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Is there any way to check if a house has right of access onto a road? New house keeps putting 'poilite' notice on any cars that park on the street near their door and we are all getting fed up!

115 replies

Sheepareawesome · 06/10/2020 18:21

It's kind of a parking one, although I am one of the parkers in this scenario!

Our village has very limited on-road parking. Our street has parking on one side only as it's not wide enough for both. Recently, as in about a year or 2 ago, a new house was built on the end of the road in an area where there was previously public amenities with no vehicle access from the street and a low wall the whole length of the side on the road. As in, there was parking along the whole side of the plot on the street along the wall.

The new house was built with a side entrance from the pavement, a front gate with parking inside the plot which has dropped kerb access, and has a front door which opens directly onto a small area running alongside the house beside the street with a low wall. The builders have put in an opening in this wall by the door, so you can walk straight in the door off the street however there is no pavement and it is historically a part of the street that is allocated to parking.

Since the house was occupied, every time someone parks there, in front of the front door but - importantly - NOT blocking their access to the door, or their side entrance, or their gate wide enough to drive their car it, the owners have been leaving a note on the cars. Every. flipping. time. It is titled 'polite note' and says please don't block the door.

The rest of us in the street think they are ridiculous, since a) the car doesn't block access to their door as you can't park too close to the wall anyway, otherwise the doors wouldn't open b) the road is designated as parking so - gasp - cars park there and c) they have 2 other accesses anyway.

They have become a bit of a joke tbh and today I lost the plot when I found another note on my car - some of the neighbours were opposite shaking their heads saying what are the homeowners playing at there is plenty of room etc etc. I had parked quite a way back, maybe with the nose only over a few inches of the gap in the all and in no way blocking any access - they could fit an elephant through the gap! I ripped up the note and threw it at their front door (not my finest moment I admit) but I am so fed up after more than a year of them thinking they have the right to stop cars parking on the street. I know the builder who did the house by reputation and I very much doubt they bothered to get the proper permission to grant pedestrian access from the side of the road and there is no kerb, dropped kerb etc that we are blocking. Surely you can't just decide to knock a hole in a wall alongside a road and then claim no parking?!

Does anyone know if there is any way of checking this? There are no 'proper' signs to say not to park there, and even when cars do they are not blocking the access anyway which is the weird bit?! Would it be in the planning on the local council? Or would it be the highways agency?

If they are in the right, then I will of course refrain from parking there although that would be a major pain in the arse.

And no I have no diagram although I might try and work something up after dinner if you're nice to me GrinWink.

OP posts:
WildRosie · 06/10/2020 18:24

Land Registry might be worth a look, providing it details rights of way, access and egress.

TrickyD · 06/10/2020 18:26

They sound nuts.
You sound sane.
Is that nice enough to get a diagram?

Crankley · 06/10/2020 18:33

I wonder whether the Council would know? If not perhaps contact the builder? If all else fails maybe put a note signed by you and neighbours saying that you have always parked there and unless they can provide proof of ownership of that part of the road, will continue to do so.

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OnCandyStripeLegs · 06/10/2020 18:34

Does your council have a planning portal online where you can look at the planning permission granted?

Sheepareawesome · 06/10/2020 18:36

Will try and attach a pic. You will see I failed art at school... Grin

Is there any way to check if a house has right of access onto a road?  New house keeps putting 'poilite' notice on any cars that park on the street near their door and we are all getting fed up!
OP posts:
Josvie · 06/10/2020 18:38

I think a conversation with them (when you're feeling calm!) could be a good starting point, and yes, as PP said, explaining that unless they own the land and can prove it, it will be used for parking. Maybe use it as a good way to introduce yourself and make acquaintances?

ChickensMightFly · 06/10/2020 18:41

The new occupiers Abu... Maybe a polite letter through the door explaining how we can all be friends if everyone's needs are respected

Bikingbear · 06/10/2020 18:41

I'd take it up with the local council. I'm sure that this must have been discussed during the planning process.

sunshinesupermum · 06/10/2020 18:41

They are being ridiclous CFs. It's a public road and no-one is blocking them. But yes suggest you do what Josvie suggests.

Didiusfalco · 06/10/2020 18:41

You’re not blocking their access so they can jog on. The reality is that even if you were there’s very little that would done about it. I would start posting there nite back though their door...possibly with my own little note added at the bottom!

Bargebill19 · 06/10/2020 18:41

As far as I know, you can’t block a dropped kerb. But that’s it. If I understand correctly from you pic and explanation - no one is doing that.

