have got more sympathy.

Menopauseandteensdontmix100 · 21/04/2020 14:55

I could maybe understand it if they had driven 10 miles, obstructed your drive or hand a picnic in your garden as they were walking around your village aka the village where you happen to live.

They are unreasonable if they or their dogs trespass on your property. Everyone is being affected by the current situation in one way or another maybe some of the people from the estate also have asthma (if parents want a walk should they be expected to leave the three kids at home to pacify you), they maybe have mental health issues, have been furloughed and have more time on their hands, aren’t able to go to their regular gym/swim so they are varying their route in their local area and enjoying some exercise, nature and some fresh air in the sunshine.

I work part time, work from home, have asthma and I vary my dog walking routes locally (as otherwise they get boring) within a 3 mile radius keeping a safe distance of more than 2M away from anyone i encounter. I also make a point of smiling, saying hello and or thank you to people. The other day i had a chat with an old man about tomatoes and i had a two minute chat with an old lady sat on a bench in her front garden. Some people are lonely and maybe struggling. Don’t be so narrow minded and judging OP.

cacaca · 21/04/2020 14:55

Get the fuck over yourself. NIMBY if ever I saw one. How do you know that the people using the lane don’t actually live in your special, precious, exclusive village? You can’t know everyone in the village. If you yourself use this magical lane, do you turn back after a mile so that you’re not encroaching on the ghastly new build estate?

ScorpionQueen · 21/04/2020 14:56

...if they wanted beautiful walks outside their front-door they should have coughed up the extra £100k to live here...

And the winner of the snootiest post goes to you. Absolutely shocking attitude.

GREATAUNT1 · 21/04/2020 14:56

OP these people only took the walk due to circumstances, but now they've found you it will become a permanent thing. What a waste of 100K.

MaidenMotherCrone · 21/04/2020 14:56

As long as they haven't touched your bush you'll be fine Op.

disorganisedsecretsquirrel · 21/04/2020 14:58

This is a sad example of how this horrible virus is creating an even more enormous social divide between the haves and have nots - in a country that is already quite class riddled.

For some of us this experience has been fine, dare I say fantastic. If you are furloughed on a salary that keeps you comfortable, or working from home on full salary, with your nearest and dearest kept safe with you and lucky enough to have immediate access to green spaces in which to enjoy some lovely spring sunshine - then this is like an exceptional long holiday. If your children are older / left home the added burden of home schooling is also removed.

You may have some health anxiety but the reality is, the chances of you picking this up from a garden wall - is remote in the extreme. There is risk in all elements of life and this is just another.

Compare that to a family in a city high rise, no job, little money, trying to amuse/educate children for weeks on end with no known end to it. Where the only possible joy to be had is to go out for a walk in nearby countryside (and 2 miles is well within the '10 minute drive guidance' ) then I think you should really try to be the bigger person and share a little of what you enjoy. - not what you 'have' - the countryside belongs to all.

Put yourself in the second groups position OP and think about how lucky you are - and try to enjoy the fact that others are able to find some happiness in a very difficult time. Kindness really does cost nothing.

CrocodileFrock · 21/04/2020 14:59

Paupers wandering around the village? How dreadful!

I'm not entirely sure how walking along a lane turns it into a motorway though. People tend not to walk on motorways...

DressingGownofDoom · 21/04/2020 14:59

'We can't even go for a short walk without risk of coming into contact with people.'

My God, the horror Shock however will you cope if lockdown is extended?

Spiffingly · 21/04/2020 15:00

I can maybe understand OPs feelings....we had to move rurally (into a dreaded council house) because we couldn't afford to live in the up-and-coming town anymore. We gave up shops, play parks, pubs...there is nothing here. Now that the towns are too busy to enjoy properly at 2 meter distancing, I'd be a bit annoyed if my village became overrun with town people who hadn't had to give anything up to be local.
But having said that, I'm always in the local town sitting in their pubs! (Pre Covid)

julybaby32 · 21/04/2020 15:02

Speaking of coughing, as an asthmatic, please can I warmly invite anyone who walks past my house to stop and look at the my garden, whilst maintaining safe distances from other people. The garden is very small. I haven't got a wall you can touch, unless you care to bend down and touch the bit where the dog from opposite leaves his wee-mail, about 3 bricks high, but on the other hand the garden looks pretty much at it's best right now. The forget-me nots are out, the every lasting candy tuft is still just about out, the pink stuff that had lost it's label and was reduced as a consequence is just coming into bloom now and the aubrieta is at it's best.

cacaca · 21/04/2020 15:03

Let me guess, when the plans went in for this horrific new housing estate you sent in an objection on the grounds that poor people should not be anywhere near you?
I live on a new build estate that has rejuvenated the local area. People that are not from the new houses walk here a lot - I guess because we pay a factor to maintain the area we should object to them doing so? Moron.

WitchQueenofDarkness · 21/04/2020 15:04

I've been for a snoop around the two new housing estates near us for a couple of my walks.

Yes me too!

I live at the "expensive" end of the village but I'm not going to object to those living in the cramped tiny new builds daring to walk past my house.