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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To fence off my driveway from kids? And if so how?

92 replies

Fivsie · 27/09/2021 08:13

My front garden area is fully paved, and enclosed by a brick wall. It's a decent size area, you can easily fit 3 cars on it (we have 2, but regularly have one other visiting, either my DP, or DCs GF, who also have cars).

The wall is about 3-3.5ft high, on the side that abuts the pavement there is a gap just over 2 car widths wide to allow us to enter/ exit. When I had the wall built some years ago I did think about getting gates but didn't really have the money and it didn't seem essential.

Cut to now...we were away last week. When I came home there were 5 of the irritating neighbourhood kids sat on the wall. They sloped off on seeing me, but when I've looked at the wall they've actually dislodged several of the bricks on the top row (I'd been outside cleaning the wall - scraping off moss etc the week before so it definitely wasn't like that then!) which are now loose.

Added to that I've also seen kids 'playing' on my driveway. Yesterday I came home and 3 of then were riding bikes round it.

I'm fed up with this. I don't want them using my driveway as a play area nor damaging my wall further by climbing all over it. I'm considering whether I can get something added to the top of the walls - railings? A fence? Which would stop the sitting. And then a gate for the entrance - can I get a gate wide enough for that size? I don't really want to narrow the opening as it would make it harder to enter/ exit.

Any ideas? Was going to contact some local builders but feel I need to have some idea what I want first.

OP posts:
Mantlemoose · 27/09/2021 08:18

Ah this is why I removed my wall and out a fence up. The problem of a wall even with railings on is that it's still sturdy enough to lean on 😒 Given I don't expect you to remove the wall then yes you need some sort of railing to top of wall. Gates, I have two gates on my drive as that was the easiest option.

Warmduscher · 27/09/2021 08:20

They managed to dislodge bricks just by sitting on them?

Mantlemoose · 27/09/2021 08:22

bespokegatesandrailings.co.uk/collections/wall-top-railings/products/somerset-style-12c-wall-railing
Also you need a blacksmith - that link is just from a Google search for some ideas.

Original poster
Fivsie · 27/09/2021 08:24

I don't think they have just been sitting on them, I suspect climbing, digging at the mortar etc over the course of the week. They're 11-12ish, quite large. The wall was completely solid the previous week.

OP posts:
Seeline · 27/09/2021 08:28

You'll need planning permission for any fence or wall over 1m in height (3'3") along your front boundary. A hedge would be fine.

Original poster
Fivsie · 27/09/2021 08:28

Thanks for the link, yes that's the kind of thing I had in mind. Not sure what to do about the gate, if I had 2 gates they would need to open outwards because of the cars. Or if it was one gate it would need to slide off to the side.

OP posts:
Original poster
Fivsie · 27/09/2021 08:29

@Seeline

You'll need planning permission for any fence or wall over 1m in height (3'3") along your front boundary. A hedge would be fine.
I can't plant a hedge because the driveway is paved, so nothing to plant it in. And a hedge wouldn't stop them sitting on my wall.
OP posts:
Willow19C · 27/09/2021 08:32

Have you actually told the children not to play on your drive? Every time you see them sat on your wall, go outside and tell them to leave!

GemmaRuby · 27/09/2021 08:33

You can get strips of small plastic spikes (meant for cat proofing), they usually go on top of fences but you could try adding them to the top of the wall? Won’t be so appealing to sit on then.

Warmduscher · 27/09/2021 08:33

I don't think they have just been sitting on them, I suspect climbing, digging at the mortar etc over the course of the week.

You think 11-year-olds have been spending their time digging mortar out of your front wall? Grin

And a hedge wouldn't stop them sitting on my wall

I thought you said they’re not sitting on the wall? Confused

Theunamedcat · 27/09/2021 08:36

Don't bother with a hedge teens still sit on them I told a group off saying there was a wasp nest right under where they were about to sit (on my hedge) got told to "fuck off you old slag" they were pleased with themselves for a few minutes until karma struck right in the leg and apparently the arse of one of them one parent spoke to me about it she said he deserved to be stung for that mouth 🤣

Original poster
Fivsie · 27/09/2021 08:36

Unfortunately they are not the sort of polite, well brought up children you can tell things to. If I said anything it would be met with a slack jawed blank stare. Or I'd be told to fuck off. Or get one of the parents coming round to threaten me, call me a nonce etc. Or have my car keyed.

Fencing myself off is literally the best way to protect my home and ensure they can't sit on the wall or use the drive as a play area.

