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Original poster

Charity using our street to park their Luton vans.

93 replies

Lutonvan · 18/08/2023 15:30

Sorry for the long post -

A well known charity has been using our street to park 2-3 large Luton vans for about a year. Initially this wasn't a problem as noone wanted to complain about it but I live in a large town with dreadful parking. Our street has about 80 houses and extremely limited parking, we are also the only non permit holding street left in our area.

We have basically no space for cars to park before 9ish and after 5pm, ever (unless you have a driveway). Residents have resorted to parking on grass when this happens. They will drive here in individual cars around 9.30am when there's spots available then load into the vans together and arrive back shortly before the 5pm rush and drive home.

They live nowhere near here (a neighbour said they live the other side of town) but have chosen our street as their designated parking area. They wear full uniform for this charity and they deliver/collect furniture. There's about 4/5 people who do this.

They leave their rubbish on the road, park overhanging people's driveways, park in blind spots and on corners, park opposite driveways and block other people's cars in trying to squeeze in front of the double yellows. Once they parked over our driveway and I asked if they could move it back a little and they got very confrontational with me and refused.

Last year the vans remained unmoved all over Christmas and New year's stopping any actual residents parking there for about 2 weeks. Many reported them as abandoned.

I don't know what to do, I mean, yes it's legal for anyone to park there, that's the reason we have all left it so long but can corporate businesses/charities actually do that? Is there anything we can do? Or do we just leave it.

OP posts:
Whataretheodds · 18/08/2023 15:31

Sounds as though there's plenty to complain to the charity about besides the parking so I'd start there.

Original poster
Lutonvan · 18/08/2023 15:31

Also just to add, the charity shop is miles away from here...

OP posts:
LlynTegid · 18/08/2023 15:32

I think you have effectively granted permission by not objecting for about a year.

Cannot see the Charities commission would be interested.

HelloSquire · 18/08/2023 15:33

I'd take photos of their shitty parking to their HO everytime
Not illegal to park in your road but it would bloody annoy me

AllBlackEverything · 18/08/2023 15:34

Take photos of anything like littering and poor parking, send an email or tweet the company every time including the photo and highlighting the issue. Also consider approaching the council and make your case for making your road permit parking only.

Clymene · 18/08/2023 15:34

They leave their rubbish on the road, park overhanging people's driveways, park in blind spots and on corners, park opposite driveways and block other people's cars in trying to squeeze in front of the double yellows. Once they parked over our driveway and I asked if they could move it back a little and they got very confrontational with me and refused.

Have you complained to the charity?

Original poster
Lutonvan · 18/08/2023 15:35

We didn't actually know who's vans they were for a long time. Because it's not actually printed on the vans, we only know due to the uniform they have been wearing. I could always see they wore red but you never see them up close so it's only the past few months we've realised exactly where they work

OP posts:
Peony654 · 18/08/2023 15:36

You can't really complain about them parking on an unpermitted road, but definitely photograph the litter, blocking driveways etc and report to the charity.

Crossinsomekindaline · 18/08/2023 15:37

If I parked my vans on a certain street, but things kept happening like potatoes up the exhaust, windscreen wipers removed, etc. I'd probably think about relocating the fleet.

Original poster
Lutonvan · 18/08/2023 15:37

Thanks everyone. I'm on maternity leave and I've been noticing it more than I usually would. We tried for permit parking and it got voted against rather than for which is very annoying. ----

OP posts:
Summerdaya · 18/08/2023 15:37

Could you ask the council to put in permit parking?

Original poster
Lutonvan · 18/08/2023 15:40

Clymene · 18/08/2023 15:34

They leave their rubbish on the road, park overhanging people's driveways, park in blind spots and on corners, park opposite driveways and block other people's cars in trying to squeeze in front of the double yellows. Once they parked over our driveway and I asked if they could move it back a little and they got very confrontational with me and refused.

Have you complained to the charity?

