Neighbour's driveway and access to gas meters

[Wonderbug81]

I live in an upstairs flat in a Victorian conversion and the front garden outside is owned by the downstairs neighbour (although we are both leaseholders).

The neighbour wants to convert the outside into a driveway. My gas meter is underneath his front bay window and the front of the car would be parked by this. Cars parked there could potentially block my gas meter (it's a legal requirement to have access) and/or accidentally damage it as it's a small space so I'm reluctant (as it is, my meter has been blocked during their building work).

The planning team and crossover teams at the council say the issue of the gas meter a private matter. Is there anything else I can do to prevent it?

Surely a normal conversation saying he needs to park a couple feet away so there is access? Do you not get on? Is the car there 24/7 or does he take it out during the day? Look at your lease, does it say something in writing about right of way to access it?
Frankly this really wouldn't be something I'd make a fuss about. How often do you need read your meter? Surely if he's blocking it when you need to you ask him to move his car. Also as co lease holders, even if he owns the land, do you need to agree? I'm sure the freeholder does.

You can get a cage type thing to cover your meter which would enable access if a car was there and would also stop a car hitting your meter. I would discuss that with your neighbour and tell them it would help to ensure their car wasn't damaged

do you currently have right of way to access the garden? presumably that right of way would remain if the garden is paved, so that you can access the gas meter?

look up rules on right of way and access, rather than planning.

is there space to keep 1m clear before the meter to allow easy access?

As I said in my message, it's already being blocked while they're doing building work so I'm not holding out much hope. I'm not bothered about meter readings either. If there's a gas leak, there needs to be access and this is also a legal requirement. So yes we get on but people forget.

@LadyMacbethssweetArabianhand Oh this sounds like a great idea. Will look into it.

@parietal Thank you, I'll take a look at the lease but from recollection it doesn't say anything specific about the gas meter, only the joint access pathway by the front door.

Who owns the freehold? You should raise it with them, works like this will require freeholder approval.
if you are joint owners of the Freehold then what are the terms of the freehold and leaseholds? You might be able to block the work unless it is done to your satisfaction.
The cage sounds like a good solution, if ugly. What about ending the parking space with a kerb which prevents parking too close?

Thank you. A kerb may be tricky. I'll contact the freeholder via the management company but they aren't generally forthcoming! I don't think there's any detail about the metre in the lease, it's very old.

The lease won't mention the meter. But I'd expect the freeholder to need to approve the works to create a drive.

They've already approved it apparently although I'm not sure they know the meters are there. Will ask the management company.