Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Wits end with kids on building site

47 replies

paperandfireworks · 07/07/2021 20:20

I am at my bloody wits end with young boys aged 8/10 playing on the building site opposite my house. Have told them the dangers. Have shood them. Have moved to being stern but they come back 20 minutes later. Every bloody evening. Only 2 young men living on the part of the development where I am who I haven't gotten to know yet so no support from the neighbours. I don't even know how far they are travelling to get it, likely from a neighbouring development.

My god it is driving me nuts, beyond dangerous and the thought of their inevitable injuries is driving me crazy. My own teenage DC calling me a "Karen".

Aibu to shoo them? Try something else? Or just chill out?

OP posts:
wizzywig · 07/07/2021 20:22

Leave them to it.

Zwellers · 07/07/2021 20:23

Why is it your problem?

CarnationCat · 07/07/2021 20:24

I think you should call the police if they do it again. It's trespassing. Let the police know that this isn't the first time and then leave it at that. You've warned them and reported it, there's not much else you can do other than following them home and telling their parents...I wouldn't recommend you do that.

Original poster
paperandfireworks · 07/07/2021 20:25

I kind of know IABU to be so annoyed but they are in amongst rubble etc and I suppose I'm cracking up a bit that they are enjoying getting a reaction, clever sods, lol.

OP posts:
NerrSnerr · 07/07/2021 20:26

Call the police. Building sites are dangerous and they need to be moved on properly.

Original poster
paperandfireworks · 07/07/2021 20:28

Thanks NerrSnerr. My gut is telling me to.

OP posts:
balzamico · 07/07/2021 20:30

You could also advise the people who own the site that it is happening

Skyeheather · 07/07/2021 20:30

You could contact the Company whose building site it is, they should be very concerned and take measures to keep them out, extra/more secure fencing etc.

crankysaurus · 07/07/2021 20:31

I frequently work on building sites, I'd definitely give the police 101 a quick call.

VimFuego101 · 07/07/2021 20:32

Is it your kids or your building site? If not, then call either the police or the construction company. Don't they usually post notices on the outside of the site telling you the building company name?

Sprig1 · 07/07/2021 20:32

Call the police, every time.

Camelsandalpacas · 07/07/2021 20:32

I was going to vote YANBU…and then you used the ridiculous’Karen’ comment so voted YABU.

Pissinthepottyplease · 07/07/2021 20:33

Call the police and ring the local school (they can discuss the dangers of building sites with pupils, they often discuss how to stay safe before the holidays).

Original poster
paperandfireworks · 07/07/2021 20:34

Thing is the developers know they are there for sure. And they continue to dump site waste on the the land knowing that kids are playing in it. They could have a few skips in or a digger clearing out some of the huge mounds the kids are on but they haven't bothered. Could definetly make more of an effort to secure it but they don't.

OP posts:
minipie · 07/07/2021 20:38

I would send an email or letter (recorded delivery and say you’ve kept a copy) to the development company.

If there is a record they have been told about the kids, they may make more effort to secure it in case of future liability for injuries..

Summerleaves · 07/07/2021 20:39

Ah, I remember playing in the building site opposite our house.

One winter it snowed heavily and we had great fun rolling a huge ball of snow all around, tipping it down planks etc.

Those were the days ..

purplecorkheart · 07/07/2021 20:40

Normally building sites have a banner etc of the building company. I would contact them ideally both by phone and email (ask that your email is logged with their legal department in case of someone being injuried). Non emergency number is not a bad idea either.

Wishingwell75 · 07/07/2021 20:40

But it's so dangerous! As soon as I started reading your post I was reminded of that little boy - well I think he was 10 maybe, can't remember his name, bless him but he was quite a way from home and he was using those bucket shoots like a slide and got his t-shirt caught and choked to death. Horrible, awful thing to happen. I don't know if you remember it was probably about 4 years ago now and of course the mother got the blame because he had wandered maybe 5, 10 miles away. Anyway, usually I am all for letting kids be kids and playing out but I'd be phoning the police and also talking to the foreman at the site when the builders are there. There's no Karen about it OP!

Summerleaves · 07/07/2021 20:41

@Wishingwell75

But it's so dangerous! As soon as I started reading your post I was reminded of that little boy - well I think he was 10 maybe, can't remember his name, bless him but he was quite a way from home and he was using those bucket shoots like a slide and got his t-shirt caught and choked to death. Horrible, awful thing to happen. I don't know if you remember it was probably about 4 years ago now and of course the mother got the blame because he had wandered maybe 5, 10 miles away. Anyway, usually I am all for letting kids be kids and playing out but I'd be phoning the police and also talking to the foreman at the site when the builders are there. There's no Karen about it OP!
Yes, in all seriousness it is dangerous and I'd call 101 and the building company. They need to take responsibility for keeping the site secure.
Babygotblueyes · 07/07/2021 20:48

Dont get how you are being a Karen (and hate that anyway, mostly just used to put down women who have opinions). I think you are going to have to accept that it is not your responsibility though and leave them to it, apart from when you have to call 999.

TerribleCustomerCervix · 07/07/2021 20:48

If the construction firm are so far refusing to help, you could email/write and tell them you’ll be making a report to the Health and Safety Executive that their site is unsecured and members of the public have been accessing it.

TerribleCustomerCervix · 07/07/2021 20:51

Also- I had something similar when we lived in a blocks of flats. There was a site beside us that had foundations dug but the developer went bust and some pre-teen boys got in and started raking about the place. I called the gardai and literally five minutes later heard a booming voice telling the boys to get out, stop making a nuisance of themselves and go home 😂

Bayleaf25 · 07/07/2021 20:55

Definitely police and a letter to the building company. Sadly I do know a child who died in not dissimilar circumstances.

AppealingPeel · 07/07/2021 21:00

Find the foreman and complain loudly that they aren't properly securing the site.

RainingYetAgain · 07/07/2021 21:04

HSE is a good shout. They would be interested in the lack of security of the site, especially as kids are playing on it..