Alleyway fence support

[Pheo]

Bit of a potential neighbour issue - wanted to judge it carefully. We have an access alleyway across the back of our garden to our neighbours garden which falls within our land but over which they have right of access via deed. We also have access and use it to get a barrow to the bottom of the garden on occasion as the garden is fairly sloped down from the house. Alleyway exits out onto a pavement (we are end of terrace, so there is a road running at 90 degrees to our garden). Alleyway is bare soil / not made but it is fairly clearly for access.

When we moved in a new set of houses was being built at the plot below our land. In doing so they put in a small retaining wall. Just before selling the properties a fence was erected on top of this wall, but rather badly from a support perspective as they clearly had not thought about how they would support such a fence.

Give it a couple of years and once of the fence posts has failed. Unbeknown to me said neighbour has now installed or had installed once of the concrete post saver on the opposite side of the wall into the alleyway. This encroaches a bit on what is a fairly narrow access route and makes it keep difficult to get a barrow through. I need to check if we can get the green bins in and out (the original point of maintaining the access.

Thoughts on how to handle?

1) it’s not blocking it entirely, just live with it, say nothing
2) live with it, but ask the neighbour to ask permission before making any changes next time
3) ask them to replace with a support on their side of the fence

I am mindful that if they had asked I would have said yes, but asked they specify one of the new galvanised fence savers - which are much smaller. Indeed I have used two further up and being only 2cm or so are much less in the way.

Thoughts how to handle without starting WW3? We do not talk to this neighbour really, simply because they are not seen much. Only interaction I’ve had is when they tried to complain about a cherry laurel overhanging thinking it was mine and expecting me to do something - I let them know it wasn’t but they have a legal right to trim branches their side and offer the clippings.

[Saudade]

Ask them to move it for sure, even if I didn't use the alley I wouldn't want the post there on principles alone, it's not land that they have any right to use to support their fence.

[jimmyjimjim]

Or ask if you can replace it yourself with your choice of support?

[Pheo]

Hmm, didn’t think of asking to replace it myself - worth consideration as an olive branch.

Shame the thing is bloody well concreted in, likely to be a horrible job…

[TownIdiot]

Pheo said:

Hmm, didn’t think of asking to replace it myself - worth consideration as an olive branch.

Shame the thing is bloody well concreted in, likely to be a horrible job…

Reading your OP you say the alleyway is your land?

If that's correct you don't need to ask.

[Huzzah]

I would explain the problem, and see if they come up with a suitable solution.

FWIW I've used both galvanised and concrete repair spurs, the concrete jobbies are far more satisfactory.

[Pheo]

I realise it’s my land, but having accidentally nearly started WW3 before with a neighbour in the last house through not being clever with how I deal, it’s a bit tricky. Plus the whole “well who is to say where the boundary really is.

Re the galv spurs, how so? They have been very solid in my experience?