Am I in the wrong? - firework-related

BigJimmyB

Hi all,

I need to get this off my chest and establish whether I'm wrong in this scenario....apols ion advance for the long post...

We live around a green which, although a few people park on it when visiting/short of drivespace, is generally not used. It has trees and flower beds on it which are council maintained, plus there is a 'No Ball Games' ban, which has been in force since way before we moved there 5+ years ago. All this is to say we all respect it as a piece fo shared green space.

Anyway, my kids are 16 and 14. They do not live with me but they come over several times a week for dinner and all day each Sunday.

Last night at 8pm at the end of one of their visits, we made ready to leave the house.

As the kids opened the door to go to the car, a hail of glowing embers and bits of plastic & concrete from what I would call a 'display standard' firework were raining down on my drive/cars. The kids were rightly scared about being hit by this debris, some of which could have set their hair alight!

I decided to drive around the green to find out if it was kids messing about (as they do...)

It transpired that a family opposite were viewing a display from their living room window, presumably being put on by the head of the household in the middle of the green. I kid you not when I say the firework was WAY too big to be using in such close proximity to houses, especially on 'public' land.

As I drove round, a bloke with a huge box just sauntered across the road in front of me. This, I deduce is the man setting the fireworks off.

I tell him we've just been rained on by debris from his fireworks, and his respose was 'Well, it IS Bonfire night', supposedly suggesting I should expect it.

I ask him about potential damage to us/the cars/house and he didn't wat to know. He said 'What about the fireworks at the back of your house?'

I said they were in private gardens and NOT raining $hit down on us.

He just shrugged and walked off.....

It may be worth mentioning that this guys owns a motorbike and frequently during the summer starts it at about 8am on a weekend (not early for some I know), then leaves it to run and warm up while he goes and gets his leathers on. It may be safe to assume that he is an inconsiderate git.

Anyway, was I right to have a go? Is what he was doing legal?

Would welcome some thoughts/opintions/facts.

RANT OVER
BJB

Mister W

If he's letting off fireworks on common land then he needs to have permission from the local council. I suggest you get in touch with the council.... and find some scrote to nick his bike one morning when he's warming it up

jairaj

I was under the impression that you couldn't do fireworks in a public place with out a permit. He should at least got permission from the families who live around the green.

In any case, if the fireworks were close enough for the hot embers to be raining down on you and your kids too not feel safe, then you were fully correct in informing him of this. He should have been more respectful of this. I love fireworks but they are dangerous and should be used with care.

alfablue

Bloody cheeky and annoying! And arrogant! :evil:

Buckled_Rims

Without knowing exactly who owns the land you can't even start to complain in my opinion - it just ends in a squabble. Just because a council maintains it doesn't mean they own it. Councils usually have an access officer to ask advice on who owns the land, what permissions or public rights of way/Bridlepaths they are.

Nowt can be done this year, but be prepared next year. Then a few weeks before bonfire night request the council to stop any unauthorised fires/fireworks.

It's illegal to leave a running motor vehicle unattended if on a public road. The owners insurance will also probably be invalid if stolen whether on public or private land if he leaves the keys in.

Barkiesnake

i hate people who wait all evening and then let of fireworks at midnight, waking up my kids. :evil:
Also last night cycling home from a training session i was nearly taken off my bike by a stray rocket which came low over someones hedge and across the road. I susspect it had fallen over before launch rather than malicious as the guy from the house did shout sorry at me.
:evil: :evil:
Bloody things should only be sold to persons over 80 yrs of age and then only if accompanied by both parents.

gaypirate

Fireworks........
oooooh pretty!!!!!!!!
The colours match my lycra. lol

Nuggs

You have my sympathy.

We have an inconsiderate git living behind us, who enjoys having huge stinky bonfires just about every weekend (including in the SUMMER with lots of lovely smoky green wood - usually when we're sitting down to enjoy a BBQ).

Report your neighbour to the council. If the motorbike noise is a regular occurrence, they may also be able to do something about that as well.

Mister W

It doesn't matter who owns the land. If it's common land then they need local authority permission. They also need the landowner's permission (that may not be the council, even if the land is common).

carbonfiend

most councils now have panels/sections for dealing with anti social behaviour and combating it is a priority with most though I live in inner city London so not sure if its as high profile in other sections of country as here but I would guess it is. You need to canvas other neighbours opinion of him and if there is a consensus make a log and he will be approached.

Mister W

The police can also get involved if fireworks are not used in a controlled environment, which makes sense as they're potentially very dangerous and a slap on the wrist from a council officer wouldn't be much of a deterrent.

BigJimmyB

Thanks peeps, I just needed confirmation that I wasn't being a grumpy neighbour.

It was the reaction more than anything. If he'd said sorry, I'd be happier, but he made me feel like I was being unreasonable.

Chip \'oyler

re the running motorbike.

When he nips in the house to put his leathers on, run out and nick his keys.

Anonymous

A nice squirt of expanding foam in someones exhaust can work wonders for silencing a noisy engine early in the morning.

camerone

i utterly hate fireworks, you did very well not to shove one up his ar5e and use him as a catherine wheel, would have given his family something to watch.

shockedsoshocked

Nuggs wrote:

You have my sympathy.

