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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
Camorra · 26/11/2023 13:10

What if an ambulance needed to get through?

Yeah, that isn't on.

I'd suggest a conversation with the council. Maybe she needs it explaining "officially"

RoadClosed · 26/11/2023 13:11

Mikimoto · 26/11/2023 13:09

How about a "House Open" sign on her gate every Fri/Sat at 11pm?

😂😂

bless her I don’t think she means any harm, it’s just a bit of a culture shock for her by the looks of it.

OP posts:
GreenDay9irl · 26/11/2023 13:12

@MikeRafone yes, but they are not for 3year olds to be playing in on scooters and electric cars. Roads are not a playground, they are dangerous and children should be taught such. If he plays on a road what is to say he doesn’t just run across a road in front of a car as he doesn’t understand the danger?
that’s why we grew up with the green cross code, we were taught to respect the dangers of roads. We never played on them.

TheresaCrowd · 26/11/2023 13:13

I have no idea what the council are doing about it as I’m not the one who rang them.

Well ring them and 101. I mean they're far better placed to help than Mumsnet.

Floofydawg · 26/11/2023 13:14

MikeRafone · 26/11/2023 13:08

Roads are for cars, not kids.

roads are for everyone to share

No, they're really not.

rwalker · 26/11/2023 13:15

I work for one of the utilities
you can get into serious trouble for this and face hefty fine and a be prosecuted

you need permission
to put any signs up you need road works guarding qualifications
and signage need to be correct

take pictures and email it in to the council with her details

BeingATwatItsABingThing · 26/11/2023 13:15

Basically she wants him to play out where she doesn’t need to be outside with him.

I have a 3yo and there is no way I would let her play outside without me/DH/other responsible adult even if it was 100% guaranteed there would be no cars. She could run off or be taken by anyone!

chocolatefiends · 26/11/2023 13:15

If she really wants to do this, she needs to think about something like this https://playingout.net/ That way it has permission and everyone on the street will know about it well in advance.

And if she does take part in this scheme the council won't give permission during school hours, it will be after school or weekends.

Make our street a place to play

Playing Out is a resident led movement restoring children’s freedom to play out in the streets and spaces where they live.

https://playingout.net

ColleenDonaghy · 26/11/2023 13:18

Oh god she's not supervising him? That's horrific, anything could happen.

IncompleteSenten · 26/11/2023 13:18

Instead of moving the signs, I'd put them in the boot of my car.
I'd also be giving her a heads up that an unsupervised young child playing in the street every weekend may see social services paying a visit.

BretonBlue · 26/11/2023 13:19

It’s generous of you to assume that this is a cultural issue. There are not many places where residents are free to close public roads!

pinkyredrose · 26/11/2023 13:20

Summerhillsquare · 26/11/2023 12:02

It's a shame you refer to the public as batshit. If you are indeed working in local government may I refer you to some of the regulations that councils can use to make streets safer for children.

And the prize for lack of critical thinking goes to . . .

Summerhillsquare · 26/11/2023 13:21

Floofydawg · 26/11/2023 13:05

Or how about the kids play in their gardens? Roads are for cars, not kids.

And there it is....No. Places are for people, those in cars shouldn't have priority over those on foot, bikes, wheelchairs etc.

Copperoliverbear · 26/11/2023 13:21

Nutcase, report her to the council

VyeBrator · 26/11/2023 13:22

I wonder if all the people linking to the Playing Out scheme are going to cancel the cheque?

MikeRafone · 26/11/2023 13:23

VyeBrator · 26/11/2023 13:22

I wonder if all the people linking to the Playing Out scheme are going to cancel the cheque?

what is that supposed to mean? Cheques are hardly used?

Hotchocolatemousse · 26/11/2023 13:24

Report her to the council and hopefully someone official will explain it to her. It's obvious that she won't listen to a local resident but she might listen to a council official.

LakieLady · 26/11/2023 13:25

TheresaCrowd · 26/11/2023 12:54

That's a very good point, especially with people doing their Christmas shopping.

And yet the OP says 'she's continuing to put the signs up'.

I wish they'd come back and tell us what the police/council have said.

Imagine if your supermarket shop didn't arrive because batshit neighbour closed the road during your delivery slot?

pinkyredrose · 26/11/2023 13:25

MikeRafone · 26/11/2023 13:23

what is that supposed to mean? Cheques are hardly used?

😂

DrMarshaFieldstone · 26/11/2023 13:26

Summerhillsquare · 26/11/2023 13:21

And there it is....No. Places are for people, those in cars shouldn't have priority over those on foot, bikes, wheelchairs etc.

This is hardly relevant when the context is a parent who does not want to have to supervise her three year olds.

MikeRafone · 26/11/2023 13:28

Floofydawg · 26/11/2023 13:14

No, they're really not.

I see this attitude everyday on the roads from drivers - but actually they are for everyone to share, drivers don't own the roads

maximist · 26/11/2023 13:28

what is that supposed to mean? Cheques are hardly used?

If you know, you know...

BretonBlue · 26/11/2023 13:29

LakieLady · 26/11/2023 13:25

Imagine if your supermarket shop didn't arrive because batshit neighbour closed the road during your delivery slot?

I was thinking more along the lines of ambulances and fire engines but if you think impeding the progress of Jesus in the cabbage van is more likely to galvanise the neighbours then fair enough Grin

Floofydawg · 26/11/2023 13:29

And there it is....No. Places are for people, those in cars shouldn't have priority over those on foot, bikes, wheelchairs etc.
Surely those on foot and in wheelchairs use the pavements? I don't see people randomly walking in the middle of the road unless they're crossing it. But way to take my comment to the nth degree

CloverHilla · 26/11/2023 13:30

MikeRafone · 26/11/2023 13:23

what is that supposed to mean? Cheques are hardly used?

🤣😂🤣😂🤣😂🤣😂🤣😂🤣😂🤣😂

Welcome to mumsnet, you're obviously new 'round these 'ere parts 🤣😂