Another smallish problem ,

[mickeyboy]

We live in a row of 7 terrace houses with back street parking ,all of us have access to the rear for passing parked cars to get to our homes ,we live at the 6th house up ,so we drive in from house one and drive out from house 7,sometimes the people in house 7 park at the side because they are elderly ,no way can people pass when they do ,we don't mind so we reverse up then drive back down ,the problem is the people at house 5 Washing and washing line ,we have to constantly move it ,numerous times a day as they leave it out all day ,we all have back yards that we put our washing lines in and dry it there ,but no they won't move it ,what can we do ? we need constant access without moving their washing day in day out ,we have been to the council ,they say the road is adopted and it could be a police matter ,any advice would be great ,we have asked them numerous times to move it and put it in their back yard but they ignore us ,we have already lost one Aerial to this ...

[PAWS]

Re: Another smallish problem ,

You may say this is a smallish problem but it is the sort of thing that can really irritate! Someone with the proper knowledge will be along soon.
I would think you could go to the council (I would say the council would be more appropriate than the police)
or……and I know this is not big or clever but ….unscrew your aerial, Smear mud on the car then drive into the clothes line. Do it often enough and they will get the message.
Normally I like to see people compromise and try to reach an amicable solution. It just makes life easier if you can get along with your neighbours but it sounds like this lot are not interested in ‘making friends’ and it sounds like you have already tried this. There must be some law against obstructing access. I tell you one thing; I would not hang my undies out on the road for all to see! (You’d never be able to drive under them for a start!)

[nemesis45]

Re: Another smallish problem ,

By guess is that this rear access is not adopted as a public road, so police are not likely to take an interest.
If the area is council owned and maintained then that's the place to send the complaint, the more householders
complaining the easier it will be for the council to act if they are the responsible authority.

nem

[mickeyboy]

Re: Another smallish problem ,

You may say this is a smallish problem but it is the sort of thing that can really irritate! Someone with the proper knowledge will be along soon.
I would think you could go to the council (I would say the council would be more appropriate than the police)
or……and I know this is not big or clever but ….unscrew your aerial, Smear mud on the car then drive into the clothes line. Do it often enough and they will get the message.
Normally I like to see people compromise and try to reach an amicable solution. It just makes life easier if you can get along with your neighbours but it sounds like this lot are not interested in ‘making friends’ and it sounds like you have already tried this. There must be some law against obstructing access. I tell you one thing; I would not hang my undies out on the road for all to see! (You’d never be able to drive under them for a start!)

We have already tried the council ,they say we should go to the police ,but we are reluctant to do that ,as a last resort we might ,we park under the tree's on the back street as well ,what with droppings the resin and dust ,we drive through the washing without our aerial ,but still they won't move it ..they put them out at around 7-30 am before wife goes to work ,and they don't bring them in until 6 pm .....

[mickeyboy]

Re: Another smallish problem ,

By guess is that this rear access is not adopted as a public road, so police are not likely to take an interest.
If the area is council owned and maintained then that's the place to send the complaint, the more householders
complaining the easier it will be for the council to act if they are the responsible authority.

nem

We have been to them ,The council say it is an adopted road ,and to see the police about it ,it is not affecting the other neighbours ,as the we are the only ones to drive that far round the back ,the old folk at number 7 house will just reverse into a space ,so cannot get anyone else to complain..

[des8]

Re: Another smallish problem ,

If it is an adopted road, it is a public highway.
If it is a public highway obstruction is an offence under Highways Act 1980 s 137

If neighbours won't be neighbourly it only leaves police or put up with existing situation


137Penalty for wilful obstruction.

(1)

If a person, without lawful authority or excuse, in any way wilfully obstructs the free passage along a highway he is guilty of an offence and liable to a fine not exceeding [F1level 3 on the standard scale].

F2(2)

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .



Power to order offender to remove obstruction.

(1)

Where a person is convicted of an offence under section 137 above in respect of the obstruction of a highway and it appears to the court that—

(a)

the obstruction is continuing, and

(b)

it is in that person’s power to remove the cause of the obstruction,
the court may, in addition to or instead of imposing any punishment, order him to take, within such reasonable period as may be fixed by the order, such steps as may be specified in the order for removing the cause of the obstruction.

(2)

The time fixed by an order under subsection (1) above may be extended or further extended by order of the court on an application made before the end of the time as originally fixed or as extended under this subsection, as the case may be.

(3)

If a person fails without reasonable excuse to comply with an order under subsection (1) above, he is guilty of an offence and liable to a fine not exceeding level 5 on the standard scale; and if the offence is continued after conviction he is guilty of a further offence and liable to a fine not exceeding one-twentieth of that level for each day on which the offence is so continued.

(4)

Where, after a person is convicted of an offence under subsection (3) above, the highway authority for the highway concerned exercise any power to remove the cause of the obstruction, they may recover from that person the amount of any expenses reasonably incurred by them in, or in connection with, doing so.

(5)

A person against whom an order is made under subsection (1) above is not liable under section 137 above in respect of the obstruction concerned—

(a)

during the period fixed under that subsection or any extension under subsection (2) above, or

(b)

during any period fixed under section 311(1) below by a court before whom he is convicted of an offence under subsection (3) above in respect of the order.]
Annotations:

[mickeyboy]

Re: Another smallish problem ,

If it is an adopted road, it is a public highway.
If it is a public highway obstruction is an offence under Highways Act 1980 s 137

If neighbours won't be neighbourly it only leaves police or put up with existing situation


137Penalty for wilful obstruction.

(1)

If a person, without lawful authority or excuse, in any way wilfully obstructs the free passage along a highway he is guilty of an offence and liable to a fine not exceeding [F1level 3 on the standard scale].

F2(2)

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .



Power to order offender to remove obstruction.

(1)

Where a person is convicted of an offence under section 137 above in respect of the obstruction of a highway and it appears to the court that—

(a)

the obstruction is continuing, and

(b)

it is in that person’s power to remove the cause of the obstruction,
the court may, in addition to or instead of imposing any punishment, order him to take, within such reasonable period as may be fixed by the order, such steps as may be specified in the order for removing the cause of the obstruction.

(2)

The time fixed by an order under subsection (1) above may be extended or further extended by order of the court on an application made before the end of the time as originally fixed or as extended under this subsection, as the case may be.

(3)

If a person fails without reasonable excuse to comply with an order under subsection (1) above, he is guilty of an offence and liable to a fine not exceeding level 5 on the standard scale; and if the offence is continued after conviction he is guilty of a further offence and liable to a fine not exceeding one-twentieth of that level for each day on which the offence is so continued.

(4)

Where, after a person is convicted of an offence under subsection (3) above, the highway authority for the highway concerned exercise any power to remove the cause of the obstruction, they may recover from that person the amount of any expenses reasonably incurred by them in, or in connection with, doing so.

(5)

A person against whom an order is made under subsection (1) above is not liable under section 137 above in respect of the obstruction concerned—

(a)

during the period fixed under that subsection or any extension under subsection (2) above, or

(b)

during any period fixed under section 311(1) below by a court before whom he is convicted of an offence under subsection (3) above in respect of the order.]
Annotations:

This is the answer i need ,i will get a copy and put it through their letter box ,if they ignore this then it will be the police ,thanks for your info ....