Dear All,

I am hoping someone clever will know the answer to this query!

At the rear of my garden is a lane which runs parallel with our street and divides the gardens of the houses on my road (Como Road) with those of the houses on the road one street over (Cranston Road). Whist I know Google maps is not the most reliable source, the lane is clearly marked.

Long before I moved into the street, a fence was erected adjacent to my rear fence by the owner(s) of a property on Cranston Road with the intention of blocking a garden gate which previously allowed access to the lane from my garden. I don't know who put it up or their reason for doing so. However, older residents on my road seem to think the fences went up with little discussion, and practically appeared overnight. Whilst I don't really need or want a garden gate (which would just act as as an additional security concern in my eyes), I am a little bothered about how this land was apparently claimed in such a manner. More importantly, the make shift 'barrier' fence that was erected is now in such a poor state that it is falling to one side and pushing my fence down with it.

Does anyone know about these lanes in this area of Forest Hill? Are they public rights of way? Would any property have the right to deliberately block another property's access to one of these lanes should they want it? Can I rip this fence down and fix mine without having any legal action taken against me ? I have contacted my solicitor to ask about clarifying this but if anyone has any hints, tips or experience of this kind, I would be really interested in hearing from you.
Thank you