Gated Pedestrian Access-How does this work?

Hi,
  We just moved into an end terraced place where there is a gated pedestrian access in the alley by our house.  What bugs me is that our neighbors use that access instead of their front door.  I have a toddler and I'm very concerned about him getting out onto the road with the neighbors coming and going through the back as they please.  Are there certains restrictions to this pedestrian access?  I feel it should only be used by them to take their bins out and in on bin day only.  Can anyone explain the rules regarding this?  I feel very uncomfortable about the whole situation, especially since they are peering through my windows every time they walk pass.

Thanks,
  Jessica

if its public , ie you dont own it with your property, then they have every right to use it as they please.
You can try talking to them about it, but theres nothing legally you can do if its not yours

Even if the alley is your property, there might be a right of access along it for anyone having legitimate business at the other properties.   You would need to check the deeds to the property to determine if (a) the alley actually belongs to you and (b) if so, whether such access rights exist.

In some cases an alley next to a house might even be a general public right of way, although that's unlikely if it only goes to the back of the row of houses and doesn't link up with any other way in and out.

No matter what the laws are regarding access, couldn't you just speak to your neighbours? Are you on good terms with them? Perhaps if you explained your concerns about your toddler, they'd be willing to limit the number of times they use the gate.

Do they leave the gate open?  If so, I'd just ask them to be careful to shut it.  Surely no one would let a toddler out of a garden?

We looked at a house like that once and decided against it because there was just no way around the fact that they had legal access.

Do they leave the gate open?  If so, I'd just ask them to be careful to shut it.

Or maybe fit an auto-closing device to the gate so that it can't be left open by mistake?  You would need to get the permission of the owner if the gate doesn't actually belong to you, of course.

Do you own your house? If so check your title deed and see if there's anything about covenants or right of way access.

We looked at a house like that once and decided against it because there was just no way around the fact that they had legal access.

so did we...
it was a deal-breaker.

If it's a terraced house then that will be a right of access to at least 1, and maybe more neighbours.

Next door to me is an archway and I have right of access through my neighbours yard into mine.
Now usually I only use that for taking my bin out - or if deliveries that I need round the back....but it is access. The neighbour did put a lock on the gate and didn't inform me, one week I couldn't take my bin out, however she came round beofre I saw here, and said she'd forgotten to come round and bring me a key for the lock.