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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Driveway access blocked

98 replies

Bluebirthdaycard · 28/10/2023 11:18

Had a certain phone company here this morning I assume to connect faster broadband for next door. The problem is all the cable installation part of it is under a drain cover at the end of our drive, so cover is lifted off, red barrier put round and unable to get car off our own drive. Apparently the connection? for many houses in the close now under here, so assuming this is going to be a common occurrence. My point is this is the second time this has happened now, is it too much to ask for the engineer to knock and ask if we needed to go out and use the car before starting this work? I just think a little common decency wouldn't go a miss or is it just me?

OP posts:
WhamBamThankU · 28/10/2023 11:48

I agree it would be courteous to knock and ask if you need the car, would've taken him 2 minutes. Do you need to get off the drive?

MrsSkylerWhite · 28/10/2023 11:49

They should have written to you in advance.

Original poster
Bluebirthdaycard · 28/10/2023 11:55

WhamBamThankU · 28/10/2023 11:48

I agree it would be courteous to knock and ask if you need the car, would've taken him 2 minutes. Do you need to get off the drive?

I didn't need to go out but the engineer didn't know that. Also, if I'd been at work this morning (off this week) I wouldn't have been able to get on the drive but I believe that it's ok to be unable to get on your drive but not ok to not be able to get off it?

OP posts:
Rudolphthefrog · 28/10/2023 11:58

Have you actually asked him to move? We have a similar issue, they’ve always moved quickly to let us in/out. It’s no big deal.

Namenamchange · 28/10/2023 11:58

Have you spoken to him? Maybe he can move quite quickly

smartiesneberhadtheanswer · 28/10/2023 12:01

Just speak to him, you're frothing about nothing

AgaMM · 28/10/2023 12:06

Surely you can ask him to move his stuff if you need to get off?

Sirzy · 28/10/2023 12:07

How long did it take?

Tempnamechng · 28/10/2023 12:08

It's isn't really an issue as you don't want to go out anyway. The access crossing is still under the control of Highways, so they are entitled to approve streetworks on your access crossing, and expect you to park elsewhere whilst work is carried out. Blocking you in is another issue, but you just need to have a word with the contractor to find out how long you will be blocked in for. They probably didn't bother knocking as they don't expect the work to take long.

WeightWhat · 28/10/2023 12:09

Depending on what time they started they might not have wanted to wake people.

2jacqi · 28/10/2023 12:09

the house next door to me had fibre installed a few weeks ago and their bit of pavement was cordoned off for 2.5 weeks!! hope your car isnt stuck for that long! I would be livid and making a big complaint

Original poster
Bluebirthdaycard · 28/10/2023 12:11

WeightWhat · 28/10/2023 12:09

Depending on what time they started they might not have wanted to wake people.

It was about 9, so not early.

OP posts:
Original poster
Bluebirthdaycard · 28/10/2023 12:17

I know it's not a big deal in the grand scheme of things but to comments saying just ask them to move, what if they can't once the jobs started? I don't see how it's perfectly fine to obstruct somebody's drive without asking first? I might've had an appointment to get to, I know I didn't but my point is they don't know that.

OP posts:
AgaMM · 28/10/2023 12:20

Bluebirthdaycard · 28/10/2023 12:17

I know it's not a big deal in the grand scheme of things but to comments saying just ask them to move, what if they can't once the jobs started? I don't see how it's perfectly fine to obstruct somebody's drive without asking first? I might've had an appointment to get to, I know I didn't but my point is they don't know that.

Happened to me recently, when they were installing community fibre at the end of my driveway.

Needed to the car for the nursery run. Simply told them 10 minutes beforehand I need to head out soon, and they cleared the path.

Really not that big a deal…Not every minor inconvenience is worth complaining about.

SD1978 · 28/10/2023 12:20

@Bluebirthdaycard - you also don't know though if it's easy enough for them to stop and let you out. Maybe contact the company directly and ask?

Flossflower · 28/10/2023 12:20

We have the same at the bottom of a drive. We just tell them if we want to get in or out and they put a huge cover over it. No problem.

bullseyeboat · 28/10/2023 12:24

SD1978 · 28/10/2023 12:20

@Bluebirthdaycard - you also don't know though if it's easy enough for them to stop and let you out. Maybe contact the company directly and ask?

The company? Just ask the people on site Confused

ActDottie · 28/10/2023 12:25

It’s annoying and it would be courteous of them to knock particularly if it’s going to happen a fair bit.

ISeeARedDoorAndIWantToBreakIn · 28/10/2023 12:26

Diagram. You know the rules.😂

SecondUsername4me · 28/10/2023 12:27

Is it on your land? If so, I'd be asking for a copy of the Wayleave agreement granting them permission.

ohsobroody · 28/10/2023 12:29

It's possible you're being a bit daft. We have the same on the pavement in front of our house. We often have them poking around in there. If I say I need to be out they plop the cover back in and leave, takes about 45 seconds

Floralnomad · 28/10/2023 12:31

They will move if you ask them and put a board down for you to get off / on . I don’t know why people need to moan about things that are not actually inconveniencing them .

Original poster
Bluebirthdaycard · 28/10/2023 12:37

ISeeARedDoorAndIWantToBreakIn · 28/10/2023 12:26

Diagram. You know the rules.😂

Here you go, the first drain cover.

Driveway access blocked
OP posts:
topnoddy · 28/10/2023 12:40

That cover is on the pavement

SinnerBoy · 28/10/2023 12:41

At the end of her drive!

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