HELP PLEASE.. land access rights

I'm in the UK

Hi

I hope someone can help me please..

Running alongside the garden to my house there is a lane. My garden
borders the lane completely down the right hand side. On the other
left side of the lane are 9 houses. These houses all have access to
rear of their property via this lane.

There has always been a dispute regarding the access on this lane
which I knew when I bought the property 10 years ago. Due to the size
of my garden, the other people bordering the lane have tried for the
last 10 years to block my access to this lane because they fear I will
build on the substantial garden (I have no intention of doing this).
What they did was put a gate on the lane. They have never used the
gate but have told me that if I use the lane they will lock the gate.
So voluntarily I decided not to use it. I couldnt be doing with the
hassle of arueing nore could I afford to settle once and for all in
court who did or did not own it or have access to it.

The problem has arisen where my children have friends on this lane.
Two particular old gentlemen who own 2 of the houses have said that
my children cannot walk along the lane to go to their friends. Their
friends live also on this lane and obviously have no problem with my
children getting to their house.

I have recieved a solicitors letter from them.. which states that I
have no right to use the lane and that my children are causing an
obstruction.

They did not say that they own the lane and it is private. Just that I
dont have the right to use it.

Worst case senario.. Even if they did jointly own the lane, does one
or 2 people have the right to stop my children going to another house
that also jointly owns the same lane?

any advice would be gratefully recieved

Thanks

Good grief. Their issue is your kids WALKING on the lane to get to their friend's homes? This is the access to their homes? If the lane is egress to their homes, your kids have no less right than any other visitor to use it.

Sometimes you just want to tell some of these people to get a life!
_______________________________________________________________

OOPS!

NEVER MIND! I just missed that this is UK. Forget everything I said. Except the Good Grief part still applies.

This site ONLY can deal with US Law. Sorry.