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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:
LittleGwyneth · 27/09/2021 10:38

Pointed bricks sounds like a very solid suggestion.

I can't believe what a hard time you're getting OP!

PennyWus · 27/09/2021 10:39

This might not suit you, but there is a product that is a retractable side awning, it can span a 5m space for about 100 quid. I have no idea about the planning that may be required to put this across the opening of your drive, but it would block it off while you are away from the house. You'd need to have a solution for mail and other deliveries if you block off the driveway.

PennyWus · 27/09/2021 10:42

You can get those retractable awnings 1m or less high, so that would be fine (no planning consent needed). Cheap!

Flawedperfection · 27/09/2021 10:45

How is not wanting the feral brats of the local trash ruining your walls, costing you money and being a general unwelcome nuisance, being stuck up, @Warmduscher? Are you the parents of these brats or something? Or do your kids behave like this?

No wonder people are terrified of daring to ask others to respect their property!

WhenISnappedAndFarted · 27/09/2021 10:50

@Warmduscher that's not what the OP is saying. There are plenty of people around like this, some children do run riot and cause a whole load of problems for other people and if anything is said then the parents threaten them because their precious kids can't do no wrong.

I'd be surprised if you haven't come across this and if you really haven't then maybe just maybe it could be you and your kids who are like this

Nsky · 27/09/2021 10:55

Get spikes on top of wall

Stickyblue1987 · 27/09/2021 10:56

Get a blink camera system. Similar to a ring but you can attach several cameras and you get live feed through your phone.

mumwon · 27/09/2021 11:07

even with the rules of fence height - unless you are on a corner (obstructing line of vision for cars) I doubt any council would come out & have a go at you for a small open metal fence (with nice pointy ends) on top of wall - presumably you would have to have automatic opening gates op? that will cost.
Why should op have to put up with having rude kids mouthing off at her for asking them not to play on her property or sit on her wall? Mind I am a little surprised they dug into mortar

AlCalavicci · 27/09/2021 11:08

A few of us on my street had this issue a couple of years ago , we dont have drives but had kids sitting on walls and walking along them.
We got together and alternated with putting stuff on the walls that were unpleasant but not dangerous like
Jeyes fluid
Zoflora
Talc ( only works on dry none windy days )
baby oil
veg oil ( good use for old chip pan oil )
cheap chocolate buttons ( hot days )

It took about two weeks of topping the walls up every other day or so but it worked

mumwon · 27/09/2021 11:08

@WhenISnappedAndFarted
this

BecauseMyRingBurnsSheila · 27/09/2021 11:13

@AlCalavicci

A few of us on my street had this issue a couple of years ago , we dont have drives but had kids sitting on walls and walking along them. We got together and alternated with putting stuff on the walls that were unpleasant but not dangerous like Jeyes fluid Zoflora Talc ( only works on dry none windy days ) baby oil veg oil ( good use for old chip pan oil ) cheap chocolate buttons ( hot days )

It took about two weeks of topping the walls up every other day or so but it worked

Oh I like this idea! Cheap and non permanent but likely to result in a permanent aversion to sitting on your wall.
Pheasantlysurprised · 27/09/2021 11:14

typical dumb ass MN replies here from never-never land.

no, you are not being unreasonable at all.

most people will know EXACTLY why this sucks and would probably start hyperventilating if it were happening to them.

Anyone, whether kid or adult, who is willing to disturb or destroy your property will not be open to end Blyton-esqu suggestions to move along. In fact, depending upon their 'disposition' one might even suggest that drawing attention to yourself will make them worse.

I once rented an end terrace with this sort of problem, the kids were wilful and very much old enough to understand that it was inappropriate.

Pheasantlysurprised · 27/09/2021 11:14

enid-blyton-esque

80Dodgeballs · 27/09/2021 11:15

Yes, how about being really embarrassing for them. When they next sit on the wall, go outside and sit down next to them and say something like "Hi kids, I'm so glad you're here, I've not spoken to anyone today and my own kids are too embarrassed by me to talk to me but you seem like nice kids. What shall we talk about then? The weather's nice today, isn't it? How's school? God I hated school when I was a kid, is it still awful. I tell you what, the worst bit was when they did the sex education talk and we had to talk about periods in front of the boys. Do they still do that now? I'm not embarrassed any more nowadays though, it's completely normal isn't it, having periods. But the nobody tells you how heavy they get though, do they?" Bet they cringe and fuck off!

With the bikes, get yourself a second hand adult scooter and every time you catch them on your drive, join them on there or ask to borrow one of their bikes to have a go. Declare how much fun you're having Grin

EnidFrighten · 27/09/2021 11:19

You want to be careful that any taller structure or hedge doesn't create a security risk in its own right. The kids might not sit on it but does it reduce your security?

endofagain · 27/09/2021 11:52

You could fit one of those high pitched sound emitting devices that only children and adolescents can hear.

Original poster
Fivsie · 27/09/2021 11:53

I can 100% say that any attempt to speak to these kids (a friend of mine tried it once when he parked his flashy sports car on my drive and they were all 'nice car mate') will after a brief initial exchange result in them basically screaming paedo. I've learned treating them essentially as though I cant see or hear them is the best way to avoid conflict!

Trying to get hold of someone at the council to find out what I can do railing/ gate wise. In the meantime I might consider the chain solution although I bet they would try to go over/under it. Does send a clear message though that they shouldn't be. I'm really not sure why they can't sit on their own wall/ play in their own drive.

OP posts:
Mantlemoose · 27/09/2021 12:47

My drive gates swing out as well as in. No point in talking to the kids IME.

Saltovinegar · 27/09/2021 13:07

There's a wall opposite my house which has been wrecked by kids gouging the mortar out. The dislodged bricks are then used to smash the top of the wall. I regularly go and remove bricks which have been chucked on the road. I totally sympathise with you.

ClaudiaWankleman · 27/09/2021 13:19

You could fit one of those high pitched sound emitting devices that only children and adolescents can hear.

Don't do this. I am well past adolescence and my neighbours' one deafens me every time I approach my own front door.

You could try those pigeon spikes on top? I hate them and how wildlife unfriendly they are, but they could break the habit of sitting there. Much lower cost too.

gogohm · 27/09/2021 16:16

If they have damaged a relatively new brick wall I suspect the mix for the mortar wasn't quite right or something has hit it, not just humans sitting on it.

You can get railings and big gates if you have deep pockets but I suspect you need planning permission and is it in keeping with the area?

Fckingfuming · 27/09/2021 16:25

The very best of Cliff Richard, played at high volume, with the windows open. Either that or opera/classical music 😂

Bloodypunkrockers · 27/09/2021 19:49

Cat shit on the wall

Soontobe60 · 27/09/2021 19:55

@Fivsie

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.

TBH, I think it’s a bit petty to want to stop a child sitting on your wall. If the bricks have loosened, I doubt they’ve caused it, and it needs repointing. That being said, it’s very easy to have a wrought iron railing fitted on top of the wall - we had this done to keep our dog in. You could have a double gate fitted, but it could be a pain having to get in and out of the car repeatedly to open the gate when coming home or closing it when leaving.
BluebellsGreenbells · 27/09/2021 20:02

My neighbors have a cat alarm thing and emits a high pitched noise only children can hear. My kids find it really annoying!

Perhaps look into that?