We have an inconsiderate git living behind us, who enjoys having huge stinky bonfires just about every weekend (including in the SUMMER with lots of lovely smoky green wood - usually when we're sitting down to enjoy a BBQ).

Report your neighbour to the council. If the motorbike noise is a regular occurrence, they may also be able to do something about that as well.

Our next door neighbour enjoys lighting up one of them "fire chimney" pot things in his garden every time we put the washing out.

I think my mam will beat him to death in the near future.

sampras38

And the unfortunate thing is, if you moan and he gets reported, or even visited from the coucil or some other authority, he'll know it was you, so there's a possibility you'll have a future of tension and atmosphere, every time you see him...or worse.

I hate this country sometimes...

fungus_the_muffin_man

Get a roman candle and keep it untill he brings his pride and joy out of the garage then run over and stick in in his exhaust while he's in the house.

Porgy

sampras38 wrote:

And the unfortunate thing is, if you moan and he gets reported, or even visited from the coucil or some other authority, he'll know it was you, so there's a possibility you'll have a future of tension and atmosphere, every time you see him...or worse.

I hate this country sometimes...

I don't know why you think it's anything to do wth this country. My friend who lives in Spain had an empty lot next to him when he moved in - and a guy has bought it and built a commercial garage on the plot - which is illegal as it only had planning permission for a house - but on paper he lives there so legally it is just a "house".

My friend has gone through every legal route to get the guy out - the workshop is one thin wall away from his bedroom, study and living room. But thanks to the fact that the guy is particularly intimidating and is very well connected in the town - the law has compeltely failed.

I think if a tw@t moves into your neighbourhood - it doesn't matter what country youi live in - it's never good, or easy to get redress. In the US they might just come round and shoot you.

gabriel959

Porgy wrote:

sampras38 wrote:

And the unfortunate thing is, if you moan and he gets reported, or even visited from the coucil or some other authority, he'll know it was you, so there's a possibility you'll have a future of tension and atmosphere, every time you see him...or worse.

I hate this country sometimes...

I don't know why you think it's anything to do wth this country. My friend who lives in Spain had an empty lot next to him when he moved in - and a guy has bought it and built a commercial garage on the plot - which is illegal as it only had planning permission for a house - but on paper he lives there so legally it is just a "house".

My friend has gone through every legal route to get the guy out - the workshop is one thin wall away from his bedroom, study and living room. But thanks to the fact that the guy is particularly intimidating and is very well connected in the town - the law has compeltely failed.

I think if a tw@t moves into your neighbourhood - it doesn't matter what country youi live in - it's never good, or easy to get redress. In the US they might just come round and shoot you.

Where does your friend live in Spain? Does he speak Spanish?

feltkuota

I'd agree with most of your post apart from the fact that he fires his bike up at 8 in the morning. Is it the fact that he does so and goes inside the annoyance or just the fact that he lets his bike warm?

sampras38

Porgy wrote:

sampras38 wrote:

And the unfortunate thing is, if you moan and he gets reported, or even visited from the coucil or some other authority, he'll know it was you, so there's a possibility you'll have a future of tension and atmosphere, every time you see him...or worse.

I hate this country sometimes...

I don't know why you think it's anything to do wth this country. My friend who lives in Spain had an empty lot next to him when he moved in - and a guy has bought it and built a commercial garage on the plot - which is illegal as it only had planning permission for a house - but on paper he lives there so legally it is just a "house".

My friend has gone through every legal route to get the guy out - the workshop is one thin wall away from his bedroom, study and living room. But thanks to the fact that the guy is particularly intimidating and is very well connected in the town - the law has compeltely failed.

I think if a tw@t moves into your neighbourhood - it doesn't matter what country youi live in - it's never good, or easy to get redress. In the US they might just come round and shoot you.

Sorry, I appreciate it probably goes on all over the place, but I've only lived here so can only go on my personal experience. Saying that I've had no problems with my neighbours so far..;-)

Porgy

gabriel959 wrote:

Porgy wrote:

sampras38 wrote:

And the unfortunate thing is, if you moan and he gets reported, or even visited from the coucil or some other authority, he'll know it was you, so there's a possibility you'll have a future of tension and atmosphere, every time you see him...or worse.

I hate this country sometimes...

I don't know why you think it's anything to do wth this country. My friend who lives in Spain had an empty lot next to him when he moved in - and a guy has bought it and built a commercial garage on the plot - which is illegal as it only had planning permission for a house - but on paper he lives there so legally it is just a "house".

My friend has gone through every legal route to get the guy out - the workshop is one thin wall away from his bedroom, study and living room. But thanks to the fact that the guy is particularly intimidating and is very well connected in the town - the law has compeltely failed.

I think if a tw@t moves into your neighbourhood - it doesn't matter what country youi live in - it's never good, or easy to get redress. In the US they might just come round and shoot you.

Where does your friend live in Spain? Does he speak Spanish?

