The legalities of putting sharp and pointy things on the top of walls/gates

[nightjar]

If intended as a trap, they would be. A purely decorative wall covering of Albertine rose would not.

Colin Bignell

[nightjar]

I have used Albertine rose. It is a very fast climber and has huge thorns. The main problem, from a gardening point of view, is that, being an older species, it is prone to plant diseases and has a relatively short period of flowering. Firethorn is also recommended for planting inside the wall, while Hawthorne makes good, relatively fast growing hedges.

Colin Bignell

[Sylvain VAN DER WALDE]

My rear room window looks out on a small industrial estate (on the other side of the road). It's owned by the local council. Recently (maybe one year ago), some "spikey things" were fitted to the front gates. I can only assume that if the council allowed this to be done, that it must be alright. A few other local private houses have also done this. If I was in your place, I would just go ahead with it.

Sylvain.

[nightjar]

I think it is because it is an accepted agricultural use, which people should expect. However, I suspect the farmer would be on uncertain ground if it were a purely arable farm.

Colin Bignell

[HLAH]

"Dave Fawthrop" wrote

AIUI you are allowed to use barbed wire to keep in or out livestock. Arguing that your cat is livestock and hence the razor wire along your fence is there to keep it in would probably not wash.

H

[Terry Fields]

When this was happening to me, I phoned the free legal help line that operated under my house insurance, explained to them what was happening, and said I was thinking of putting grease along the top of the wall - they said that would be OK.

I then put a nice thick layer of molyslip grease along the wall, and the subsequent events were a joy to behold....and they stopped coming over after that.

[Tom Woods]

amazed they are even alive since the soil is more like clay and full of big rocks!) rhodedendrums along the inside of the wall. I was going to move those and fit trellis or similar up the inside of the wall so i get to look at something nice.

[AJH]

Yes and if the wire is on the wrong side of the posts. I think the highways act only allows for its removal if it is likely to be a danger to the public, so if the path's definitive width is 3ft then I consider it a hazard, if 10ft then not. My local highway authority will not act on any reports of barb wire too close to walkers or on the walkers' side of the fence.

AJH

[Tom Woods]

My part of the estate (I live right at the edge) is nice and the neighbours and everyone ive met seem nice. However a couple of roads over it isnt so nice.

As far as we can tell is is just a couple of famalies worth of 14-18 year olds causing the trouble (famalies whose parents are already known by the police who have come out to us). Because the council garages are 'behind' my house they are fairly secluded and not that visible (there are only 3 or 4 of us who really back onto them - the other houses back onto them over a 20ft drop!), so they seem to congregate there. I have only had trouble in my garden when ive been out in the evening (next door have called the police). unfortunately the little buggers are able to count so can tell when one of my cars isnt there and thuis i am out.

I will soon have quite a bit of spare carpet gripper! That might work quite well alont the top of the wall!

[fred]

In article , Tom Woods writes

Other than prickly vegetation the prickler strips are about as much as you can do legally, anything sharper would leave you liable for injury. The anticlimb paint would leave you liable for any damage to clothing whether it be from climbing or just someone reaching up, touching the paint/grease and then wiping their hands on their clothing.

Think about what kids or other people might reasonably attempt and consider if what might occur as a result of your precautions was reasonable. eg. Ball kicked into your garden, kid or other attempts to climb in to recover and are either injured or their clothing is damaged. If either occurs as a result of your precautions that would be you will be liable.

The single stand of barbed wire you mention would fall foul if hidden and would be pretty ugly if visible. I would also be pretty easy to avoid as a hand will fit easily within the barbs. The prickle strip would probably be more effective and the price from the Primrose site is the best I have seen.

HTH

[manatbandq]

Get a few sacks of horse s**t from the local stables and make yourself a compost heap at the bottom of the wall. Gives the scrotes something soft to land in (LOL!) and can be used to improve the soil too.

Get some prickly hedge trimmings and add them to the compost heap and there's a good chance they'll draw blood and give them a nasty infection.

MBQ

[Mick6]

A fish pond intended as a trap...?! Who's your neighbour - Ernst Stavro Blofeld?

To the original poster - Have you contacted the Anti-Social Behaviour unit of your local council? Some of them have a proactive attitude and, if enough people complain often enough, something may get done. It's also worth finding out if you have a community constable who might be collecting evidence on the local troublemakers. Again, if they collect enough complaints, it sometimes forces action.

[The Natural Philosopher]

Lots. Brambles spring to mind.

[David Hansen]

On 19 Feb 2007 03:43:05 -0800 someone who may be " [e-mail]" wrote this:-

How do "scrotes" improve the soil? Do they have to be well dug in?

[David Hansen]

On Mon, 19 Feb 2007 10:22:30 +0000 someone who may be Terry Fields wrote this:-

Don't leave us in suspense. What were these events?

[manatbandq]

At least 6ft under. Putting their heads on spikes on the fence acts as a deterrent for future infestations.

MBQ

[John Stumbles]

As others say, not exactly. What no-one else has mentioned is 'prickler' strips (or whatever they're called) of sharp plastic pyramid-shaped spikes which claim to be sharp enough to deter climbing but not to injure. I've seen them at a local builders merchants and they do feel as if you wouldn't like to put much pressure on them. They should cover you legally since you're patently setting out to obtain reasonable protection of your property without causing injury to would-be trespassers. Whether they stop the kids depends on how much incentive there is for them to get in I suppose.

[Dave Fawthrop]

|!Tom Woods wrote: |!> On Mon, 19 Feb 2007 09:22:11 +0000, Dave Fawthrop |!> wrote: |!> |!>> On Mon, 19 Feb 2007 08:35:31 +0000, David Hansen |!>> wrote: |!>>

|!>> |!On Mon, 19 Feb 2007 08:18:00 -0000 someone who may be "nightjar" |!>> |! wrote this:- |!>> |! |!>> |!>Anything that could cause injury or harm to a passer-by is illegal. That is |!>> |!>generally taken to mean anything that could cause injury or harm and is not |!>> |!>at least 2.5m above ground level. Anything that is at least 2.5m above |!>> |!>ground level will be illegal if designed or intended to act as a trap. |!>> |! |!>> |!Ah, so fish ponds and plants with spikes are illegal. |!>>

|!>> I am about to plant prickly species roses and a border ?marker? Perhaps OP |!>> should consider replacing the wall with prickly roses, or adding a row of |!>> other prickly plants inside the wall. They are garden plants officer ;-) |!> |!> I would prefer a hedge to a wall - but the wall is much more |!> 'immediate'!. |!> |!> I am wondering if there are any climbing plants i can grow over the |!> top of it that are spikey or unpleasant in some way? |! |!Lots. Brambles spring to mind.

No not brambles they are *weeds* and almost impossible to kill.

[Andy Burns]

The OP suggested them himself about half an hour later (3rd direct reply here, propagation may vary)

The retailers seem to suggest using a warning notice with it

[John Stumbles]

You need the right sort of compost bin