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Original poster

It’s a parking one…

238 replies

MegsLevante · 27/03/2023 06:01

Builders have blocked off 6 free parking areas on our road with bollards. This is a public road and those spaces are used by the residents because not everyone has a drive.

There has been a derelict house on the road for ages. One of the parking spaces is in front of this house but the other 5 aren’t. The house has been sold recently (no idea who to) and they have builders in. These builders have put bollards (last week) and now traffic lights on to block off these spaces.

They have also left these bollards and traffic lights in place over the weekend when they aren’t doing any work.

Are they allowed to do this on a public road? If they’ve got traffic lights, have they got the council involved, or can anyone put up traffic lights? Who do we complain to?

OP posts:
SirChenjins · 27/03/2023 13:00

Doing building work? Fine, the house will look better after it’s finished. .

Blocking parking spaces with cones on a public highway to reserve your spot - not fine.

I’d move the cones to the skip.

Seeline · 27/03/2023 13:01

Just move the cones and park there!

Also, the new owners might not end up living there - property developers or landlords? So don't assume the new eventual occupiers have anything to do with this.

Original poster
MegsLevante · 27/03/2023 13:01

Once Cadent have finished their approved works, we will be moving all the builders cones into the garden of the house in question. Once we’ve photographed them and reported them to the authorities.

OP posts:

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

Driving & parking
Hiddenvoice · 27/03/2023 13:02

Do the residents have access to parking elsewhere? Sorry if I’ve missed this in the thread. If this is sole parking then I’d be speaking politely about getting them moved but if they have access to park elsewhere then I wouldn’t be making a big deal about it.

QuertyGirl · 27/03/2023 13:02

Seeline · 27/03/2023 13:01

Just move the cones and park there!

Also, the new owners might not end up living there - property developers or landlords? So don't assume the new eventual occupiers have anything to do with this.

Do that and they'll leave a van there over the weekend

BungleandGeorge · 27/03/2023 13:04

Spaces are often blocked off for a while before works start to make sure that nobody parks there. If left to the last minute and there’s a car there what are they meant to do? If it does continue with builder I’d just move the bollards and park there. It’s the builders you have issue with not the new property owner

SirChenjins · 27/03/2023 13:05

QuertyGirl · 27/03/2023 12:58

@SirChenjins

So, it's the use of cones?

So the builders should leave vehicles in the spaces instead?

Have to admit I've been on sites where we've done exactly that.

Nobody has a right to park in a street just because they live there.

If they want to leave their vans round the clock on a public highway then great - they’re entitled to do that (unless there’s parking restrictions obviously). Can’t imagine why they’d want to do that though - leaving expensive tools in a van is risky, and they’d then have to commute to the site some other way - but what they’re not entitled to do is block off spaces with cones for their sole use.

Point to where I said someone had a right to park in the street they live in?

WeAreTheHeroes · 27/03/2023 13:05

If I were you OP, I'd stack the cones up neatly once the builders have left and put them on the path/step of the house they're working on. If they want to reserve space on the street for their vans they need to go about it properly via the Council. I wouldn't have thought the Council would give them a permit reserving spaces 24/7 though.

Cakeorchocolate · 27/03/2023 13:06

Where would you like the builders to park?

If they parked further away they would be coming down the street blocking the road temporarily while loading and unloading frequently one would think. Surely that would be more of an inconvenience than them using the bays.

Although it's a nuisance you seem to be completely overreacting about it.

Have you got other things going on right now and this is just one thing too many?

Callmenat · 27/03/2023 13:07

Hole-gate. Whatever next, do keep us posted on this important issue. Not sure I'm gonna be able to sleep tonight now.

Jadeybabez · 27/03/2023 13:08

Wait you want to begrudge someone having safe Gas to their home because it disrupts your life and you neighbours life for a few weeks. Are you having a laugh???! You sound like a nightmare neighbour!!! The new home owner has ZERO control over where the gas company parks and blocks the road. Absolutely nothing the owners can do. Maybe instead of moaning on here you grow a pair and go speak to the workmen? It's probably more likely it's local gas safety works but even of it is the new owners, what exactly do you want them to do? Not have gas going into their home?🤬

Leftbutcameback · 27/03/2023 13:09

There’s no guarantee the new owners will be involved with the community or intending to move it. It could easily be being renovated as a project and then sold on straight away or rented. On that basis I would communicate with the builders as a first port of call. Obviously if the owners do come on the scene it would be good to speak to them but don’t assume they’ll be living there.

Seeline · 27/03/2023 13:09

QuertyGirl · 27/03/2023 13:02

Do that and they'll leave a van there over the weekend

Show quote history

No one leaves work vans like that round my way - they'd come back Monday morning to find all tools etc gone!

QuertyGirl · 27/03/2023 13:10

@SirChenjins

That's exactly what will probably happen here.

Open, flatbed trucks are useful for this. It's obvious that there's no tools.

You then have the builders personal cars parking on the street to, for the commute.

