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AIBU?

Another effing parking thread!

67 replies

LivinOnAChair · 21/10/2016 08:59

Woke up to a note shoved under our windscreen wiper this morning telling us that we are not to park in the street?! Surely they can't dictate this?

We live in a cul de sac and everyone else up the street parks similarly to us. Our garages and drive are round the corner and quite a walk carrying a baby in a car seat along with bag and possible shopping so I tend to park outside the house (the 'visitors spots' are not marked as such and the house wasn't sold to us with allocated street parking etc so assuming it's a free for all). Our drive is regularly blocked by neighbours round the corner but we can't do much about it unless we are blocked on...
Partner parked his car in bay yesterday and when me and DS came home from baby group yesterday drive was blocked so I parked in the street (very slightly up curb as road is narrow and people up the street had wagons coming and going as they are having garden landscaped). I would have moved the car later on but partner works shifts and I can't (and am not prepared to) leave DS in the house while I move it once workmen were finished.

Is it me? AIBU? Can they really dictate to us that we can not park on a public highway and must 'follow suit' of other residents (whatever that means)?

Another effing parking thread!
OP posts:
PumpkinOfLinus · 21/10/2016 09:03

You do have somewhere else to park so it does seem a bit mean not to use it.

LivinOnAChair · 21/10/2016 09:04

We can't get on the drive though!

OP posts:
DoveBlue · 21/10/2016 09:04

As long as it is a public highway and you are parked legally. Nothing your neighbours can do. The note is rather nasty why they couldn't chat to you face to face and to not say who it is from is cowardly! I would ignore an anonymous note. It is probably just one person trying to talk for a whole street. I'd ignore. I wouldn't leave my DC alone to move a car legally parked.

dowhatnow · 21/10/2016 09:06

I think I would get a bit annoyed too but wouldn't have the nerve to say anything to you as technically you can park there (assuming on the pathway was a one off). Buut it's also not on that you get your driveway blocked in.

MilkTwoSugarsThanks · 21/10/2016 09:11

Leave a note on your windscreen saying

"I know you don't like me parking here, but until the fucker who's blocked our drive moves I haven't got a lot of choice. If you want me to stop - speak to them first. If you have any success let me know."

diddl · 21/10/2016 09:12

So you have a drive & a garage & parked on the pavement!

Not surprised neighbours are annoyed!

Surely your drive should never be blocked though as it leads to your garage-which may have a car in it!

diddl · 21/10/2016 09:13

Missed a bit-I would say that you will use your drive when it isn't blocked!

Fishface77 · 21/10/2016 09:13

Not much to offer but love the diagram.

LivinOnAChair · 21/10/2016 09:14

Yep one off, partner can usually manoeuvre around cars in front of our drive to get on but often has to drive over next doors drive (who we are assuming it is complaining) we don't really like doing this as it's not our property and I'm sure they'd have something to say about that as well. Last night however next doors car was parked right at the end of their drive (entitled to do) and other neighbours visitors were parked in front of ours, no way I could get the car even through the gap let alone swing it on so it was straight. I don't know what they expect us to do. They know and can see our drive gets blocked.

OP posts:
RhiWrites · 21/10/2016 09:15

This is like the people on trains who take someone else's reserved seat because there's someone in theirs.

Go and ask the people blocking your drive to move and explain that there's more space for everyone if you can park on your drive.

You bought a property with parking around the corner. You should use that and stop inconveniencing everyone else who has no allocated parking already. They have to park on the street, you don't.

stitchglitched · 21/10/2016 09:17

Are you blocking the path?

LivinOnAChair · 21/10/2016 09:17

They've all got double drives too... They do not have to park in the street, we do sometimes.

OP posts:
WatchingFromTheWings · 21/10/2016 09:17

When forced to park your car on the road due to your drive being blocked I'd leave an A4 sized poster on the dash saying "I'm legally parked here due to some arsehole blocking my drive". Not much else you can do really. You could ignore it but you'll just continue to get shitty messages put on your windscreen.

LivinOnAChair · 21/10/2016 09:19

No not blocking the path, was slightly on to allow wagons to get out of the street last night

OP posts:
Penfold007 · 21/10/2016 09:21

It wasn't a one off though was it 'I tend to park opposite our house'. Parking partially on the pavement is always selfish, makes it very difficult for parks and wheelchairs. Others blocking your drive is equally selfish.

FlyingElbows · 21/10/2016 09:25

They're not "dictating" to you they're asking you to park your cars with consideration for others. Your issue really should be with whoever it is that's blocking your drive. My street is a nightmare sometimes because people won't park on their drives and park on the road instead. Don't get drawn in to "note wars" but if it's the same person blocking your drive repeatedly then try and speak to them.

RB68 · 21/10/2016 09:28

You are perfectly entitled to park on the road if its not restricted. If they are blocking your driveway you need to address this issue. Is there a residents association or something?? I think I would be leaving notes in window saying why parked there, why on pavement (with enough room for a wheelchair to go past) and why not moving it immediately drive is clear. They make it sound like you do it all the time though - is it happening all the time?? Frankly you need to manage the child/car shopping stuff - whether its put child back in push chair for short journey or shop when there are two of you around if you are adamant the child is never left for 30 seconds

CurbsideProphet · 21/10/2016 09:28

I would put passsive aggressive notes on all the parked cars (and possibly through front doors) saying "I would park in my double drive but someone keeps blocking it". I would probably keep doing this until people stopped blocking my drive.

LivinOnAChair · 21/10/2016 09:28

I tend to park 'outside' the house in the bay but last night neither car could get on the drive (partner is batter at manoeuvring and can get out of its tight, I can't with the car seat etc if it's at an angle to the barrier)

OP posts:
RB68 · 21/10/2016 09:29

ps even though it seems sensible parking on footpaths isn't legal except in marked areas even though it seems sensible e.g. due to lorries etc

Glastonbury · 21/10/2016 09:29

What a strange set up having your drive separate to your house. Yes yabu it sounds like you do this all the time. I would put a sign somehow on your drive saying that constant access is required. Anyone parking there will be clamped as it is private property. Just the sign should stop them.

RB68 · 21/10/2016 09:31

pps I hate anon passive aggressive notes. Just talk to each other I say although some people don't seem able to do this is a none aggressive way.

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LivinOnAChair · 21/10/2016 09:32

We don't do this everyday just when the drive is blocked, clearly I am being unreasonable don't really know what else to do however. We've been on to 101, nothing we can do if we aren't blocked on and council are no help. Thanks for the replies.

OP posts:
WalterWhitesNipple · 21/10/2016 09:33

I can't believe people think you are being unreasonable Confused You can't get in your drive so you park legally in the road , how unreasonable of you op! Wink

diddl · 21/10/2016 09:38

If your drive was never blocked you would never have to do it as you could have a car in the garage & one on the drive.

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