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Original poster

10 YEAR PARKING DISPUTE WITH NEIGHBOUR.

419 replies

eastafricanomad · 01/02/2023 17:23

Hi all,

I need some serious advice. I'm probably writing this in the heat of the moment so please ignore any theatrics. Let me break it down...

We've lived in this property for about 17 years. Our charming neighbour moved in on our tenth year. She is our attached neighbour on the right hand side. We all have allocated parking - what is the problem you ask?

See the thing is, we live in a cul-de-sac. Every house has an allocated parking spot and we have several visitor spots (families with multiple cars use these visitor spots as permanent parking spots and it doesn't appear to be an issue with anyone including me). My neighbour, has an allocated parking spot at the back of her house, but due to her mobility issues - she parks in front of her house on a public highway - again, no issues with this.

There is still space for another vehicle to be able to park directly parallel to her with no issues of blocking her car or her house. Yet she has proceeded to block off this empty potential parking space because she doesn't want anyone 'parking in front of her house' - bear in mind, this is a public highway. No one can reserve rights to a public highway.

Living in a cul-de-sac, naturally parking is tight despite the allocated spots we have. Households do sometimes have more than one vehicle and everyone else on the street is incredibly understanding.

However, this woman, has proceeded to put CONES! In an empty slot on the public highway, not reserving it for any reason as she has one car. No daily visitors - her sole reason is 'I don't want anyone parking in front of my house' (???) ITS A PUBLIC HIGHwaaaaay. Anyway.

Now that we are adding a vehicle to our household, this has only really started to irritate me now. We've ignored her a long time, DESPITE her harassing anyone that parks there. She has harassed my family, construction workers, delivery drivers - you name it! I'm at my wits ends. The straw that broke the camels back was this week, when we had a lovely gentleman come out from Hillary's to do measurements for my blinds. She left a note on his car and yelled at him when he left my property.

I've spoken to the local council, they have confirmed - no one can reserve rights to a public highway. I've spoken to the police, they have confirmed - this is illegal. I've sought legal advice, again - confirmed my perspective.

What on earth do I do with these cones? We work 7 days a week in my household, and coming home after a long shift, moving cones to park my car is proving tiresome! It's not even the inconvenience, its the AUDACITY!

Am I being unreasonable? What would you suggest? What would you do with these cones? I want to put them in my boot and dump them 500 miles from my house. Any advice on this issue would be helpful.

OP posts:
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5
SplashCity · 03/02/2023 00:03

You could always say that the council took them as they were officially their property. Well, you did say they had their (false) stickers on them didn't you?

Mamanyt · 03/02/2023 00:02

Make an official complaint, and report her EVERY. SINGLE. TIME. she does this.

JJWT · 02/02/2023 23:31

Keep confiscating the cones and selling them on ebay until you have enough for the blinds... ? !

LorW · 02/02/2023 23:02

Nothing to add OP just want to praise for the great diagram 😁

Eleganz · 02/02/2023 23:01

Is there a time where you can park a vehicle and leave it there for a few days?

ButterCrackers · 02/02/2023 22:49

Just move the cones and park there. If she has a problem about that she can call the police.

WestBridgewater · 02/02/2023 22:36

GillianCarole · 02/02/2023 22:13

That's outrageous - so the council won't deal with this woman, and charge you to speak to them? Your council tax pays their wages! Your neighbour is a bully, I have similar problems with neighbours, who constantly park across my drive - not enough to block me in or out, but if I did the same to them they would throw a tantrum.

Whatever you do don’t say I Pay Your Wages, public sector workers pay council tax too and generally the person you’re speaking to is more than aware as you won’t be the first person to have used this highly unoriginal statement. I would get the email address for your local neighbourhood policing team and ask if they can send a PCSO to have a chat with your neighbour about the cones.

Toomuchtrouble4me · 02/02/2023 22:34

Summerfun54321 · 01/02/2023 21:49

Write a fake letter from the council saying she is being taken to court for impersonating council traffic management systems and obstructing fair and proper use of the highway. Make it look official and make sure no one can trace it back to you.

I LOVE THIS! 🤣🤣🤣

Toomuchtrouble4me · 02/02/2023 22:32

The only thing you can do is keep removing her cones. But why doesn’t she park in front of her house? Or she wants 2 spaces?

Solmum1964 · 02/02/2023 22:28

eastafricanomad · 01/02/2023 17:46

@Nightynightnight Can I be accused of theft if I remove objects obstructing a public highway? Grey area... I would consider it an act of service.

Could you use the fix my street app and report them as being fly tipped? This sends a report to your local council and they seem to act on it.

gonnabeok · 02/02/2023 22:25

Get the police to move them. They're obstructing a public highway.

