I Need Advice

[Zumbagirl]

My garage is at the bottom of my garden and I have to drive round to put my car in it...I do have access to my garden from the garage. As we have 2 cars sometimes if there isnt street parking, whoever is home first puts the car in the garage and whoever is home last parks car outside of garage. My problem is that next to my garage is a wall which is at the bottom of my neighbours garden. He doesnt have a garage. My problem is that he has taken it upon himself to cut a hole in the wall and insert a gate which opens directly outside my garage and onto a public highway. This gate is literally 6 feet from my garage door so if one of his kids come out of the gate as im reversing out i could hit him. Its so dangerous. I have lived here and owned this garage for 22 years and parked my car outside it regularly. He only put this gate here a few months ago. Last time I parled there he called the police and said I was blocking his gate!!! I was asked to move my car. Ive called the local planning office and i was told he is allowed to put a gate there. Surely i should be allowed to park outside my garage door? Appreciate any advice...thank you

[Hopkirk]

Are you parking on your own land, or on public land?

[Mamyalynne]

If by parking your car outside your garage door you are blocking his gate (which we now know he is allowed) then you can't park there.

Are you unable to park in such a way that all you block is your own garage?

[Tuvok]

Reads to me that your garage door opens to the road, not to a drive.

Is neighbours wall at 90 degrees to your garage? Otherwise I can't see how you could hit them unless they crossed parallel to your garage door.

[david small]

Neighbors generally are a Royal pain in the assumption.

[Zumbagirl]

Its on public land. As you stand and look at my garage....the wall is to the right. My garage is joined on to the wall.

[Zumbagirl]

@tuvok...when they exit the gate the walk right across my access to my garage

[Mamyalynne]

I understand the geography now thank you.

[bednobs]

my advice? start getting home first!

[Gizmonster]

I'm assuming then, that the land directly outside your garage, which your neighbour's gate opens onto, is public land .... in which case, I don't think there's much you can do apart from take care when exiting your garage.
Have you looked into buying the small piece of land directly outside your garage ..... I'm assuming your garage is slightly set back, so there's a plot of land between your garage and the pavement??
In fact ..... just thinking about it - have you checked to see who owns the land .... maybe it is your's after all ??
Does your neighbour's garden run right up to the pavement?? If so, you may also own the land right up to the pavement - worth a check??

[Zumbagirl]

@bednobs thank you....thats so helpful

[bookbinder]

You could try reversing into your garage, then you would be better able to see any hazards that might be in your way, as you drive out.

[Zumbagirl]

I do reverse into the garage since this gate was put in but my question was regarding parking outside of my garage

[New Judge]

1. Do you (and he) have to cross a footway to enter/exit your properties?

2. When you park outside your garage how does that restrict access to his gate? You said it is six feet away, so you must have the width of your garage plus six feet in which to park. (Or am I getting it wrong somehow?)

[Zumbagirl]

My garage is on the end of a block. As you look at my garage the wall is to the right....at right angles to my garage. His gate and my garage open up directly onto the road. The gate is only 6 foot from my garage door so if i park my car facing my garage the back door is directly outside his gate. Since i have a garage to the left i need to park my car right outside mine close to the wall so the other owner can access his garage

[New Judge]

From the sound of that then you seem largely stuffed.

In the same way that his parking outside his gate would hinder you, your parking outside your garage hinders him. So long as his gate has been erected in accordance with the local rules he is just as entitled to access as you are. It's unfortunate that you have enjoyed being able to park there for so long. The only thing you can do is make sure that his new gate complies with the local authority's regulations. If it does then I think that's that.