What you say isn't necessarily true.
The only way the law might assist is if there is something detailed in your land title about what is paid for by whom regarding maintainance of the access. You could start by looking there - but if this is a relatively old historical situation, you are unlikely to find anything.
Do you know who owns the access lane itself. Common options are often one of the following:
1) One of the houses in the lane (typically the original one that sold off land to others)
2) The land of the lane is owned each and every land title holder that fronts onto it.
3) Its part of the public highway and hence no-one owns it (but it is not adopted). It may under this category be part of a highway on which vehicles cannot normally travel - e.g. a bridleway, footpath or limited access byway - but you have historical rights to drive your car up there.