Rosscameasdoody · 02/02/2023 22:14

dawngreen · 02/02/2023 22:00

You say she has mobility issues is she a wheelchair user?

Doesn’t sound like it - she’s moving cones around, leaving notes on cars and is frequently out harassing people. Why, is that important ?

GillianCarole · 02/02/2023 22:13

That's outrageous - so the council won't deal with this woman, and charge you to speak to them? Your council tax pays their wages! Your neighbour is a bully, I have similar problems with neighbours, who constantly park across my drive - not enough to block me in or out, but if I did the same to them they would throw a tantrum.

Whatafliberty · 02/02/2023 22:02

Take the cones to tip tip.

dawngreen · 02/02/2023 22:00

You say she has mobility issues is she a wheelchair user?

Nsky62 · 02/02/2023 21:59

Write to the council, don’t phone

celticprincess · 02/02/2023 21:47

There’s a woman near by child’s school who is like this. The back of her house/street has a small parking bay for about 5 cars. It’s a public highway type parking area. There are several of these around the streets by the school. They are obviously meant for the houses but aren’t allocated and no signage to suggest and no permits etc. I once parked there. The spaces are unmarked. I didn’t quite park at the end. This woman came back and parked her car so close to my drivers side that I had to climb through from passenger side to get in. It was deliberate. There were several spaces left so she wasn’t left unable to park but I’m guessing she likes this spot specifically at her back gate. As I was looking at the car and talking to another parent passing how ridiculous this parking was the woman was watching me out of her top bedroom window. She had obviously waited for me getting back. She started shouting abuse at me and sticking fingers up. I shouted back it’s a public highway and I’m entitled. I then emailed the school. The reason being is that we often get an email about parking considerately near the school as parents often block drive ways and neighbours complain. TBH I’ve never seen driveways blocked - mainly as there are no driveways on the roads!! They are all back gardens with gates out onto a path then the small parking areas. I’m guessing f this woman just constantly complains to the school when she doesn’t get her spot. I emailed the school and explained before we got another school reminder about inconsiderate parking.

Merrymouse · 02/02/2023 21:34

If they have local council signs on them I would return them to your nearest council office.

Rosscameasdoody · 02/02/2023 21:33

eastafricanomad · 02/02/2023 21:06

@Rosscameasdoody And this was my initial thoughts. I do really understand mental illness and sympathise dearly with anyone who suffers from it. However, where do we draw the line? If its support she needs, we could of been the best of friends! I have a great rapport with all my neighbours and always offer food, treats and gifts around festive seasons. I just can't justify her behaviour anymore...

It’s really sad isn’t it ? If you have an understanding and empathy for mental illness, you, and probably your other neighbours could have rallied round if she was having difficulty, but what can you do if someone refuses to be helped ?

Funfamilytimes · 02/02/2023 21:29

eastafricanomad · 01/02/2023 17:46

@Nightynightnight Can I be accused of theft if I remove objects obstructing a public highway? Grey area... I would consider it an act of service.

Hi.. it’s not a grey area… that’s theft. Especially if you’re reporting to police DO NOT engage and lower yourself. Ask for the local PCSO to go round. But I will say… parking disputes tend to be civil tbh so you’d have to spin it or milk the fact she’s harassing people.
If you steal/damage/move cones or whatever no matter how ridiculous it is… it gives her ammo against you.

Original poster
eastafricanomad · 02/02/2023 21:17

@linsey2581 I agree with you. I don't want this to become an issue with her being disabled, I think we alllllllll should sympathise with that. Its the behaviour I am struggling to justify.

OP posts:
Original poster
eastafricanomad · 02/02/2023 21:15

@MamaSharkDooDooDooDooDooDooo You are always welcome here! I'll make you the best cup of tea you've ever had! I'll throw in a biscuit if you can make it within 3-4 working days.

OP posts:
T1Dmama · 02/02/2023 21:13

Ask politely if you can use the space behind her house that she never uses.
If she says no get the council to send her a letter saying it’s illegal and keep reporting it. And just park there… if she leaves notes and shouts at you report her to the police for verbal abuse or whatever.
I hate people putting claim to the road outside their house like this.
People we used to live opposite ALWAYS complained about my brother and his mates parking outside our house because it was ‘opposite’ theirs…. People like this just wind others up and actually as teenagers we just parked there even more just to wind them up… even when there was space on the drive 😂

gardenflowergirl · 02/02/2023 21:12

Put the cones in your car boot. Drive miles away and donate them somewhere else.

Original poster
eastafricanomad · 02/02/2023 21:09

@LoisLane66 I wrote this post sat on my roof facing the North Pole. Of course I'm inside my house.

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