Antequera in Andulacia - and yes he does - though he didn't when he arrived 6/7 years ago - he's getting quite good now.

BigJimmyB

feltkuota wrote:

I'd agree with most of your post apart from the fact that he fires his bike up at 8 in the morning. Is it the fact that he does so and goes inside the annoyance or just the fact that he lets his bike warm?

My issue is the fact that this thing is loud and he leaves it running for 5-10 mins. It can wake us up from 100 yards away.

We're expecting twins in the NY, so we'll likely be awake anyway, but he'll probbaly find a way of waking them up when they ARE asleep.....

The whole leaving the bike running thing is completely uneccessary (he could ride it sedately for a mile or so to warm it up, before he gets out onto the major roads we have within a few minutes reach). It also wastes fuel and basically shows contempt for his neighbours and their right to some peace. In exactly the same way as his attitude to me with the fireworks.

Common sense dictates that MOST people would want to have a lie-in at the weekend, or leastsome consideration ffrom their neighbours.

He's only lived there a year, when they arrived there was an assortment of vans, pickups etc all over the shop while they had alterations done, and generally not giving a to$$ who was inconvienced by it (although I appreciate thesethings are necessaryand the noise/mess is a by-product - you can't blame him for wanting a decent home).

I think the lesson here is that he doesn't give a f*** about anyone else, as long as he's OK. Pretty symptomatic of the way society is going TBH....

If I do make an offical complaint, I don't care if he DOES know it's me, in fact I'd be glad if he did. If he want to take issue, I'll gladly have a chat with him to express my (not unreasonable) point of view.

feltkuota

Big Jimmy,

I would agree that 5-10mins is taking the pi** but have you ever asked if he refrain from turning his bike over for that length of time? Nothing you can do about the time in the morning 8 is not early.

verylonglegs

Tales like this always remind me of a Spike Milligan quote...'There are two things you can do without in life, neighbours and piles.'

Sadly what you have experienced is all too common lately, its a me first culture we have now.

Gotte

http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtop ... 16&start=0

I'm with you.

Nuggs

ShockedSoShocked wrote:

Nuggs wrote:

You have my sympathy.

We have an inconsiderate git living behind us, who enjoys having huge stinky bonfires just about every weekend (including in the SUMMER with lots of lovely smoky green wood - usually when we're sitting down to enjoy a BBQ).

Report your neighbour to the council. If the motorbike noise is a regular occurrence, they may also be able to do something about that as well.

Our next door neighbour enjoys lighting up one of them "fire chimney" pot things in his garden every time we put the washing out.

I think my mam will beat him to death in the near future.

Oh yeah, that old chestnut. Bloke opposite has also ruined our washing with his bonfire. Another classic is waiting until I've washed the car and then bringing ash raining down upon it.

pedylan

I agree : the reaction of your neighbour suggested a complete lack of consideration, as does his general behaviour.

But is some of the problem that you've never spoken to him without their being some tension? If you'd had a few normal polite conversations you may not have had the abrupt couldn't give a stuff reaction. Have you talked to him about the bike?

The thread seems to support the general state of animosity between neighbours. By way way of balance I offer the following. We had building work done this year, I talked to neighbours, warned them and described what was to happen. All this was based on what my builder told me. At the scaffolding stage he built a two storey platform along the gable wall of our barn and supported it with three scaff poles erected over our stone wall and on the neighbour's patio.

First they knew was when they came home from work; first I knew was when they came round to see me (gulp) However, after a site meet with all concerned and establishment of ground rules, the poles stayed put and work got finished and I owe them a big favour and a very nice liquid xmas present.
So it's not all dog eat dog out there folks.

BigJimmyB

pedylan wrote:

I agree : the reaction of your neighbour suggested a complete lack of consideration, as does his general behaviour.

But is some of the problem that you've never spoken to him without their being some tension? If you'd had a few normal polite conversations you may not have had the abrupt couldn't give a stuff reaction. Have you talked to him about the bike?

Sorry mate, but please don't suggest the problem is mine. To clear things up (and perhaps I should have mentioned this earlier) I'm as polite and considerate with as many of my neighbours as poss, as I am in many aspects of my life (too bl00dy polite sometimes). A few of us exchange favours whenever we can and the few either side of me all get on, to the point of joining each others BBQ's etc.

This bloke lives 100+ yeard across the green, so I've never really even seen him as our paths haven't crossed, but he's made his presence in the street very well known.

I wasn't aggressive, didn't swear and the bloke practically laughed in my face, so I think that tells you more about him than me.....and I'm NOT interested in his frigging bike, especially at 8am on a Sunday, which I DO think is too early. If he started it, got on and rode off, I'd have no issue.

All he had to do over the fireworks was apologise and say he'd be more careful and I would have left feeling happier, but he made me feel I was in the wrong, which is plainly a load of bollo.

cougie

I'd probably try and ignore the bonfire thing - its once a year ?

But maybe the environmental health would be interested in his overloud motorbike ? It shouldnt make that much noise ticking over ?

Plus he wouldnt know who had reported him. He will if you go to task over the fireworks thing though ?