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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Bouncy castle in the street

258 replies

daphnedoo12 · 24/07/2021 11:30

Hi,

I live in a street that is blocked off half way by bollards, it has a widening to allow cars to turn around. We do not have front gardens, it's terraced housing.

We park our cars directly outside of our house.

Neighbour (many, many issues with this neighbour) has now set up a huge bouncy castle in the middle of the road.

I can just about turn my car around to get out of the street, although with great difficulty and also with the risk of hitting a child as there is now about 15 of them in the middle of the road.

Anyone parked further up would struggle to actually get their car out.

Is this even legal? We have decent sized yards?? I don't understand why it needs to be in the middle of an actual road. It's so dangerous!

I sound like a party pooper, I have a DS and I wouldn't feel comfortable doing this, no adults are constantly with the children, they're in/out their houses and it's just so worrying.

Am I just a party pooper or am I right to be concerned about this?

Neighbour 4 doors up has kicked off threatening to ring the police. Neighbours who have the bouncy castle just shouted obscenities at him.

OP posts:
Original poster
daphnedoo12 · 25/07/2021 18:48

@RevolvingPivot not huge, but we do have long yards. I have a kitchen extension so mine is a lot smaller, but she doesn't so there's plenty of space. They're long rather than wide, if that makes sense.

OP posts:
llizzie · 25/07/2021 18:48

If the family are on benefits, it is the taxpayer who pays. Perhaps they are having too much? If they are, it is a shame on those who need to be on benefits and trying to do well by their children.

If this is the UK, then there are certainly laws preventing this. First try the District Council. If you all own your own houses, then look at the deeds to see if you are allowed to cause a nuisance to neighbouring properties.

TomorrowIsAnotherDae · 25/07/2021 18:50

For anyone wanting a bouncy castle in middle of street photo - here you go. This was outside the local pub and my heart was in my mouth fearing kids would bounce onto the cobbles while their parents got pissed. Police didn’t come and council didn’t do much about it either.

Bouncy castle in the street
whynotwhatknot · 25/07/2021 18:54

Im really surprised a company would put that up without a permit and no safet mats-i know business has been hit hard this last year but thats an accident waiting to happen

Dont quite understand how its the council reposnsibilty to evict if theres a private landlord they should just go to court themselves

Bogeyes · 25/07/2021 18:58

There is a scummy family in every street. They are untouchable as they are classed as "vulnerable".....scummy in other words

Unsure33 · 25/07/2021 19:14

A relative of mine lives on a very nice estate think houses around the 850000 mark

There is a small grass area with a lovely playground for the children . And around it are two rows of terraced houses with gardens .

On the public area the owners started putting out slides and benches and other play equipment and then a massive paddling pool . It makes me so nervous what is a child drowned in there ? No insurance , no cover ,no filter any child could wander from a garden and get in .

I
When people politely asked them to move it for H&s reasons they just got a load of abuse . Said they were spoiling their fun

Entitled selfish stupid people .

Bleachmycloths · 25/07/2021 19:20

Get up around 2-3am and make several deep slashes in the bouncy castle with a big kitchen knife

ShadowInVain · 25/07/2021 19:22

@Whammyyammy

SpeakingFranglais, I think so, zoomed but never noticed 🤣🤣
I think it's a reflection of someone standing on the kerb opposite.

Either that or they are spooky disembodied limbs ...

nocturnalcatfreetogoodhome · 25/07/2021 19:49

[quote Kazzyhoward]**@daphnedoo12* actually sounded like the police were having fun laughing and joking.*

Sadly, that can sometimes be the norm with police. I was a Special constable for a few years back in the late 80s/early 90s. It made me sick how some of the regulars would chat to known local criminals like they were besties, yet wouldn't give the time of day to "normal" people trying to report low level crimes/nuisance. If someone walked up to them to try to report, say, a stolen bike, they'd lie and say they were en-route to an emergency and to phone it through, yet round the corner, they'd spot a known shoplifter or burglar and go and chat football with them. Not good at all. It was as if it was all a game to some of them.[/quote]
Probably less likely being friends with them and more likely attempting to build a rapport and de-escalate the situation.

The OP has already said the neighbour is aggressive. Add in a crate full of beer and a load of his mates and then his back will instantly be up at the sight of the police.

What good is arguing with him going to do? The police got it down, how they did it is irrelevant.

