Disabled parking angst

If he has his own drive no way would the council mark up a space on his request.

Aunt did contact the council a while back about a space but didn't hear anything back from them. When the space was put in she thought it was for her but the neighbour says it was his request.

It was possibly her request then - we didn't hear anything from our local council when we requested a bay, it just appeared three months later outside of our house (and was painted whilst we were all in bed with flu!) The neighbour might still be waiting for a decision, or could even have been declined (but doesn't want to admit this). To be honest, he has a dropped kerb - the most our council would offer him is an H-Bar across that drive, not an additional bay. For peace of mind, it might be worth Aunt calling to the council to enquire whose request it was!

What happens to the third person with a blue badge, and the fourth ? Do the council just keep creating disabled bays ? Our area has a high number of blue badge owners and it's just not realistic to expect the council to provide parking bays for every disabled person.

Just seen your update that she did contact the council - can she apply formally again or check the outcome of her initial application as that should say whether it's her bay or his!

We applied for a disabled bay for my son, and although anyone with a blue badge can legally use it, it's still frustrating when they do (and even more so when CFs without blue badges park there) so I can definitely sympathise with the man. If your aunt needed a bay that much she should have applied for it in the first place.

Even though you've already spoken to the council I'd still try applying for another bay - surely you can explain on the application form why it's needed.

The council could end this issue tomorrow by installing a second disabled space. I find their position bizarre.

That said, regardless of the technical rights and wrongs regarding ownership of the space, my sympathies are with the bloke who actually went to the bother of putting in a request for the space, not your aunt.

Also not all disabilities are equal.

You say your aunt gets 'tired' when carrying her shopping a few doors down.

I'm guessing the council don't run around installing parking spaces on a whim- I'm guessing his disability is significant enough that he was able to make a case that he had genuine need for the park - likely more than trying to avoid being tired carrying shopping.

Does your aunt only park there when she has shopping to offload or is she parking there as a matter of course?

Technically your aunt is right, but she's being a cheeky fucker, since she didn't hassle the council to get the space in the first place, the neighbour did and now he can't use it. If I was him I'd be pissed off too.

This.

Your aunt is being a cheeky fucker.

If she needed a space she should have applied to the council for one. How did she manage before?

I feel bad for her neighbour who put the work in because he needed one (it was likely a huge PITA and then a wait for him), finally was approved and received it only to have his cheeky neighbour saunter in and deprive him of the use of it.

Legally anyone can park there but I think morally your aunt is in the wrong. He was the one who requested the space.

I think you need to speak with him and point out that it’s not specifically “his” space, he may not realise this.

Technically your aunt is right, but she's being a cheeky fucker, since she didn't hassle the council to get the space in the first place, the neighbour did and now he can't use it. If I was him I'd be pissed off too.

Anyone can’t park in a disabled space - with white markings
its a courtesy bay as such and not just for blue badge holders

if another blue badge holder parks in the bay it’s perfectly legal to do as well

most able bodied people don’t park in disabled bays because they aren’t assholes

If your aunt gets in touch with the council they may put one in for her as well
my late parents had a space and so did his immediate neighbours

It is shared but like a few others I do feel sympathy for him if he has been asking for the space and now can't use it. It must be really frustrating. I imagine he hasn't understood that it wouldn't be just for his use. I agree with posting a copy of the council response through his door. It might not stop him but at least you will have made him aware of the situation if he wasn't already. If he continues to be abusive then report to the council or police.

Although your aunt isn't doing anything wrong legally, I can see he is very upset about it. He requested the space and she was obviously managing before because she didn't ask. I'd be cross too though I wouldn't say anything.

If she didn't use it, the number of available spaces near to her house is reduced so, if i were her, I would use it to unpack shopping etc then move it.

He applied for a space directly outside his house, met the strict criteria for needing it and now has one that he can’t use.

Thing is, I don't think he does. I think he would have been refused on the grounds that he has a dropped kerb and a driveway.

The Council would probably mark up the road next to his dropped kerb with a white line though, if he requested it.

So your Aunt obviously wasn’t struggling so much that she could be bothered to request a disabled spot for herself, but she’s taking the neighbour’s spot who obviously was struggling enough to put time and effort in to get the council to do it.

That is awful and you and your Aunt sound like the worst kind of cfers.

Now you’re wondering why neighbour is pissed off and want to get the police onto him???

Tell your Aunt to park elsewhere!

@OldTinHat thats shocking you should get on the phone to citizens advice

His behaviour is wrong but I do have sympathy for him. He applied for a space directly outside his house, met the strict criteria for needing it and now has one that he can’t use. The space being (legally) used by another car means it’s now further for him to travel to and from his house.

We faced similar before we moved house and decided not to proceed as there was no guarantee I’d be able to access it (we were near several businesses and had elderly neighbours).

The space is rite at his dropped kerb for his convenience, he requested this space , I know legally all blue badge holders can use it ( as a blue badge holder myself) but morally you wouldn’t park in a space outside somebody’s home that they have asked for to make there life easier it’s just ignorant and I’d be livid too. His behaviours not ok at all but I can see why he’s got to that point . It’s very obviously his space your aunt needs to make the effort herself with the council , go to her local mp if council aren’t helpful etc

From the diagram, the neighbour has a dropped kerb and off road parking so why would he need an allocated space on the road? And indeed the local authority will not create a disabled parking spot for someone with off road parking. As life isn't a game of differently abled Top Trumps, anyone with a Blue Badge can use the space as described, ignore the notes but keep to evidence a possible claim of harassment

They will have to share it. I would send him a copy of the council's response and then leave it.

Can you ask the council to confirm by e-mail and post a copy through his door.