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Original poster

Neighbour constantly parking over my drive

18 replies

Grockle · 18/07/2012 20:11

Background: Victorian houses, some with gardens then pavement & road (like next door) & others with driveway, dropped curb (like mine) then road. Neighbour doesn't have a drive or dropped curb but goes ballistic if anyone dares park outside her house (threatening to slash tyres etc). I always tell my visitors to park anywhere else for the sake of keeping the peace.

She recently fell out with me (I had scaffolding up for a week & it blocked her sky dish which is right by my front door - I did remove buts of scaffolding which I thought might be blocking signal but apparently it didn't help & she bollocked me repeatedly & hasn't spoken to me since). TBH, I don't care. I have very poor health atm and various other issues that put life into perspective. BUT neighbour is now parking accross my dropped curb & driveway everyday, even when there are plenty of other places to park on the street. So I'm fairly sure they are doing it deliberately to bother me. SOmedays they block it completely so I can't get off but mpost of the time it's done so I can manoevre the car enough to get out, albeit awkwardly. I have mobiloty problems which make this hard for me. I've ignored it so far but it's becoming more and more of a problem & is bothering me (physically when I try to get off the drive)

So, what do I do? DO I have any rights? I really don't want to have an argument over parking but I want to be able to leave my house without a hassle. Any suggestions?

OP posts:
TheSkiingGardener · 18/07/2012 20:14

Get in touch with your community police office or PCSO. I think they can tow her if she blocks you on her drive or they could have a word for harrassment.

TheSkiingGardener · 18/07/2012 20:15

*On your drive, obviously.

Original poster
Grockle · 18/07/2012 20:17

Thank you - I think that's what this is - harassment. I'm not terribly bothered about where they park & if it were occasional, it'd be fine but I feel very uncomfortable and sad that they are clearly doing this to upset me. It's all a bit passive-aggressive.

I will look up community police officer. No idea how but will google,

Thank you.

OP posts:
TheSkiingGardener · 18/07/2012 20:50

Hope you get it sorted, sounds like a complete pain in the backside.

Original poster
Grockle · 18/07/2012 21:47

Me too - I think she's just waiting for a fight & I'm not interested. I've seen her block my drive then pull the net curtains aside upstairs so she can watch me try to get out.

I have emailed my local community officers team to ask what, if anything, I can do. Thanks for your help

OP posts:
savoycabbage · 18/07/2012 21:56

How awful and it is worse that they are doing it on purpose. We had a huge problem with our neighbours a few years ago and this is how it started. In our case, the police told us you are allowed to block a drive. Sad

What Iearned from the whole terrible experience is that you can't reason with people who think like this. And you can't win, because they are unhinged and you are not.

I would talk to the police as they might be really helpful. And I would park on the street sometimes (not in front of her house) to see if she gets over it. I would also seriously think about moving.

Original poster
Grockle · 18/07/2012 22:06

Oh no Savoy, thats awful. I swore this would be our 'forever' home, I don't want to move! But the first thing my other neighbours did when I moved in was warn me about crazy psycho neighbour with parking issues! I've always stayed on the right side of her - our DC are same age & play together. I look after her kids when her DH walks out yet again & she needs to go to the shop for cigarettes while her kids are in the bath Hmm

I don't want problems, I just want to be able to get off my drive! Will see what the police say but I suspect that there will be nothing they can do. So I'll make a point of appearing not bothered about it. That'll annoy her more than anything. DP said if she does it again, he'll let her tyres down Grin

OP posts:
Original poster
Grockle · 19/07/2012 20:10

Little update:

I texted neighbour last night to ask that they not obstruct my drive; that I don't park in front of their house because I know it bothers them and when they block me in, it makes it hard for me because of mobility problems. They didnt respond but haven't blocked it today.

Police officer has responded to my email, saying it is an offence to obstruct a driveway if it has a dropped kerb and applies when a car is on the drive and you need to go out. A Police officer can issue a ticket for this offence but would need to attend to view where the car is parked and if appropriate issue a ticket.

If this occurs please ring 101 and ask for an officer to attend.

He also asked if there is a reason why they may be targeting me particularly?

Thinking about it now, they only do it when DP isn't here.

OP posts:
OlymPicture · 19/07/2012 20:17

Shock that's even worse that they do it when DP isn't around - when you are more likely to need to be able to get out in the car. What nasty people they are

Original poster
Grockle · 19/07/2012 20:24

Yep, they are unhinged Grin

They have a stash of police cones that they put in front of their house when they go out so no-one else will park there. DP said I should steal them, put them outside my house then park in front of next door. Much as I'd love to see the look on her face, I really can't be bothered to antagonise her. I just want a quiet life.

OP posts:
savoycabbage · 19/07/2012 22:23

That's good that the police can give her a ticket. I would concentrate on trying to get that to happen as it might give them a fright and it's something that could happen independent to you if you see what I mean.

They probably aren't legally allowed to put cones on the road either!

In our situation, my dh decided that we should never retaliate. He is calm and reasoned, unlike me. I wanted to pour paint stripper on their car.

As our neighbours escalated things, I could see dh was right. For one thing they had nothing to say to the police. Well, only the stuff they made up!

mercibucket · 19/07/2012 22:31

Def get the police onside if you think it is harassment,sooner you nip it in the bud the better

mercibucket · 19/07/2012 22:31

Def get the police onside if you think it is harassment,sooner you nip it in the bud the better

Original poster
Grockle · 20/07/2012 13:33

Savoy, I know not retaliating is the most sensible thing and for months I've disapproved of all of DP's revenge threats but I've been very tempted to park in 'her' space just to piss her off. I know it won't help so I've not done it & have done my best to appear calm & not bothered. I am quite sure they shouldn't have the police cones out either. They say 'Hampshire Police' on them and we don't even live in Hampshire!

Thanks Merci - I feel reassured now. I think it'll be ok. I hope!

OP posts:
Original poster
Grockle · 20/07/2012 14:29

Ooo, another update - I replied to the police last night, explaining a bit of background and apologising for bothering them with something so trivial. They've just responded, saying 'behaviour like this affects people?s quality of life so we do not view it as trivial, if it continues do get back in touch with us'

I don't know why but I'm really surprised and touched that they are taking this seriously. Hopefully I won't need to contact them again but it's nice to know they are onside if I do.

OP posts:
savoycabbage · 20/07/2012 14:32

Good, they were utterly hopeless with us.

digerd · 07/09/2012 18:39

My neighbour 4 doors down did have the police round twice as his driveway was blocked, but think he could not get IN each time

ThunderboltKid · 07/09/2012 21:59

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