SherbrookeFosterer · 25/07/2021 21:18

Knitting needles aren't just for knitting, remember.

maybloss2 · 25/07/2021 22:05

It’s illegal to block a street so emergency services have no access.
I know this as I got a ticket when my car developed a puncture as I was pulling out to go to work one morning & I couldn’t get it back as tight to the kerb as it had been. Someone else parked opposite while I was at work and the rubbish truck couldn’t get past-I as the one who got the ticket for obstructing the road. 🤷‍♂️

Handsoffstrikesagain · 25/07/2021 22:10

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn by MNHQ at the poster's request.

Jeannie88 · 25/07/2021 22:51

YANBU

MidsummerMimi · 25/07/2021 23:03

A good measure of how acceptable it is to use a common space for private purposes is, imagine everyone in the street taking that approach.
20 or so bouncy castles, inflatable pools, outdoor cinemas, a rodeo, barbecues, a bit of car racing , a few big trampolines and maybe a live rock concert.
If everyone in the street was as brazen and selfish as the bouncy castle people, you would be living in unbearable bedlam.
Since you can’t get your car out easily, now would be the time to walk past that bouncy castle carrying those tent pegs/ garden hoe/metal kebabs skewers that you need to return to a neighbour, have a nasty trip over the tethering and an unfortunate puncturing incident.

goddessofmischief · 25/07/2021 23:04

Next door but one set up a huge bouncy castle in their back garden yesterday. For adults. Complete with speakers. They blasted thumping music until 4:30am this morning. I'm still feeling murderous. Anti social bastards get away with everything.

Handsoffstrikesagain · 26/07/2021 06:56

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn by MNHQ at the poster's request.

Dragonella · 26/07/2021 07:49

What happened in the end

Maggiejardine · 26/07/2021 10:26

Anything which potentially blocks the public highway should be insured for public liability, notified to the local council and possibly to the police. That’s the legal bit. But how thoughtless and unreasonable of your neighbour to install a bouncy castle in the street and impede people going about their business or to work, without consulting those affected by it. And the safety aspect would worry me immensely. Do you have Neighbourhood Watch, they might be able to pre empt any future activities of this kind

mm8989 · 26/07/2021 10:53

The Liverpool photo😂 i've actually seen an almost identical set up. terraced houses without gardens. Two toddlers in the pool with parents sat drinking beer (10am) My children were gobsmacked.

I smiled, I know it's wrong but, it's sad not to have a pool on a hot day.

The bouncy castle is a different level and dangerous.

newnortherner111 · 26/07/2021 11:05

Agree with the MP and local crime commissioner. If you have complained to the council, follow to the next stage of their complaints procedure, and then the local government ombudsman.

Get other neighbours to do the same.

bruffin · 26/07/2021 11:07

[quote IrisAtwood]If bouncy castles aren’t properly maintained and supervised it is very easy for a child to get hurt or killed.

I remember this case from 2018: news.sky.com/story/child-killed-after-thrown-from-bouncy-castle-in-norfolk-11422856[/quote]
a little girl died in Harlow on a bouncy castlle that blew away as well

www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-essex-44494748
They got 2 years in prison for gross negligence

CatherineCawood · 26/07/2021 12:55

@nothingcanhurtmewithmyeyesshut

How the fuck is it anchored? Is it just sitting there? I wouldn't be letting my kids near it. A girl died at a funfair a few years back after a bouncy castle blew away with her in it.
My friend was a witness for that and had to give evidence, it was truly awful. Bouncy castles can be really dangerous if not treated with caution.
sue69m · 26/07/2021 12:59

CAN WE HAVE AN UPDATE PLEASE

MyFartWillGoOn · 26/07/2021 14:12

@sue69m

CAN WE HAVE AN UPDATE PLEASE
WHAT MORE DO YOU WANT TO KNOW? the police came and within the hour the bouncy castle company had taken it down....
Dullardmullard · 26/07/2021 16:45

If it’s rented through a landlord and not council they can get them out

Eviction notice and if they don’t comply they got the notice on the door
When the date comes they send out the police with a locksmith. Yes they’ll trash the house but I’d still want them out.

Yes it will take time but they should of done it over 2 years ago before the no one can be evicted for 6 months I believe.

Plus also you can complain to them too, all neighbours can.

I’m really surprised it didn’t even in a fist fight to be honest.