Neighbours think my drive is a right of way

[Runningonjammiedodgers]

Pic attached.

I live in a row of terreced houses. My house (1) has a path to the front door and a drive way next to my house. Houses 2-5 share a path that leads to the road. There is a strip of grass in front of their houses and then their parking spaces.

Neighbours in house 2 used to walk over the grass to their front door to avoid going the long way up the path. They (and their guests) have now taking to walking down my driveway along my path and jumping over the flower bed in the middle to get to their door. It's really pissing me off! It's my property being treated as a right of way and they walk right past my living room window so there is no privacy. But it's also not causing any damage or inconvenience. Just annoying as hell.

AIBU to ask them to stop using my property as a public footpath? Or do I just need to suck it up?

Every time you need to go out, you could give yourself a few extra minutes and go the long way round. You could leap over the flowerbed, stroll slowly past their houses and peer in their windows.

See how they like the intrusion.

Here you go, OP, find one or two of these at the garden centre. They grow quite quickly, don't go out of control (just cut back once a year) and, best of all, they have very sharp thorns and will snag clothes easily. They'll soon stop.

https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/pyracantha

If they do it for long enough you will concede a right of way, Block it,

Has anyone suggested penguin bollards yet??

Who owns the grass? I'd just put a wire fence up, won't cost you much and if you're handy you could do it yourself.

Don't deliberately put anything in that they can hurt themselves on (could cause legal issues if they hurt themselves!)Other than maybe some naturally prickly plants.
I'd be tempted to put a fence or similar up so they can't trespass on your property through laziness! Private property sign/others cross at their own risk/no through route!

I'd get a wall and gate built. There is no other way.

Holly, Berberis, Pyracantha and Mahonia are your friends here.

Put something gooey down that will ooze up around their ankles.
That should make them think twice.
Maybe a nice thick layer of dirt-coloured mayonnaise.
I realise that’s impractical, but imagine stepping in that - ick.
Or maybe instant pudding.
I’m grossing myself out.
They’d never take your shortcut again.

Automatic fountain like this one www.amazon.co.uk/AISITIN-Fountain-3000mAh-Battery-Different/dp/B0C5L6GZ1F/ref=asc_df_B0C5L6GZ1F/?tag=googshopuk-21&linkCode=df0&hvadid=663219876628&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=2634339233086499910&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=m&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9045815&hvtargid=pla-2200576951172&psc=1&mcid=c58095d45b1f3bb1bd5711cf15f0282a
Bonus points if you can match the music to the fountain maybe can't find my way home by blind faith or maybe Mr tumble there's a worm at the bottom of my garden!

Do you cycle? Putting up a small bicycle rack and two bikes would be the perfect solution. Add potted plants, little olive tree etc to fill the rest of the space.

How old are the houses?As others have said a ROfW may have been established by now

Put a fence up on your side of that flowerbed. If it’s easier, you can buy those tubs with tall trellis coming out the back of them.

Also, if possible, put a gate up on that bit from your drive to your house, then attach a sign saying “Private - Access to No.1 only”.

Finally, get some of that path paint and stencils and paint “Private” along the end of your drive.

😂😂😂😂

Less than 18 months old. I think they have discovered walking across the grass is shit in winter and my drive is a much more attractive option.

I will say something (not convinced it will work) but was looking for opinions on whether I was being petty AF or was right to be annoyed. I'm sure they see it as no big deal.

Hawthorn bushes.

.

@Runningonjammiedodgers ok. Ignore my previous comment I've reread it and it makes more sense now. They are ignorant and rude. Next time they do it, shout out the window to fuck off.

A well as what you have planted in the beds, could you possibly add a hanging basket to the wall at a height where they would have to simultaneously duck and step over your existing plants? Of course that would depend on how deep the flower bed is that they're hopping over. It would be cheaper and quicker than fencing if it would work for the space though.

Military-grade razor wire is better.

I agree with a PP that it's a lousy design which was asking for trouble, but since this is what they've done I'm minded of the old saying that "good fences make good neighbours"

So that's what I'd put up ...

It wouldn't take much to put a row of pavers over the grass to make a nice dry path. Perhaps suggest that to them.