This is really, really not worth it

Original poster
MegsLevante · 27/03/2023 13:10

Jadeybabez · 27/03/2023 13:08

Wait you want to begrudge someone having safe Gas to their home because it disrupts your life and you neighbours life for a few weeks. Are you having a laugh???! You sound like a nightmare neighbour!!! The new home owner has ZERO control over where the gas company parks and blocks the road. Absolutely nothing the owners can do. Maybe instead of moaning on here you grow a pair and go speak to the workmen? It's probably more likely it's local gas safety works but even of it is the new owners, what exactly do you want them to do? Not have gas going into their home?🤬

Are you mixing up the short term work Cadent (who have applied to the council for a permit) are doing with the longer term work the builders are doing?

OP posts:
Nolongera · 27/03/2023 13:10

MegsLevante · 27/03/2023 13:01

Once Cadent have finished their approved works, we will be moving all the builders cones into the garden of the house in question. Once we’ve photographed them and reported them to the authorities.

Report them to the authorities?!

Aye, go on, give them all a laugh at your expense.

HoppingPavlova · 27/03/2023 13:14

Once Cadent have finished their approved works, we will be moving all the builders cones into the garden of the house in question. Once we’ve photographed them and reported them to the authorities.

Christ on a bike, how much time do you have on your hands? Just move the fucking builders cones and be done with it and problem solved. Why are you photographing and reporting and being so very dramatic when you don’t have to be.

SirChenjins · 27/03/2023 13:15

QuertyGirl · 27/03/2023 13:10

@SirChenjins

That's exactly what will probably happen here.

Open, flatbed trucks are useful for this. It's obvious that there's no tools.

You then have the builders personal cars parking on the street to, for the commute.

This is really, really not worth it

Great - in which case they’re parking legally. Blocking the public highway with cones isn’t legal, so better they don’t do that. If they want to go to the bother of moving their own cars to a street which might be many miles from home then crack on. I doubt they will.

WeAreTheHeroes · 27/03/2023 13:16

There are a lot of people on this thread who seem to be missing the point and giving the OP a hard time.

OP you can check online on the gov.uk land registry pages who owns the house and contact them - try to head off more disruption. If I were the owner I'd contact the neighbours and I'd expect my contractors to respect them by not blocking parking spaces overnight.

Communication is key with this kind of thing and a bit of consideration for the neighbours will engender goodwill. The way they've operated so far has got people's backs up instead.

beAsensible1 · 27/03/2023 13:21

MegsLevante · 27/03/2023 12:45

They aren’t open for everyone to park on when the builders have put down traffic cones to stop anyone else parking there though are they?

Show quote history

why do you need to "report them" why can not have a conversation with the and everyone try to brazy reasonable rather than resorting to things which mean people can lose their jobs or incur large fines etc.

its all so hostile and the starting point being so drastic.
it would make more sense to try talking and coming to reasonable agreement about times and parking.

then if thats doesnt work, move the cones and park there still trying to be considerate of their need for access.

Everyone is afraid of having a normal in-person conversation but is all billy big bollocks in a WhatsApp group. Such a bizarre approach to human interaction.

daimtheman · 27/03/2023 13:24

At this point @MegsLevante it doesn't sound like you've made any attempt at all to speak to either the new owners or the trades people. You've already said you think the owners will have a shitty attitude so you've given them no chance to explain/resolve and to build a relationship.

Go and talk to them, or get one of the calmer neighbours to do it if you'll lose your temper like you have here!

Get to know them, exchange numbers and sort it amicably.

This is honestly bonkers.

Original poster
MegsLevante · 27/03/2023 13:28

Nolongera · 27/03/2023 13:10

Report them to the authorities?!

Aye, go on, give them all a laugh at your expense.

Show quote history

One of my neighbours has spoken to the council this morning. The council have informed him that it is illegal to place a traffic cone on a public highway unless you have permission under section 8. The council have confirmed that Cadent have permission for the gas works until 28th March and at this stage haven’t applied for an extension.

The council have also confirmed that the owner of the property have permission to erect scaffolding as long as they don’t cause an incursion on to the public carriageway.

OP posts:
SirChenjins · 27/03/2023 13:46

That’s good the Council were able to confirm these point - at least you know where you stand. Hopefully the builders are aware too.

Original poster
MegsLevante · 27/03/2023 13:54

SirChenjins · 27/03/2023 13:46

That’s good the Council were able to confirm these point - at least you know where you stand. Hopefully the builders are aware too.

I never knew it was illegal to place a single traffic cone on a public highway without permission - as I’ve seen people do that to stop people parking outside their houses (not that my neighbours do that, parking has always been managed amicably until now).

And this isn’t just one cone, it’s several.

OP posts:
SirChenjins · 27/03/2023 13:57

Yes it’s illegal - and it’s the subject of many other parking threads on here where posters complain about the neighbours blocking spaces with cones - and everyone always sides with the poster!