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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To think that you can’t just close a road like this!

376 replies

RoadClosed · 26/11/2023 11:04

Came home from work a few weeks ago (2:30pm) and our road had “road closed” signs on it. Highly unusual as it’s a quiet one way street with a couple of cul-de-sacs leading off it. I parked up and walked the rest of the way home (only 2 minutes, it’s not a long road). When DH came home he said the road wasn’t closed - no signs of it ever being closed.

A few days later same thing, 2:30pm - road closed. No signs of work going on, so I moved the sign and drove to my house. A neighbour text me same day asking why the road is closed as there is no work going on. I said I had no idea so he rang council to ask - they had no idea either and said nobody had applied to close the road either. Therefore we all just moved these signs off the road whenever we saw them and drove past.

Long story short - a woman down the street then went knocking on doors asking people not to move the signs as they were put there during the day to make the street safe for kids to play on!! By kids she means her son. It was explained to her that she can’t just close the road for this reason! Her reasoning is that it’s a short street and it’s only a short walk from the signs to any of the houses on the street. She was told that this isn’t the point, people have a right to be able to drive to their driveways! She’s continuing to put the signs up between 10am and 3pm. AWBU to continue ignoring them??

OP posts:
Thread gallery
5
HeadacheEarthquake · 26/11/2023 11:06

That's batshit.

Girlsjustwannahavefundamentalrights · 26/11/2023 11:07

Id hide the signs somewhere. Crazy woman.

2dogsandabudgie · 26/11/2023 11:08

Where was she even able to get signs like that?

Floralnomad · 26/11/2023 11:08

Report her to the council and they will likely send her a letter telling her to stop .

PuttingDownRoots · 26/11/2023 11:08

What if people wanted out? The would need to drive down the road

Pipistrellus · 26/11/2023 11:09

Are the signs stolen?

waffleyversatile1 · 26/11/2023 11:09

HeadacheEarthquake · 26/11/2023 11:06

That's batshit.

Totally this. Report her to your local highways team at the council. Whilst I agree to moving the bollards etc that's going to get tiresome and you shouldn't have too. I work for a local authority although not highways and I thought I had heard it all!! This is a new one

Xmaswomble · 26/11/2023 11:09

I’d imagine it’s illegal to close roads without authority. If you want a play street you need to apply to the council for a licence - and that’s usually for an afternoon at weekend or something.

Summerhillsquare · 26/11/2023 11:09

I understand her concern. She should talk to the neighbours and council about an agreed closure time on weekend days. We've just expected kids to adapt to cars, and not the other way around.

Me1987 · 26/11/2023 11:10

I don't think I have ever heard something so cheeky on this site before, she's absolutely crazy

WeeSleekitCowrinTimrousBeastie · 26/11/2023 11:10

She's off her head

TheresaCrowd · 26/11/2023 11:10

Hmm where did she steal the signs from?

You know for a fact you're not being unreasonable but why has no-one reported her and put a stop to it?

Wibblywobblylikejelly · 26/11/2023 11:10

Summerhillsquare · 26/11/2023 11:09

I understand her concern. She should talk to the neighbours and council about an agreed closure time on weekend days. We've just expected kids to adapt to cars, and not the other way around.

Absolutly not 🤣

TheresaCrowd · 26/11/2023 11:11

Summerhillsquare · 26/11/2023 11:09

I understand her concern. She should talk to the neighbours and council about an agreed closure time on weekend days. We've just expected kids to adapt to cars, and not the other way around.

Wait, what? You're not serious! 🤣🤣🤣

margotrose · 26/11/2023 11:12

I'm pretty sure it's illegal to block access to a highway. I would report her to the police but I'm petty like that Grin

WandaWonder · 26/11/2023 11:12

Summerhillsquare · 26/11/2023 11:09

I understand her concern. She should talk to the neighbours and council about an agreed closure time on weekend days. We've just expected kids to adapt to cars, and not the other way around.

Ah no

mrscee · 26/11/2023 11:13

Hi i work in the highways team in our local council, she is not allowed to close the road call the council and they will come and remove the signs. She could apply for a play street event which allows the road to close for up to 2 hours 1 day a month however there is a process that she would have to follow and she would need to get the permission of everyone in the street to do this and it takes a bit of time. But she can't just close a road without permission.

Pipistrellus · 26/11/2023 11:13

Summerhillsquare · 26/11/2023 11:09

I understand her concern. She should talk to the neighbours and council about an agreed closure time on weekend days. We've just expected kids to adapt to cars, and not the other way around.

Some people will need to park close to their house - elderly, disabled, those carrying a baby or toddler if there is is ice or snow. I live in a quiet street where children play, we just look out for the children when driving.

RoadClosed · 26/11/2023 11:13

English isn’t her first language (and she hasn’t lived here long) so giving the benefit of the doubt we’re assuming she genuinely doesn’t realise you can’t do this. But she has had it explained to her now and she’s still doing it.

OP posts:
Gnomegnomegnome · 26/11/2023 11:13

Summerhillsquare · 26/11/2023 11:09

I understand her concern. She should talk to the neighbours and council about an agreed closure time on weekend days. We've just expected kids to adapt to cars, and not the other way around.

How will children ever learn about road safety if they are allowed to play in the road?

cansu · 26/11/2023 11:13

Summerhillsquare
She would be to to jog on then. Why not try parenting small children by taking them to the park where they can play safely? Kids should not be playing in the road.

Whinge · 26/11/2023 11:13

Summerhillsquare · 26/11/2023 11:09

I understand her concern. She should talk to the neighbours and council about an agreed closure time on weekend days. We've just expected kids to adapt to cars, and not the other way around.

If only there was somewhere safe for her child to play, like a back garden or park... Hmm

YANBU OP, she sounds bonkers. Please don't encourage it by negotiating closure times, as she will think others agree with her behaviour. Remove the signs and report her to the council.

NunsKnickers · 26/11/2023 11:13

Wow. That's some seriously entitled behaviour.

TheYearOfSmallThings · 26/11/2023 11:14

Of course YANBU. On a lesser scale my neighbours used to do this - they would block off their preferred space on the road with cones. It drove the other neighbours INSANE, but they somehow couldn't bring themselves to just move the cones Grin

I loved it though. I moved the cones and parked in the lovely space they had kept for me, while agreeing with all the other neighbours that it is totally not on to do that.