Thread: Terrified - Rear garden used by people as a shortcut through wasteland

is there a web site that i can use to find out who owns the wasteland and ask them to secure all the wasteland, so people can't walk acoss it and then through my garden?

i've looked at the land registry web site, but no use

Originally Posted by Conniff

Have a go at this tal.

:: Community Fix :: Helping to keep your community clean & safe

They will report to your council and email you back what they have done etc;

thanks, can i send them pictures as well via their web site to support my claim and are there good and do you get a good response from the council, as councils don't take notice most of the time

Since you aren't allowed to use Claymores, thorny hedges are much more effective than fences at keeping unwanted visitors out, which may be a thought for the longer term.

I am astonished that the police aren't interested in criminal damage - I'd be pushing them on this.

these people are trespassing on my property, walking across the wasteland and into my rear going and walking out the front garden.

i will contact the council, mp if they dont do anything i will take legal action against them

What I advise is repair the fencing (I know it'll probably come down again but keep putting it back up) because whilst it is seen to be broken, and people see rubbish there, others will continue to do it whatever you do. I don't believe in leaving graffiti etc (you know - they why should I blooming bother attitude!) its defeatist and gives the wrong message.

Then I think I would invest in some hedgeing, I just cannot remember the name of the one - but its very close, small leaves, prickly, andhas red berries (grrrr what is it called?!!). This will also need to be protected if the fence keeps coming down, but the protection could be another obstacle to these idiots. It will take some time to mature, and no doubt there will be times when you have repair work to do!

I'm assuming that some of your neighbours houses also back onto this land and they might suffer similar probs? In that case if a group of you work together with the same objective in mind you;ll get loads more ideas. Have you thought about securing your front garden so tightly that it no longer can be used as a shortcut - like a locked gate and similar sharp high hedges at the front? How about a security light at the back that shows the trespasser in all their glory the minute they enter the garden? Just make sure it don't shine into your neighbours bedroom windows as well! I'll tell you a little story here - once years ago i was out delivering leaflets, I'd been out for hours and was desperate to spend a penny. I was down the side of an empty house, and well, I had to go behind a bush! There i was minding my own business and taking my time when the security lights on the back of the property next door lit me up for everyone to see! In future I will wet myself!

Get onto the cop shop and get the Beat Officer round to see you, he or she can be very effective - after all, if they ever have to chase miscreants across that land, they won't want them to have an easy escape route through your garden. They'll be able to advise on more security measures that are legal.

Hope you get this sorted, it must be very frightening if you are a mum on your own.

Originally Posted by Bookworm

How about a brick wall instead of the wooden fence? Expensive outlay, but worth it in the long run.

I was thinking of putting up steel palisade like these on this web site

Anchor Fencing Systems

then a 6ft by 6ft garden fence in front, how much do you think it will cost for 14ft by 14ft steel palisade with fitting?

Originally Posted by IdaInFife

Local councils must act differently as my mother in law had the same problem and they erected a 6ft fence at the bottom of hers and neigbouring gardens and have maintained that as well.


Ida x

how long did it take the council to come and have a look and put up a fence for her?

what dept do i need to contact in the council and exactly what do i tell them, so they will take action right away

Originally Posted by tal

how long did it take the council to come and have a look and put up a fence for her?

what dept do i need to contact in the council and exactly what do i tell them, so they will take action right away

Tal,

This may be a different case entirely as the council may have owned the land. Whereas the council appear not to own the land in your case.

Your can talk to the local district/borough/parish council as well as the county council property asset management teams and ask to see their ownership plans (some times called the Terrier map - but this may only show the public a maintainable highway).

If you go to Land Registry website and do map search and click on the aerial photo of the waste land - if the land has been registered- then the ownership can be purchased for £3 for title and £3 for plan.

Check your original deeds to ensure that no right of way existed across your land to the waste land.
Did your solicitor ask for this information when you purchased the property?
Was the fence inplace when you visited and on moving in?
The path does appear to be well established - did the previous owners cover up this issue?

Try posting on Garden Law advice on fences, trees and boundaries website - some very knowledgable people their on these very issues.

Good luck.

John

Originally Posted by Goldlady

Just looked at your photos - pretty bad... Our footpath was used as a short cut as well so we moved it so it didn't go straight from back garden to front street and put a padlock on our front gate. People used to walk through our garden and if we happened to be outside they would just ignore us - bloody cheek of it

Looking at the well-trodden path leading to your gap in the fence it looks as if it is an established right of way, as far as the locals are concerned. I wonder if you should allow it to become a right of way but insist that the council fence it either side and give you compensation for the loss of that bit of your land.

I bought the house last year, at the time of viewing the house, the fence was still standing, so i had no idea about the 2 paths leading to my rear fence

From what I know, the house may not have been fenced up for a long time and only a few years ago the council had a regeneration in the area, where they put up fences and gates in the street, so the path was established before that.

My next door neighbour has ALL her rear fence broken down, so i'm lucky that I have at leat 1 fence up

I don't want it to become a shortcut for the locals as they have been doing, this seriously has to stop now