Neighbours walking past our front door to leave the house

[Bluesea14]

our new neighbours keep walking past our front door and squeezing past our cars when they go out. We have checked our deeds and title and this is part of our property, not a public footpath. We would never dream of walking past their house when we go out so we can't understand why they think it's acceptable to do it. They recently had furniture delivered and this was also carried down the path past our front door instead of going in between their cars.
I have attached a image which is similar to the layout of our house and the blue line is where they keep walking. Any advice on how to deal with this please? We haven't properly met them yet so we don't want to come across confrontational but we also want to make it clear that we don't want people regularly walking on our property and setting our ring doorbell off.

I can kind of see why it could be confusing, but I'd just be open, friendly and honest. Apart from lying ... Say you've got a dog/baby/partner on shifts (then get one, obvs), whatever, and suggest that their walking past is disturbing them.

But mostly, be nice, chatty and welcoming.

And if all else fails, put some pots out. Easy peasy.

Me neither, which is why I have said so on this thread.

So many posters persisting in being clearly wrong and saying OP is being unreasonable. Trolls or genuinely unable to see what is obvious?

Because it isn't obvious.

Just because the path is included in a deed does not mean there is no right of way allowing others to pass over the land. This is particularly the case with many new build estates where the original builder remains responsible via management fees for the upkeep and maintenance of communal areas and where local authorities have not adopted the roads. The OP has said the path appears on her deed, but has never confirmed whether there is anything written about rights of way or easements. She needs to properly check the land title register, and purchase agreement. The estate plans may well include for this path to be for general estate use.

Why would you do that when you’ve got your own path to the street?

Because human nature means you'd head that way as you're leaving the estate. It's why ther are tracks through green areas that are a slight short cut tho there's a path nearby. We chose the direct route. I imagine when no cars parked they walk diagonally across OP's drive.

This would piss me off. I have a baby that I’m often breastfeeding and I’m not particularly careful about exposure when I’m at home. I wouldn’t like people walking past the window unpredictably, especially if they have no lawful right to. It’d drive my dog bonkers too…

In the OP's picture it looks like the path continues to other houses. If there was something between the 2 doors so the path wasn't continuous between OP's house and the neighbours then it would be more odd in my opinion for the neighbour to walk right by the OP's house if they were heading in that direction. But if when the neighbour opens their door and looks in that direction and the path continues down the estate then in their head they may see it is as a type of pavement not a private path.

I should add, I would t actually walk past OP's door myself just because I'd be particular about that type of thing as would see it as OP'S driveway and I'd teacher children to do the same.
Any update on a chat with them OP??

This is the most sensible reply on this thread with great advice^

Well I’m a human and it wouldn’t occur to me to take a short cut across someone else’s property, whether it be a path, drive or patch of grass. But you seem to be saying that significant swathes of society are rude and inconsiderate, or just have no idea how to behave in an civilised way, and that we should expect this and just suck it up? Talk about a race to the bottom.

I think you definitely need to talk to them rather than write a letter. Big smile and a big hello and "There seems to be a misunderstanding but this pathway is in fact our private property"

If you could be seen breastfeeding through the window you could also be seen from a car's length away from the window, which is how much OP believes herself to be 'set back from the road'. That window is overlooked regardless of whether anyone uses the path.

Well that's just so rude. I wouldn't dream of taking a short cut over someone else's land.

No it is not! You don't allow someone else to take shortcuts over your land just to keep the peace

Don’t know why if they have their own driveway and path they need to pass your front window and door. Check they don’t have access or right of way, which I doubt they have if they have their own path. This woukd bug the life out of me . If it was the other way around they would complain to you. U can never really relax for thinking they r going to pass your front window.
u need trellis fencing or whatever is allowed , tall and as broad as your path . Yours is a no go area.
I would have killed then by now

Bollocks. That’s not how physics works. The person would have to be twenty foot tall a car’s length away to see the same amount as a person next to the window.

Why have you reported me for pointing out that you have started petty threads?

You have started petty threads. But are having a go at another poster for asking for advice on something which most people do not think is petty.

I didn’t even call you unbelievable or depressing like you have called other posters.

OP - why don’t you park super close to your window so that nobody can fit on the path for a while and hope that they take the hint?

I did follow it by saying I wouldn't do it myself but it's so open it will unfortunately happen. Good fences make good neighbours, as they say!

But it's open plan by the look of it so fences probably not allowed.

How do they get their bins out ? Do they drag them past your door and try to get them down the drive ?

Oh I know. They've ignored the very valid old saying!

@Bluesea14have you had a word yet?

@Bluesea14
I've only just read this thread.
I see there are some 'normal' replies, but then again, lots of unreasonable ones. Your post makes perfect sense to me, OP.. why can't the others see the TWO paths? What's wrong with them? Specsavers, anyone? Written by trolls / bots? Who knows..