To ask who I’m supposed to report my CF neighbour to?

[BarkItOff]

I live on a new build estate, it’s been up a few years now but the roads are still unadopted so it’s ‘technically’ private.

There is a park on the estate and there are 2 access points to this park. 1 at the entrance to the estate and 1 further down the estate close to a neighbouring estate.

One of the neighbours has put a sign up further down, stating private road, I mean technically yes but public access is still allowed but the CF has also put a chain and padlock on the gate to the path that leads to the park with a sign saying private!

I have been told this was because children from the neighbouring estate were using the park via this entrance and as we pay for the upkeep of the park it’s private. Except it’s not! It’s still a park able to be accessed by anyone. It’s made it particularly annoying for people on this side of the new build estate that have children as you have to walk all the way round to the front to get onto the park when there is literally a gate that leads to an access path right in front of you. And those of us that walk dogs there like to walk full circle, in one end and out the other and now we have to double back.

As the roads are unadopted will the council sort this and point out that she doesn’t own the park. The builders are long gone and we’re a nightmare to chase up snagging never mind anything else so they will be no help. The management company doesn’t want to know and say it’s not their responsibility. I’m tempted to go and cut the chain but I guess that’s criminal damage as she owns the chain.

I have a pair of fabulous bolt cutters :-)

Bolt cutters are useful in the meantime. Surprised no one's thought of it before.

Another vote for bolt cutters. I wouldn’t hesitate. And make the padlock disappear so she can’t re use it on another chain.

As everyone else said, just remove it. Rinse and repeat

My exact thought 😂

I’d cut the padlock off if I had the means and never tell a soul it was me. How would the neighbour ever know who it was?

Report to a local councillor

Health and safety issue to lock an exit surely? Another vote for bolt cutters!

Local fire service as its illegally restricting access . The fire service does a lot more than putting out fires and they have more power than many people realise.

It’s directly across from her front door so her ring camera will pick it up and I just know she’s the type to report criminal damage seeing as she believes she solely owns the park.

There is another access point though so not sure that would work. It’s just less convenient for those of us on this side of the estate. And it’s a path rather than a road that’s being blocked so the fire service wouldn’t access that way anyway.

report to local council that she has closed a public right of way. Get together with several neighbours and take it in turns cutting the chain off and returning it to her with a note stating her actions are unlawful

Are the developers still on site? Failing that parish or town council might be able to help by contacting them.

And if there were a fire there or an XL bully attacking people or a shooter…?

The park will be a stipulation of the planning permission in order to build the site. I'd get on to the developers or the council.

For it to remain a public right of way it needs to be used. Cut the chain, she has no rights to do this. We had the same issue with an entrance to a ginnel leading to a golf course. The adjoining neighbour put a padlock on the gate and other neighbours on the estate lifted the gate off its hinges, twice, it has remained open since then!

Ask her to move it.

Then Give her notice in writing that you will remove it if she doesn't.

Then get bolt cutters off the pp.

Yes it’s very common for there to be a playground on a new build development as part of the deal for getting the planning permission, in order to enhance the local area. I’ve lived on one such estate and the residents were absolutely foaming that “non-estate” children were using the park, ridiculous.

I’d just cut the bolt and deal with the consequences, police would say it’s a civil matter.

I’m no legal bod but surely it isn’t criminal damage to remove a lock from a public gate that someone’s put there?

I live on a new build (well was built in 2007!) and we also have a park. We are one way in and out road.

I live opposite the park.

it’s never occurred to me that it’s private!

Tell the council. CF can't restrict access.

Sounds like my neighbour!

Children are children. Why does it matter if they live on this estate or the next estate. It’s insane!

So what if she sees?
She had no right to put it there in the first place!

I don't think I'd cut the lock off on my own, but if there are other residents affected and you can get a group together, then I would be there with them, either to cut the lock myself or have someone else do it whilst we were all there together. Safety in numbers and all that.

The absolute snobby cheek of this woman. I'd be livid. I have a park at the back of my house with two entrances down a side lane. One of them is right outside my back gate. It's no problem, no issue, just kids, bikes, walkers and doggie exercising!

Take it in turns to cover yourselves in a Scooby Doo ghost sheet with WIND YOUR NECK IN, MARGARET written on it, and cut the chain for as long as it takes. It could bring you together as a local community, inventing new disguises for her Ring doorbell. Someone surely knows someone who's run a Marathon dressed as a giant inflatable telephone, or owns a wetsuit with diving mask?