Back garden access

[accessnightmare]

Hi, wondering if anyone knows if I stand a chance in this.

So our back garden backs onto what isn't an alleyway but more of a car sized footpath, we live in a mid terraced house in between two houses and the other side of this footpath is another three houses. At the end of this footpath there are three metal bollards with lock barrels in which can be dropped down for car access (one of the houses behind us has a driveway)
We've had nothing but issues trying to get these bollards dropped down when we've had building works done in the past, we had to contact the county council and a member of the highways team came out and dropped two bollards for access (he took away the barrels) came back two weeks later before works had completed and put bollards back up without letting us know.
We need access again for landscaping. Again I've had to contact the highways team. Anyway my point is, do we have a right to access for things like this? I was told before that it's my own fault we purchased a house with no access ( we do have a back gate and access but not access for any vehicles) it's obviously becomes an issue if we want to update our house with any kind of works as we can't accommodate machinery etc.
does anyone think I'd be able to actually apply for a key for these bollards? Has anyone done this before ?
The chap who came and dropped them down before did not want to to do at all he was very clear about that, he wouldn't leave his number so we could contact him directly to tell him works was done and I have to keep reporting it as a fault on the county councils website before anyone will look into it.
Just feels like we can't do anything to our house without major stress because of these bloody bollards ! I've attached a really rubbish diagram 😆 the pink lines is our house, yellow are the neighbours and the blue is the bollards !

That sounds rubbish, what if you wanted to park your car at the back of your house like thousands of ppl do. My neighbour parks his car at the end of the garden on his land

Have you asked neighbour's?

How does the house with the driveway drop them down for access?

I have to say OP I have little sympathy because you have done a rubbish diagram. We expect better. Please try harder if you want my valuable advice.

Tosses head, flicks hair, leaves room, slams door.

Can you speak to the neighbour with the driveway and ask if you can borrow a key and have one cut for your use.
if that fails get the landscaper to rip the bollards out and throw them away

Diagram is perfectly clear to me

When you bought the house were the bollards in place and if so were you told anything about having the right to get them dropped if you need access ?

If not then in reality what you bought is a house with a pedestrian alley at the back... I understand that is frustrating when physically the bollards can be dropped so you could get vehicle access - but if you didn’t buy any right to vehicle access, then it’s a bonus if you can persuade the council to drop them sometimes.

What are your legal rights? look at your report on title when you bought it if you're not sure. If you don't have any rights to use it for vehicle access for maintenance then you are just relying on the goodwill of the council. You could always offer to acquire a right of way from them. They may be keen to maximize their assets. if you do have a legal right of way the vehicular access then obviously they need to facilitate that in a much better way, but it doesn't sound as if that's the case

How does driveway guy get in and out?

Thanks for replies!

The neighbour with the driveway had a key, not sure how he wangled it as the driveway wasn't there when the houses were originally built. We have asked to use key but he is very protective over it and basically doesn't want to get into trouble for lending it out, which I can understand. He would drop the bollards (I think) if he's around but at the same time I don't want to keep pestering him about it.

We didn't buy the house it was inherited but I have got the deeds as I sent off for them so I will have a look through there

I do know that the bollards used to be little concrete stumps but they got changed to metal ones at some point

Generally you wouldnt have any right to access. Unless there is a covenant in place that permits access, or the owner if that land/road permits it.

Ah - fair enough not knowing if it was inherited. Once you have a look at the deeds you might need to get copies of any documents filed. So for example the original transfer of your house might have included a grant of a right of way. The land registry sometimes extracted all details like that fully on the titles, but sometimes just refer to filed documents so you may need a copy of it. Good luck! if all else fails worth getting a copy of the title to the land where you need access. You'll know who it belongs to, what rights are over it, and can then make an offer for any access rights

Thanks for the advice 👍🏻👍🏻

How did the person with the driveway get permission for it and then a key? And were the concrete bollards replaced with the lockable/moveable bollards when the driveway was put in?

And, therefore, why can this not be a precedent for you and the other neighbours to not then
a) have a driveway/vehicular parking
b) have your own bollards key? - as bonfire residents? :)

*bonefide
I have Victoria Wood going nuts in my head

I suspect the neighbour has a key he shouldn't!! After checking the reeds and assuming you have no rights, I think you need to get a group of you to approach the council. You can ask for access for maintenance across another's land which is why they're vaguely accommodating you. But if you make enough noise they might come to a better arrangement.

Mind you, then your problem is that people will park in the lane.