About this parking?

[Twopeapods]

I'll try to explain this as best I can.
We live on a busy road opposite a school. There is a mixture of Victorian terraces opposite which do not have driveways, and our side of new builds. The way our development is, we are one of three houses on the main road, with the rest of the new houses set about 100 yards back with a private road alongside us. We have a two car drive with the dropped kerb.

Someone from the terraces opposite has been parking right next to my driveway between us and the private road junction. They used to only park there when there are no other spaces, but now park there all the time as a preferred space. It is all dropped kerb. It makes it difficult to get in and out of our driveway, and obstructs cars coming out of the junction.

We wrote to the council asking if they could put a white line there so it is clear it's not a suitable parking space, and they advised us that they won't put lines there as the Highway Code says it is not a suitable space and drivers should know this. They said if people are parking there then we should contact the police as it is a police matter.

So today we put a note on the car asking if they could refrain from parking there for the above reasons. It also said we had been in touch with the council and told them what our advice was. It was not abusive or threatening, and we said please and thank you. We also put which number and our name so they knew who wrote it.

Well the lady came over tonight and went ape. She was really shouting saying she has lived here for far longer than us etc, and it's difficult to park so where else can she park. And kept asking us where do you want me to park? I said it's not really up to us where to tell her to park, but it's not meant to be where she is just now. She left after about 10 minutes saying we threatened her and she might contact the police. I had my toddler on my hip who was starting to get upset at her shouting, and I was not threatening at all. I even said if it was here and there when it was very busy it wouldn't have been a problem, but now it's all the time.

I explained the thing which annoys us the most is when we are driving up the street, ready to pull in, and cars coming in the opposite direction sometimes wait behind her car in front of our drive to let traffic past. Meaning we can't get in at all. This happens most days and means we sometimes have to drive past and get turned somewhere up the road.

It's left me wondering wether we didn't have the right to ask. She was so furious. I thought you can't park over a dropped kerb? Or near a junction? We have the house up for sale so don't want to have any arguements with anyone.

[Twopeapods]

Eek that was so long! Thanks if you got to the end!

[LemonysSnicket]

You know you're right - you can't park on a dropped curb.

[BabyDreams2018]

I think you need to choose your battles and let it go since you are selling up. You'll be gone soon and she'll be someone else's problem then.

[Tiredtomybones]

Perhaps do as the council suggested and refer it to 101, along with her abusive contact with you. I really don’t think the police should need to deal with parking, in an ideal world, but she hasn’t responded to a calm approach.

[kali110]

She was shiuting because she knew she was wrong.

[Twopeapods]

I don't think police should have to deal with parking either but if the council won't I don't know what to do.
I think over the next few days we will know if it still parks there or they move it elsewhere. We have a viewer tomorrow so I hope they or the police don't show up mid viewing!

[Maelstrop]

Isn't it 28ft from a junction or am I dreaming that? Certainly not over a dropped kerb. I would persist with the council and some carpet tacks

[TiffanyAtBreakfast]

Diagram? Pretty please

[ChrisPrattsFace]

Diagram please! 😊

[GladAllOver]

The council were wrong to refer you to the police. Parking is definitely a council matter.

[MinervaSaidThar]

She sounds aggressive, I would call the police. They won't mind.

[MyKingdomForBrie]

I would have followed the council advice. Why give yourself the grief. I expect she’s annoyed because the new builds will have made parking harder and traffic worse. Not saying she’s right but probably fanned the flames.

[Twopeapods]

Yea there is a certain distance from a junction I believe.
I think I will actually ask again at the council, I would even be tempted to pay for a solid white line to be put in place!
I will get the kids coloured pencils out for a diagram!

[Ttbb]

It was very silly of you to put your name and number on the note. If she's stupid ebony go to park like that she's likely stupid enough to think that she has a right to do so. Next time just follow the councils advice and call the police.

[Twopeapods]

Pictures. Hope they make sense!

[ShoesHaveSouls]

She shouted at you because she knows she's in the wrong - you are not meant to park over a dropped kerb. People are just angry and shouty these days I blame brexit.

Sounds like the council were fobbing you off too though - it is the council that deals with this stuff. You should be able to get a white line put across a dropped kerb, so maybe try them again.

You can also put a no parking sign up - we have a continuous problem with people parking over our drive, and a sign did help.

[SD1978]

She has parked over a drop curb, and too close to a junction. Whilst I would never suggest calling the police, is it possible to talk to your local station directly, and explain that council sees this as a legal issue? She should be fined for the junction parking at least, even if the dropped curb is seen as minor.

[RustyBear]

The council were wrong to refer you to the police. Parking is definitely a council matter.

Not everywhere - a substantial minority of councils have not applied for decriminalised parking enforcement, so parking enforcement is still in the hands of the police. Our borough only implemented DPE last month - before that the police were responsible.

[LakieLady]

Where I live, we get a problem with people parking too close to junctions. Every now and then, the police come round and ticket all the cars that are too close, and it all gets sensible for a few months.

They do it quite early on a Sunday morning, too, before the offenders have got round to going out.

Parking on yellow lines and in car parks here is enforced by the council's contractors though, so you might stand more chance with the police.

[ThisTimeItsTrue]

I'm a little bit on the fence here. It's crappy parking and it's not ok to park next to a drop kerb but she isn't actually parking in front of your drive. I wouldn't see it as much of a problem to have to drive past and turnaround. I think I might report it to the police because of wheelchair users needing the drop kerb but I wouldn't have written her a note.

[KiaraS]

You have to declare formal neighbour disputes if you’re selling I think so I’d avoid 101 or police or council if you can given you’re already on the market.

[Twopeapods]

Yea I think I'll just see how it goes over the next week or so. She will hopefully calm down.
We had never actually seen her and we're not even sure which house the car belonged to so it's not like we have to come face to face all the time

[TheCatsMother99]

You're selling, let it go before it turns in to a full blown dispute you have to declare.

Next time just report to the council who, in my area, drive along and ticket cars parked too close to junctions and over drop curbs.

[OhWotIsItThisTime]

If another car is waiting behind her’s and blocking the drive, just flash it to let it out.

What she’s doing is annoying, but it’s not worth the hassle if you’re moving.