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Original poster

Private driveway - would this annoy you?

89 replies

newhome11 · 13/04/2023 06:44

New home in a gated development. Paid extra for corner plot which I thought would equal more privacy. Moved in 5 months ago and in the beginning it didn’t bother me but now it’s annoying me that almost everyday kids and adults are constantly cycling, scootering and vans and cars are turning their vehicles around in my driveway. There’s my driveway then access to my garden via the driveway so no need for anyone to be going there at all. Neighbour to the left has a sign saying “private driveway, no turning, no…..” along those lines, few houses down they have bollards. I haven’t said anything and when I see anyone I smile out if my window to be friendly but is it time I do something? It’s also the fact they could scratch my car which they seem to scooter very close to! What really pisses me off is that I’ve been in the driveway a few times getting things out of my car and done scooter right past me! Not even a hi or anything just scooter and back again like it’s a public area.

M

OP posts:
BreatheAndFocus · 13/04/2023 07:33

Do what your neighbours have done - put up a similar sign or a bollard. If that doesn’t stop the scooting, can put put some strategically placed plant pots there? That should dissuade them and then they’ll get out of the habit. I had something similar (child cycling up and down my drive) so I parked in a way to discourage this and also added a strategic long planter. It was a pain to keep moving it, but after a while the child stopped as they were riding elsewhere.

Yes, some people are rude. Also, some people see politeness as weakness. Mark out your boundaries not just to stop the turning/scooting, but to stand firm so you’re not seen as a doormat. Sad but true, I’ve found.

TreeNaDo · 13/04/2023 07:35

Your Dh is wrong, you need to tell them to stop using your drive like it is part of the road to scoot on etc. The turning would be less annoying but if you can gate or bollard I would.

We lived in a small cul-de-sac (never again) and the children from one house used to play outside with a rugby ball, had little control and hit our car more than once. Luckily the thing was a tank so no dents but still out of control. Dh went and spoke to the neighbours and they stopped. I personally don't care what they said about us, we wanted the behaviour to stop.

Anyotherdude · 13/04/2023 07:44

@Blinkingheckythump thats what I thought, too! Luckily, DH was able to knock the dent out so we could continue to use it until we replaced it a couple of years later…

Zonder · 13/04/2023 07:46

If other neighbours have done something then they can't complain if you do.

Park your car at the end of the drive.
Put a chain across.
Provide MN with a diagram.

JustLookingThanks · 13/04/2023 07:46

Yes that's irritating and it won't stop unless you do something. Why not put a couple of these little fences at the end of your drive with a private driveway sign on. The parents will realise that you don't want kids on your drive and people won't be able to turn. No confrontation needed.
Moveable fence

Zonder · 13/04/2023 07:48

That moveable fence posted by @JustLookingThanks is brilliant! And not pricey.

junebirthdaygirl · 13/04/2023 07:50

They all got into the habit of doing that when the house was empty. So now the weather is improving start doing up some pots like you love gardening. Put some at your front door and more where they are encroaching. Make it look like you are just getting ready for Summer. Say nothing. No one can have a problem with flowers.

vitahelp · 13/04/2023 07:50

You mention it is gated but if so how are they getting through? Or is the gate left open most of the day? We had a similar issue, it's mostly walkers but we've also had horses/random young lads on scooters, even cars parking on our drive to smoke weed! We tried a sign but it was ignored so we've put an electronic gate up now.

Pleasecreateausername13 · 13/04/2023 07:52

I 3rd and 4th that we need a diagram OP.

coffeecupsandwaxmelts · 13/04/2023 07:52

vitahelp · 13/04/2023 07:50

You mention it is gated but if so how are they getting through? Or is the gate left open most of the day? We had a similar issue, it's mostly walkers but we've also had horses/random young lads on scooters, even cars parking on our drive to smoke weed! We tried a sign but it was ignored so we've put an electronic gate up now.

It's the community that's gated, not the drive.

So delivery drivers can still get access with permission.

Luredbyapomegranate · 13/04/2023 07:54

It wouldn’t bother me but stick bollards / gate / sign up if it does you.

RolyHippo · 13/04/2023 07:56

We have similar where we live. My current bug bear is that the kids come and bang on our window and wave at me if I’m sat in my living room! More than once I’ve had to tell them to go away!

bigbluebus · 13/04/2023 08:01

We had an open plan front garden. The minute the builders went bust we planted a privet hedge around our border to stop 'trespassers '. I've notice that those on open plan plots in exposed places regularly have children playing on or walking across their gardens.

silverlentils · 13/04/2023 08:02

Diagram please!

Fraaahnces · 13/04/2023 08:33

Bollards? Chain across driveway? Rottweiler?

Nimbostratus100 · 13/04/2023 08:35

put up a gate

Brefugee · 13/04/2023 08:36

I'm still not entirely clear why it bothers you? are they damaging the paving? are you worried it will damage your car or something?

I mean it's a gated community, not like any riff-raff are likely to be scallywagging around, the perpetrators of any damage must be easy to find.

(have only read OPs posts, have penguin bollards been mentioned yet?)

EyesOnThePies · 13/04/2023 08:40

Just say, in a polite friendly tone ‘could I ask you to scoot on the pavement and not on my drive, please?’ And say to the parent ‘I think the kids got used to using our drive as a scooter track while the house was empty. But it’s driving me bananas because it sets my ring doorbell off every time”

Polite requests when you are in the right do not cause bad feeling.

Jagoda · 13/04/2023 08:45

You need to put a chain across or similar.

Why are you so worried about this? Your neighbours are probably wondering why you’re putting up with it!

Minimalme · 13/04/2023 08:49

It would worry me that I may hit a child while reversing off the drive.

I would get a sign saying "please don't use the drive because access is needed".

It is your property. Don't worry about upsetting people.

Hollyhobbi · 13/04/2023 08:56

Bollards sound like the way to go. Also is it not scooting rather than scooter or scootering?

Bayleaf25 · 13/04/2023 09:09

Chain or gate? Even if nothing to fix chain too you can put up posts. Plus sign saying private drive?

Chessetchelsea · 13/04/2023 09:12

Gates?

Disneyforaweek · 13/04/2023 09:14

For the kids on scooters if it sets your ring doorbell off can you speak through it to kind of scare them off? Not in a mean way but just say hello in a questioning voice and that might scare them off and if not just say 'hello? You've set my door bell camera off are you ok?' Which might stop them.

Not sure what you could do about cars aside from blocking the drive.

Ktime · 13/04/2023 09:22

JustLookingThanks · 13/04/2023 07:46

Yes that's irritating and it won't stop unless you do something. Why not put a couple of these little fences at the end of your drive with a private driveway sign on. The parents will realise that you don't want kids on your drive and people won't be able to turn. No confrontation needed.
Moveable fence

That looks like it would blow away with a puff of wind.

Would a heavy planter work, OP? Or would that makes it difficult for you.