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AIBU?

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Original poster

AIBU to park like this?!

38 replies

mynamechangemyrules · 14/06/2024 19:28

And is it even legal/ doable...

So I live in a cul-de-sac and most houses have converted their front gardens into parking spaces. Most can fit 2 cars except the turning circle houses.

My house and the one I'm semi detached to have kept our front gardens. As have a few near the end of the road.

So there are 3 little stretches where people can park.

People who have driveways park on there all the time as they have lots of cars each. My immediate opposite neighbour has 5 (!!!) cars for her 3 bed semi (she's lovely but has 2 adult kids moved back in with their partners..)

So- I want to get a dropped kerb- but not turn my garden into a concrete slab. Can I get a dropped kerb, but still park on the kerb myself (block my imaginary parking space in?!)
If I don't make the garden into a car park space can I do this to 'reserve' the space out the front of my house?!

Pathetic, petty whatev I know 🤪😂 but I have 3 small kids and just some days get fucked off parking miles away- but also don't want to concrete over my lovely rose bushes and California poppies 😫

AIBU to get a dropped kerb without a parking space behind it?

OP posts:
Original poster
mynamechangemyrules · 14/06/2024 19:44

EmeraldsAreForever · 14/06/2024 19:43

As a wheelchair user, I don't care whether you own it or not, anyone who parks over a dropped kerb is a stupid and selfish twat. The other day I had to wheel myself in the actual road for ages before I could cross over to my house. Dangerous as well as exhausting.

But hey, you being able to "reserve" the front of your house and keeping your roses and poppies, are more important than people in wheelchairs being able to cross the road.

I’m sorry that people park badly and block your access, that is awful.

There’s no dropped kerb there now though with mine, I mean I would be adding one for parking purposes, not a crossing dropped kerb which I am blocking.

OP posts:
Happyher · 14/06/2024 19:43

EatCrow · 14/06/2024 19:37

That’s good to know. Does it matter if there is nothing other than grass around and in between the two lines of flags, do you know please?

Show quote history

It would probably depend on individual councils. Their website might contain info. It was the contractor who did the work that told me what my options were - there was a list of approved contractors that you could use that would work to council regs. You can do the work yourself but it has to conform to regs

Original poster
mynamechangemyrules · 14/06/2024 19:43

Like this?

AIBU to park like this?!
OP posts:
EmeraldsAreForever · 14/06/2024 19:43

As a wheelchair user, I don't care whether you own it or not, anyone who parks over a dropped kerb is a stupid and selfish twat. The other day I had to wheel myself in the actual road for ages before I could cross over to my house. Dangerous as well as exhausting.

But hey, you being able to "reserve" the front of your house and keeping your roses and poppies, are more important than people in wheelchairs being able to cross the road.

Original poster
mynamechangemyrules · 14/06/2024 19:41

Thanks for the answers. It does seem I'd have to do something solid/ permanent then, the council here doesn't make it clear.

It seems counterintuitive to get flags down before getting permission..?!

Anyway, I've wondered about just putting some small block paving in two rows amongst the grass. Would that be enough do you think?

OP posts:
EatCrow · 14/06/2024 19:37

Happyher · 14/06/2024 19:35

I had to have a hardstanding before the Council (Sheffield) would give permission for a dropped kerb. Pebbles and pea shingle not acceptable so I had a flagged area. 2 strips of flags should be sufficient. Otherwise cars could trail mud and stones onto the road

That’s good to know. Does it matter if there is nothing other than grass around and in between the two lines of flags, do you know please?

ButWhatAboutTheBees · 14/06/2024 19:36

You can't block a dropped kerb

You also don't have to concrete over. Gravel is a much better option as it allows drainage. Leave a flower bed down the side.

If you want to park close by you're going to have to suck it up

PuttingDownRoots · 14/06/2024 19:35

Its illegal to block someone on their drive (i.e block access to the highway) but not to prevent them accessing their drive. (Even not it is inconsiderate parking)

No drive = nothing to block.

Happyher · 14/06/2024 19:35

I had to have a hardstanding before the Council (Sheffield) would give permission for a dropped kerb. Pebbles and pea shingle not acceptable so I had a flagged area. 2 strips of flags should be sufficient. Otherwise cars could trail mud and stones onto the road

HunterHearstHelmsley · 14/06/2024 19:34

In my council, they won't fit the dropped kerb until you've converted your garden. I've got permission to extend my dropped kerb but having to save to get the work done (as well as the council fee).

Fuddlefiend · 14/06/2024 19:32

No you can't. You either need to drop the kerb and park on your drive (once you've got one) or suck it up although its really annoying when neighbours have that many cars. You don't have to turn your garden into a concrete slab, there's several other options but If you drop the kerb with nowhere to go you'll probably find that once you set the precedent of parking over it they'll do the same anyway.

DeltaAlphaDelta79 · 14/06/2024 19:32

In our council they say that if you give permission, you can allow a visitor to park across your dropped kerb (we had one installed last year, and it was written in the paperwork) but they never enforce people who you don't want parking across them.

So where I live you would get away with it, but if there is no car on the drive/garden in front of your house then anyone can park across it anyway.

Unless you are going to use your front garden to park in, it seems like a waste of money to me.

Allfur · 14/06/2024 19:31

Fucking hell, 5 cars is taking the piss