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?

I haven't got the answer as I'm dealing with inconsiderate neighbours

No idea if it will stop them but it would be fun to watch. Particularly when they come home with their weekly shop.

My heart goes out to you!

I have become quite obsessed. Even created a little obstacle with my car that I'm sure inconveniences them more than me.

Our neighbours for some reason traipse across our drive and I said to DH last night you should tell them that they set off the camera but it's ok because it's good to see his partner's backside wiggling past and it might put them off if they think they are getting perved on. It just seems petty saying things but it is so annoying.

Could you make it like a "bird brain of Britain" course? You could put a low gate at the end of your drive that they have to vault over, then a gate between your drive and path just high enough that they think they can jump it, but actually quite inconvenient. Then a thigh height plant in the border with a hanging basket above it. The basket could have an automatic watering system that you can activate from your living room, thus showering them with composty water.

If you make the obstacles from relatively temporary stuff, then you could change it regularly to liven things up.

You would need to install a security camera to capture the fun and it also might be nice to have a motion activated light to scare ten shits out of them just as they jump one of the obstacles.

I'm joking obvs. But it sounds like fun.

Don't plant bamboo unless you are extremely good in horticulture as it is invasive plant and it is hard to recognise which sort will leave you with cutting it twice a year,and which with remodeling your front wall and dining room.

Like a mini Takeshi's Castle? I like it. Could bring in a few inflatables once the weather clears up 👌🏻

Stick a cat hose deterrent thing in the grass or flowerbed. If they're surprised just act innocent and say you've been having trouble with cats.

That would be excellent.

I have a wobbly flagstone in the front garden and a lot of rain water gathers under it. When people (by which I mean myself) step on it, it tips suddenly, the water fountains out, and my sock gets soaked. This could add an interesting dimension to the route.

Next on my list would be Himalayan Balsam, which has seed heads that explode when knocked.

Or stand right up against the window and smile broadly at them as they go past. That would surprise them.

Sorry I'm only joking really.

Pyracantha makes a nice prickly hedge and Red Berberis grows very quickly. Holly (Ilex Aquifolium) can be quite a deterrent too!

And if you plant them and they get damaged by them taking a shortcut, you can demand that they replace them!

Holly is an excellent idea. I would do that.

I actually find myself hiding from them. Instinctively crouching down so I don't obsecure the view INTO MY OWN SODDING LIVING ROOM. Gah!

This one comes already tall.

https://www.diy.com/departments/holly-tree-ilex-meserveae-blue-maid-standard-approx-80cm-in-height/5056214024863_BQ.prd

No, but I think someone mentioned a fence or a prickly bush 😂

Yes, that's totally understandable. I think it would be a very good idea to nip this in the bud with some creative planting.

It's a parking neighbours thread and no one is commenting on the diagram!??!!

Whilst I appreciate your efforts OP.... I have seen better (colours, shading, annotation, arrows etc) and am still a little confused.

I could have produced better work. I actually have the site plan to hand. But it was done this morning in a fit of rage.

I like the diagram. I think it makes it very clear the architect has never had a neighbour before.

What is this little rectangle. Is this where they walk??8' confused where they walk from can you do the same picture but maybe put some dotted lines showing where they walk

That's a flower bed and my attempt at drawing some abstract flowers. It has a good bit of hight to it, lots of nice shrubs, so they can't walk on it. They go between my flower bed and my car. Which I keep at the end of the driveway to try and make a point.

The car is currently right up against the flowerbed to create a barrier. Kids had no choice but to get out the passenger side it's so close. This is a recent development though and I have yet to see if it has worked.

I was just going to suggest something like this - it's temporary enough that if you decided to move, they could move with you but they are substantial enough to stop people using your pathway as a right of way.
You need to stop the ROW issue before an actual ROW is established.

That's great! They couldn't miss that.

Ultimately I think the neighbours need to get ownership of the strip of grass so they can have sensible paths.

Rosa rugosa? smells wonderful prickles on prickles once it gets you it doesn't let you go easily

I used it on a teenager who used to hop over his mums fence for a cigarette in my garden planted a clump from my mums garden the swearing was impressive the fighting was ticket worthy fun times 😁 I was half hoping he came back for round two but apparently he learned his lesson