No I haven't. I have always thought I'd be out of order complaining to a charity that actually does a great job. I think I will speak with them, many people have left notes on the vans etc so someone else might have

OP posts:
Original poster
Lutonvan · 18/08/2023 15:42

Crossinsomekindaline · 18/08/2023 15:37

If I parked my vans on a certain street, but things kept happening like potatoes up the exhaust, windscreen wipers removed, etc. I'd probably think about relocating the fleet.

My DH suggested something similar after they got angry with me for asking them not to park overhanging our driveway. He said next time he'll put a huge chain through the wheels and leave a treasure map on the windscreen to find the key.

Obviously he wouldn't but it did make me laugh.

OP posts:
Hayliebells · 18/08/2023 15:45

I think persuading the council to make your street permit parking is your best bet.

Precipice · 18/08/2023 15:48

Peony654 · 18/08/2023 15:36

You can't really complain about them parking on an unpermitted road, but definitely photograph the litter, blocking driveways etc and report to the charity.

Of course you can, to the charity that's constantly causing the nuisance. They're parking there all the time and making it so that others (residents and less frequent visitors) can't park there unless they have driveways. Plus they're behaving inappropriately. These are all reasonable subjects of complaints to the charity itself.

dizzydizzydizzy · 18/08/2023 15:54

Crossinsomekindaline · 18/08/2023 15:37

If I parked my vans on a certain street, but things kept happening like potatoes up the exhaust, windscreen wipers removed, etc. I'd probably think about relocating the fleet.

Brilliant!

DP used to park his car daily in the same street near a train station and he got an angry note on the windscreen from one of the residents. It put him off parking there because he though they might damage his car.

SgtPercyTwentyman · 18/08/2023 15:56

Raise it with the Council. You need to become a residents only parking street.

Original poster
Lutonvan · 18/08/2023 16:00

I will speak with the council again. With the resident parking situation we were all allowed to vote, but that included all neighbouring streets/closes that mostly have permit parking (bar one small close) and they all park their cars in our road as well. So we were doomed from the start. It was about 70% against which is beyond me. It was few years ago... Maybe we can try again as it's much worse now

OP posts:
crowsfeet57 · 18/08/2023 17:22

You should speak to the charity about this. Make a call every time they park inconsiderately or illegally. Post on their social media. They need to takeresponsibiity for this situation. Where do they think their vans are being parked?

Original poster
Lutonvan · 18/08/2023 18:01

@crowsfeet57 I definitely will start calling them. I am a little nervous that they will know it's me though because of that time I asked them to move. They do look at my house when they walk past and I'm home alone with a baby so I guess just feel a little awkward. Needs to be done though!

OP posts:
LaurieFairyCake · 18/08/2023 18:14

You can easily get together with neighbours to not leave enough room for them to park by agreeing to park badly

Ie. Leaving a big space but not big enough for a van after about 4pm

I would 100% be doing that

JayAlfredPrufrock · 18/08/2023 18:17

Don’t be scared of them.

drpet49 · 18/08/2023 19:29

Lutonvan · 18/08/2023 15:42

My DH suggested something similar after they got angry with me for asking them not to park overhanging our driveway. He said next time he'll put a huge chain through the wheels and leave a treasure map on the windscreen to find the key.

Obviously he wouldn't but it did make me laugh.

Show quote history

Complain about them every single time.
Name and shame on social media. Get your local newspaper involved.

Hawkins009 · 18/08/2023 19:32

In terms of the behaviour that is omg, they represent the charity and should act professionally and be respectful at all times.

In terms of the parking if it's parked safely, legally and not blocking drives then they can park, however if the parking is unprofessional then that is out of order.

What's the closest city op @Lutonvan

Soozy58 · 21/08/2023 13:15

I would complain to the charity directly and keep posting on their social media. I work for a charity and we’d be mortified if we upset local residents and our donations would no doubt drop. Any responsible charity, especially if a local one, would not want to have complaints. Also find out who their trustees are and write to them - whilst local staff might not give two hoots, the trustees have a resoinsibility/legal duty to see that the charity is run responsibly!

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