Parking thread! With diagram! And notes!

[Sisinisawa]

I know you all love a good parking thread.

Currently we are having some work done on our house, and are unable to use our drive.

Before, one of us would park on the drive and the other outside the house but the builders like to park outside the house so we are having to park elsewhere.

We live on a quiet road and everyone parks outside their houses. There's never any issues.

I am mostly parking at the purple locations on the diagram which are outside people's houses but not usually used for parking. Sometimes I park outside our house however if I feel like it and will need the car the next morning.

DH has mostly been parking either outside our house as he gets home after the builders leave, and leaves before the arrive, or at the green location which is a parking layby.

The layby has no restrictions. There are no parking restrictions around here at all.

So the other night DH found a note on his car. It's the crumpled one in the pic. It says "please note this is for (Road name) residents only. Please park elsewhere. Thank you.

DH knocked on the door of the house the layby is outside and asked if they minded him parking there and they said no. They also said they hadn't put the note there.

It's worth me mentioning that on occasion if someone has been parked outside our house I have parked in the layby and no one has ever said anything. DH has a distinctive car which it's possible people might think is flashy. I drive a standard mum type car. This might be relevant.

Anyway we ignored the note but for the next few days DH has parked elsewhere as spaces were available.

Last night he parked in the layby and this morning found note 2 which is in capitals and a bit aggressive.

I think the reference to trust houses is the HA houses as these roads were built by a housing trust years ago and many are still HA. Ours is privately owned. This may be relevant.

DH is worried that his car might get damaged next. We've no idea who is leaving the notes. DH wants to go knocking to find out but I think this might be a bad idea.

What's clear is that they're pissed off and we need to handle it somehow as our builders will be here for a few more weeks yet.

So ok I know I'm not BU but it looks like this might escalate and I'd like some advice. DH wants to phone the HA and/or council but I think maybe police?

We've lived here nearly ten years and are considerate neighbour's so this is both annoying and concerning.

[Sisinisawa]

By the way red is our house and orange is probably not relevant but is a cul de sac.

[PotteringAlong]

If there is not a residents parking permit scheme then it's not for residents only and they're talking rubbish. Just ignore.

[honeylulu]

Can he leave his own note on the car: " We ARE residents of X Road. Please rest assured your concerns are unwarranted."

[Shootfirstaskquestionslater]

I agree with PotteringAlong maybe get in touch with the HA/council and see if there are any permits for parking there if not carry on parking there and tell the note right to GFT.

[OMGtwins]

Perhaps leave a note on the dashboard telling them the car is yours, why it is not in front of your house at the moment and with your house number/mobile number on it for them to ring in case of any issues?

That should diffuse the rage if they think you guys are chancers, fingers crossed.

Also if you're worried your cars might be damaged take photos after you've parked them so you can prove when any damage might have happened. Take photos of and keep all notes too.

You can't do much else tbh. People are funny and get the rage for all sorts of reasons. Who knows what might have pressed their buttons that day? Shrugs

[Sisinisawa]

Honey we live in the adjacent road but not the road they've named. They must know where we live as DH's car is easily recognisable although not a super flashy sports car.

[mickeysminnie]

I'd leave a note saying "I am a resident! No xx. If you care to call in and discuss!

[Cheby]

Is the layby marked as restricted parking at all?

[Bluntness100]

Yup, I'd say there is a good chance his car will be keyed next or his tyres slashed. Is fhere no where else he can park? It's all very well to take the legal route, ignore it and say you've got every right, but that doesn't pay the excess on your insurance or your increased premiums when some twat damages the car, and lets face it, that's a significant risk.

[bakingcupcakes]

I'd write a return note as Honey suggested and if they continue ignore.

[Sisinisawa]

Cheby no. No restrictions at all.
I've parked there before over the years with no issue at all.

[Sisinisawa]

Bluntness the only other spaces would be the ones our neighbours use so not really. Otherwise he'd need to go a few streets away which is daft when there's a space in the layby which is often empty!

[LunchBoxPolice]

DH has mostly been parking either outside our house as he gets home after the builders leave, and leaves before the arrive

So why doesn't he do that everyday?
He is doing nothing wrong parking in the layby if there are no restrictions, but people can be arseholes and will likely damage the car.

[Sisinisawa]

Lunchbox because sometimes I park there. And sometimes other people park there. It is his preferred option but not always possible.

I'm tempted to put mine in the layby and see if I get a note.

[picklemepopcorn]

Is there a shortage of parking on that road? Is someone else having to traipse around because he is there? I think you need to swap cars about a bit, and leave a note on his when he does leave it there.

[picklemepopcorn]

And get a dash cam to film who does it!

[greeeen]

Check with the trust that you are right about the parking. If you are, write your own note explaining it's parking for everyone and please call the trust xxx number if in doubt. If you are worried about vandalism install a dash cam.

[Etymology23]

I think I'd just swap so I was parked in the layby. You may well be "ok" parking there legally but I wouldn't risk getting keyed for the sake of it!

[Shamoo]

You park in the layby, he parks where you have been parking.

[VerySadInside]

Just put a note saying you are resident of x road- pretend you don't know they know who you are. and that it is a temporary parking solution, if you wish to discuss please call xxxxxx.

[Redglitter]

If I was you I'd put my (less distinctive) car in the layby instead.

[AwaywiththePixies27]

Honey we live in the adjacent road but not the road they've named.

So you don't live on X road then? You live on Y road but sometimes DH parks in said layby on X road?

To be honest. I'd check with the HA for starters. My DM lives in this sort of set up, with laybys for parking, after years of not being able to get anywhere close to their own homes for parking Jenga it has become a residents only layby. Then when you've established that, just ignore them.

[SkippyFox]

Dash cam plus note in the dashboard.

I am parking here because we have builders working on our house. I'm sorry if this annoys you but as there are no parking restrictions I'm going to be parking here on and off for a few more weeks. Feel free to contact the local authority parking enforcement department if you have any doubts that I'm allowed to park here
Please do not leave anymore notes on my car as it sets off my dashcam unnecessarily

Or something. Shorter would be better.

[PeaFaceMcgee]

Why would you involve the police? They haven't actually threatened you / the car - they've just used CAPITALS

[PeaFaceMcgee]

There's no indication the precious car will get damaged - just some fairly polite yet slightly exasperated notes from someone who is either correct or mistaken.

Is it because you think it's a HA tenant your car might get damaged?