Cheapest way of bringing disused lane back into use

jp987654321

Really sorry but a bit of a long one...
I've recently purchased a mid-terraced house which is located on a busy road. As you can imagine parking is a massive issue with all the double yellow lines. To solve this problem most of my new neighbours have turned their front gardens into driveways. The quotes I've had to do the same range from 4.5k to 8k depending on type of material used for the drive, and this is currently just unaffordable.
However, at the back of the property is a single garage. About half the properties in the row have a similarly located garage (the others seem to have simply extended their garden). All the garages face a small lane which connects to the main road, but no one uses the lane as it is completely overgrown with (4ft!) thick bush, and weeds - basically all the garages seem to be used for storage.
Having spoken to the neighbours no one is interested in bringing this lane back into use (well paying to do so). Whilst each property on the row owns a section of the lane, a right of way across each section is given to each property on the row. I've been told, that if left unused you can apply to have the right of way removed (and thereby extend each garden by 2/3 meters). So can see why there is reluctance.
My property is the 4th house from the end and I'm thinking it would be cheaper for me to simply clear the lane to my garage, and then use stones or paving slabs to cover the ground. I'm not looking to make the driveway permanent (as I will eventually build something at the front, and knock down the garage to gain 10m^2 of garden), all I really care about is functionality.
Looking online, all the websites give instructions on how to build a decorative driveway, or something that will last the test of time. They keep taking about sub-soil and layers/ compacting the ground etc. In my situation is all this really necessary? The lane must have been in use at some point in the past so what's the cheapest way to get it back into some working order? Should I just clear it, or lay Stones/slab/something else?
Any suggestions appreciated!

J_B

A few random thoughts:-
A chainsaw and/or strimmer/hedge-cutter should re-open the lane.
If it's been used before it *may* not need anything doing to the ground.
Once you open it up, everyone else will use it so there will be no chance of you extending your garden

Silver-Surfer_2

Clear a bit and see what the old surface is like. It maybe ok to drive down as it is. Skim as much as you can off the top rather than digging down to avoid disturbing what maybe compacted ground.

dominoman

Buy a big tub of glyphosate on Amazon, along with a garden sprayer.

Apply liberally with the sprayer, then leave for 3-4 weeks. It takes that long to work, so don't despair if you think the weeds and brambles are not dying.

If it needs it do it again.

As others say, once it's cleared you may find you don't need to do anything to the surface. I would just fill any large potholes with some cheap aggregate from B&Q.

Mojisola

jp987654321 wrote: »

Whilst each property on the row owns a section of the lane, a right of way across each section is given to each property on the row.

I've been told, that if left unused you can apply to have the right of way removed (and thereby extend each garden by 2/3 meters). So can see why there is reluctance.

Someone could apply but everyone who has a right of way would have to agree and those with a mortgage may also need permission from the lenders.

Maybe not too difficult if you own a house towards the end of the lane but the others would have to get permission from several householders.

jakemillspaek

Once you have cleared a patch (your bit) see what you have.
Depending on the forgoing a reasonable surface can be achieved by using planings (tarmac which has been planed from existing roads when refurbed).You only need to put down enough to run your car to your garage....two strips would be fine.The supplier of the planings will probably know someone who has a bit of kit to do this.Do a cash deal ETC.
You may wish to letter drop your neighbours and take it from there.It is bound to cause controversy but you may get some takers to spread the costs.Good luck.(It would be cheap a few £100 max)

Norman_Castle

We've got similar behind our house. When in regular use it stays clear but soon becomes overgrown when unused. If the ground is fairly flat and doesn't become too waterlogged it may not need resurfacing. Some tyres are more suitable than others on soil or mud. Putting these on the driven wheels could help if there are problems with grip.

Dan-Dan

your going to fairly annoy your neighbours with this plan i would have thought

boliston

Dan-Dan wrote: »

your going to fairly annoy your neighbours with this plan i would have thought

If I had an overgrown lane behind my house I'd be grateful to have it cleared at someone else's expense. Clearing a right of way is pretty much a non issue, like worrying about annoying a farmer if you have to whack away a few brambles on a footpath to get through.

moneyistooshorttomention

dominoman wrote: »

Buy a big tub of glyphosate on Amazon, along with a garden sprayer.

Apply liberally with the sprayer, then leave for 3-4 weeks. It takes that long to work, so don't despair if you think the weeds and brambles are not dying.

.

Then sit back and wait for the neighbours to come complaining because the "drift" from that weedkiller has gone into their gardens and damaged their plants:eek:. There is a worse case scenario - the neighbours plants are food they are growing organically for themselves and you've caused them to have to throw away their food before they had the chance to get to eat it. Or an even worse one - they go ahead and eat the food anyway........and if they get ill......££££££

Davesnave

moneyistooshorttomention wrote: »

Then sit back and wait for the neighbours to come complaining because the "drift" from that weedkiller has gone into their gardens and damaged their plants:eek:. There is a worse case scenario - the neighbours plants are food they are growing organically for themselves and you've caused them to have to throw away their food before they had the chance to get to eat it. Or an even worse one - they go ahead and eat the food anyway........and if they get ill......££££££

On the other hand, you could credit the OP with the intelligence to do any spraying on a calm day, when there will be no spray drift worth mentioning, provided the spray lance is kept low. The best way to ensure this is to hire a petrol brushcutter and knock the lot down, remove the material, wait a few weeks for regeneration and then hit the active new growth, May/June is ideal.

I spray along the edge of my field to prevent the coarse grasses there invading the adjacent lawn. I wouldn't be doing that if it damaged the lawn. It's accurate to a couple of cm.

I think maybe the OP asked the wrong question of their neighbours, who clearly aren't fussed about the lane and therefore won't be contributing any time soon. Surely, all that's needed is a check to see if anyone who'd be affected actively objects? It will be very much a case of DiY or nothing.

If there are garages, the chances are that the surface will be good enough, but maybe under some detritus.