OP posts:
LaurieFairyCake · 27/09/2021 08:37

Fix the wall and then paint the top of it with anti climb paint ?

Then they can't sit down without getting covered in it

endofagain · 27/09/2021 08:38

You need a ring doorbell/ camera and some very prickly shrubs. You could do that very quickly. Then look into the gates.

Warmduscher · 27/09/2021 08:38

@Fivsie

Unfortunately they are not the sort of polite, well brought up children you can tell things to. If I said anything it would be met with a slack jawed blank stare. Or I'd be told to fuck off. Or get one of the parents coming round to threaten me, call me a nonce etc. Or have my car keyed.

Fencing myself off is literally the best way to protect my home and ensure they can't sit on the wall or use the drive as a play area.

It must be awful for you living amongst such peasants. You need to move to somewhere more in keeping with your class and status.
Original poster
Fivsie · 27/09/2021 08:39

The mortar has been dug out to loosen the brick. Right where they were sitting. Bit of a coincidence otherwise that the mortar and wall were perfectly solid the week before.

I didn't say they weren't sitting on the wall. I said they weren't just/ only sitting.

OP posts:
Shannith · 27/09/2021 08:40

I'll add that you need to be careful of any "permanent structure" over 3 1/2 feet high on your front boundary.

This includes fences. They count as a permanent structure. Almost unbelievably my neighbour had a visit from the council last month to tell her to take down a 5 foot fence panel (one panel in a fence that runs the whole length of her property) because it was "too high, caroused and obstruction and people had complained). Who complained is the source of much excitement as we live in a small village where everyone is lovely. Or so we thought Grin. Quite the scandal.

10 foot mature hedges (which most people have) that have been there donkeys years are fine apparently as they are not classed as permanent.

Could you paint some invisible anti climb paint on the top?

As a PP said two gates would work out cheaper I think than one massive gate - but I'm sure a local firm/carpenter could advise.

Railings placed near to the front of the wall (rather than dead in the middle - with anti climb paint on them) should stop the leaning.

endofagain · 27/09/2021 08:40

Oh, just seen yiu have no garden area. I guess it has to be a full width sliding gate.

Original poster
Fivsie · 27/09/2021 08:42

@endofagain

You need a ring doorbell/ camera and some very prickly shrubs. You could do that very quickly. Then look into the gates.
My front door doesn't face the wall so a Ring doorbell doesn't help. And the shrubs can't be planted because there's no earth behind the wall it's fully paved.

Re the anti climb paint, can you use that on a wall which faces the street? Also I thought there was some legal stuff about not putting it up without signs?

OP posts:
thepinknecklace · 27/09/2021 08:42

@Warmduscher

I don’t think that’s what the OP is saying Confused kids can be bloody rude as I’m sure you know.

OP it’s a pain in the arse esp when you know the parents won’t react well if you complain.

I’d rub oil all over the wall. Won’t be sitting on it for long when they’re filthy.

Seeline · 27/09/2021 08:48

@Shannith it's not that a hedge isn't permanent,; a hedge us not classed as development under the planning legislation. Non-permanent structures can be classed as development and can require PP. Any 'means of enclosure' adjacent to a highway over 1m in height requires PP to ensure that there is no obstruction to visibility for road users, including pedestrians.

Warmduscher · 27/09/2021 08:50

[quote thepinknecklace]@Warmduscher

I don’t think that’s what the OP is saying Confused kids can be bloody rude as I’m sure you know.

OP it’s a pain in the arse esp when you know the parents won’t react well if you complain.

I’d rub oil all over the wall. Won’t be sitting on it for long when they’re filthy.[/quote]
But she’s not talking about the children, is she? She’s saying the children have dug the mortar out from her wall, they will be rude to her if challenged and their parents will threaten her, cause criminal damage to her car or slander her.

She sounds judgmental and stuck-up to me.

Original poster
Fivsie · 27/09/2021 08:55

Judgemental and stuck up GrinGrin

Because I don't want kids damaging my wall or playing in my driveway! I've heard it all now.

I'm guessing you're one of the 'let kids be kids' types @Warmduscher and wouldn't care because kids doing their thing is more important than a wall being damaged...

OP posts:
Generallystruggling · 27/09/2021 08:58

Most people here have a fence on top of their wall so there’s no way you could sit on it. I’d do that and install a gate.

Original poster
Fivsie · 27/09/2021 08:58

Legally it looks like I can't paint anything on the wall. Even with a notice. So that's out. Disappointing as it could have been a temporary fix.

If I have to wait for planning permission to add railing to the wall I'll have no wall left!

OP posts:
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