Footpath over my property

[Number12]

We have a Footpath that runs over our property. As you can imagine its very busy at the moment, in fact I've never seen it so busy. Normally we smile, wave chat etc But at the moment that's just not possible. The path itself is single file, room to shuffle past someone oncoming but nothing like 2 metres.

Its been very difficult to be in the garden, I just can't relax because every 30 seconds Im checking to see if anyone is coming and then stepping away with the kids if I see someone. There have been several occasions people have come along and I've not seen or heard them and not one of them has shouted ahead and let me know so I can move away, they just try and pretend they are not there!. The path is half a metre, if that, from where we are working (trying to get veggie going). We have just had three cyclists go past, they didn't shout or ring a bell and we didn't have time to move away.

I've previously emailed the council and they were concerned but they haven't closed the path. So today I did! I know it's illegal but I need to keep my family safe, if people shouted ahead that would be one thing but they don't care!

Ahhh I have I messed up, what would you do?

[FliesandPies]

I would put a sign asking people to shout or whistle

Perhaps the sign should state a song for walkers to sing to give OP warning? Might I suggest 'Wind your neck in' (to the tune of Bread of Heaven)

[ErrolTheDragon]

It's the manner of some people's insistence (especially at the moment) which I'd call bluster. Or just being knobs, maybe. When all it often takes is a bit of courtesy, consideration and common sense. Of course, a lot of the problems at the moment are being caused by idiots who've no idea about the history of public rights of way, or their responsibilities when using them.

[Wired4sound]

@FliesandPies

[TheletterZ]

It sounds like the footpath is too narrow and the OP’s fence is in the wrong place. The footpath should be about 1.5 m wide to allow passing. If you are working in the garden you would only need to be 50cm from the fence as most people are giving as much space as they can.

Unless the garden is tiny it if unreasonable to close the footpath rather than the owner just stay that bit away from the fence.

[alloutoffucks]

It would never occur to me to shout that I am walking along a fenced off path.

[alloutoffucks]

And it really is no different to someone walking along the pavement by my garden. Which is why if I want to do any gardening right by the wall I choose a quiet time to do it.

[Hileni]

I'm going to sound terribly ignorant but I've never seen a garden with a public footpath in it. Please can we have a picture / diagram, OP as I'm very curious to know what the set up is. Is it not a security risk of people can go in your garden?

[minisoksmakehardwork]

The fence in the garden puts a different slant on this. It's not like people are actually walking through your garden, which your original post implies.

Therefore this is no different to people passing by others who might be in their front garden, which runs alongside a footpath.

I assume people are not standing by your fence having a chat with other people they meet on the footpath, so I think you are being a little neurotic about the risk here. It's not different to passing people in a supermarket.

But, if you are worried, I still think installing a bell at either end of your garden, which people can ring to let you know of their approach is your best bet.

[PerfumeBehindMyKnees]

I rather like the bell idea. Either that or a Jack Russell. I guarantee no one will ever silently sneak up on you again

[Honeyroar]

There are a few paths around here that have closed signs on them saying due to Clovis-19. I think the farmers have put them up. The paths go through farmyards and immediately next to the houses. I know it’s not legal, and while I’m really anti people blocking paths, I can forgive them during this lockdown.

We have two footpaths across our fields. They drive me mad due to the irresponsible behaviour of people on them. Wherever possible we fence them off so they’re separate from the field and loose dogs/picnickers can’t get near the animals. Obviously this only works with the path at the side of a field, not across the middle.

In your situation OP I’d definitely have a fence keeping walkers out of your garden area. Yes you’d lose a strip of garden but I’d prefer the privacy. I’d also use a high fence (6’ if it wouldn’t take too much light. While this lockdown situation is going on I’d at least tape off the side of your garden and I’d put a polite notice up saying something like “as this path goes through our garden please avoid touching anything and if at all possible consider using the alternative route of xxxx. Thanks for helping us stay safe.

[HoldMeCloserTonyDanza]

I scrolled all this way and no diagram?!

YABVU!

[RepairAndRelax]

In your situation OP I’d definitely have a fence keeping walkers out of your garden area

Reading through, I think the OP already has a fence which is part of why people have pushed back against them closing off the pathway.

[RepairAndRelax]

Weird - as I was reading this I was thinking about a public foothpath in my village that really matches this description. On our village facebook page the owner put a post a few hours ago asking people to shout out 'Hi!' so they can stand well back.

It seems too much of a coincidence but, if that's not you, then the post seems to have been very well received here so maybe something you can think about?

[ZombieFan]

Why would a cyclist or jogger shout anything when they are on a fenced off path.