Muchtoomuchtodo · 06/10/2020 18:42

From that rather lovely diagram I would carry on parking there and collect the notes to shove back through their door in one go all saying , ‘I’m not!’

TimeIhadaNameChange · 06/10/2020 18:44

No idea, but I wonder if its the same builder who converted the barn next to us? Unfortunately for him the only land he owned for parking on (all land here belonging to the houses here) was directly in front of the building. He decided to put decking one end and French windows the other, so the only parking space is now right up by the French window, and this blocks the view (v nice view).

He failed to mention this to the guy who bought it off him, who kept parking in our spot opposite his house, and who then moaned about our second car being parked next to his house as he could use that area instead. No prizes for guessing who actually owns that! He finally got the message (after much discussion then a full-blown row).

Itwasaquarterpast11 · 06/10/2020 18:45

No idea, but I love the fact you included your ripped up note on the diagram. Star

movingonup20 · 06/10/2020 18:46

Owners are being unreasonable but to be honest it's probably a case of cars getting in the way of easy access. I struggle to get onto my drive if someone is parked opposite, they are at liberty to do so but means I have a 7+ point turn manoeuvre very annoying.

RandomMess · 06/10/2020 18:47

My only question would be how easily could the get a pushchair or wheelchair through that entrance when a car is parked in front of it?

We had residents parking like this and if the car parked too close to our gate it was sometimes impossible or very difficult to get the pushchair out, the neighbour couldn't get mobility scooter out abs once my wheelie bin was literally blocking their passenger door because I couldn't turn it...

Namechangedforthisoct2 · 06/10/2020 18:47

From your explanation and pic - no, they’re being bat shit. They do not get to say who can and can’t park on the road!
I had a neighbour like this, he actually went out a shoved a delivery driver one day for daring to park his lorry (unloading building materials so only temporarily too!) on the main road outside the house! Twat Hmm

Auto · 06/10/2020 18:48

Send them a 'polite' notice of your own.

Chloemol · 06/10/2020 19:03

Look on the council planning portal and view the plans that should tell you

Or get in touch with your councils Highways dept and ask them

Sheepareawesome · 06/10/2020 19:47

Thanks all! I managed to find some things on the local council planning site. It looks like the only access changes are to the front, where they have a dropped kerb and parking within the walled gated area and where nobody parks.

In fact, the diagrams look pretty clear that they were supposed to rebuild the existing low stone wall with another one, reusing the same stones, for the length of the plot (We are in a conservation area). There is no mention of a gap for pedestrian access at all! Although oddly there is a front door there which is a bit of a weird layout, but there you go.

I think I will send a note (cowardly by typing and posting as I am a wimp and normally just stick to passive aggressive note-ripping then running away.....)

I will head it 'polite notice' of course! And mention that I have seen they have repeatedly requested access yet when I check the planning application it shows a solid wall and no access rights. I might even direct them to the council website and suggest that since there is a gap in the wall, they have obviously altered the planning from the latest approved plans so they might want to update the council! Grin Just for some extra Passive-Aggressive brownie points of course GrinGrin

I thought it was odd they were still writing Polite on the top of their notes - guess it was to stop people being so pissed off they actually checked!

Well, this has been a most satisfactory evening's work. Thanks all!

OP posts:
Chipsahoy · 06/10/2020 19:52

You have to pay it’s part of a local search however you can contact highways and they may give you the information into the freedom of information act.

ComicePear · 06/10/2020 20:00

They're hoping you all get bored of the notes and stop parking there. Just carry on parking and they'll eventually get sick of writing them!

MrsMigginsMate · 06/10/2020 20:01

I'd just report the planning breach to the council, let them investigate and sort it out for you. I think complaints can be made anonymously for things like that, it's just a tip off to get the planning officers out to have a look.

Minaun · 06/10/2020 20:07

Well, this has been a most satisfactory evening's work.

Excellent outcome! Was just going to direct you to check out the planning portal for the submission documents!

Throw in a passive agressive 'we wouldn't want to go down the route of enforcement action' for good measure. They haven't a leg to stand on OP.

HyacynthBucket · 06/10/2020 20:12

Probably depends on whether the road where cars park is designated highway, or a private road, perhaps with shared access.
Contact your council's highways department and find out if it is a highway (Queens highway). If so, anyone can park on it unless it is illegal to park there for other reasons, such as yellow lines.

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