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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To expect a neighbour not to block my car in our driveway

67 replies

Lucky13 · 04/10/2010 11:11

On a number of occasions this particular neighbour has parked so we can't get out of our driveway. The worst time previously was when I was expecting DD and he went out/wouldn't answer the door to DH to move the car.

I have left notes on his windscreen on other occasions, but he still parks there.

Today he is there again and I have to pick up DD from preschool shortly and I don't know what to do.

He never answers the door if you go round and the car is left there all night sometimes - aaaaahhhhhh.

Surely it's not too much to ask not to block me in is it? He obviously doesn't care so what can I do?

OP posts:

Hermya321 · 04/10/2010 12:43

If he's blocking access to your property he's breaking the law, you say the police won't be interested. But if you can't get out of your own house due to this mans idiocy then its a real problem. Give them a ring and get them to have a word.

Bloodymary · 04/10/2010 12:50

Ooh, I think that I would be inclined to plant some large nails just in front of his tyres!
Especialy as hes not elderly, (I would have checked that first. Honest.)

bluecardi · 04/10/2010 12:54

Community police - and could you park your car to prevent him from blocking your drive or put an old chair or something where he would park.

BabyDubsEverywhere · 04/10/2010 12:57

Im in a bad mood, so Id slash his tyres, or squeeze past with something shap!

(ps i propably wouldnt but Id very much want to)

sapphireblue · 04/10/2010 12:58

Defintely speak to the police. He is breaking the law by blocking you in. Make sure you mention to the police that he is stopping you being able to collect your child from school.

GwennieF · 04/10/2010 12:59

I got blocked in by a lunatic woman near where I work, who refused to move her car - because I was being inconsiderate by parking so near her house (not blocking her in or preventing any access - she just liked parking there)! I waited half an hour for her to stop being so childish calm down and then I had to call the police, as there was no-one else to pick up my DS from nursery.

She moved the car before the Police arrived but they still had a word with her and rang me after to let me know how it went. She's not done it since!

JintyMcGinty · 04/10/2010 13:26

sounds like he is thoroughly lazy and selfish. No able bodied person has the RIGHT to park right outside their house, just because they can't be bothered walking 50m to their front door-- it's more convenient for them. There is another place to park, he has no right to block you in even if the nearest parking spot is 2 miles away. The police should have a word with him. You have tried to be polite/speak to him in person and left notes, now it's time to call the police and get them to deal.

BabyDubsEverywhere · 04/10/2010 13:36

Jinty you dont get the right to block someone in even if you are disabled, i really cant see where disability or age should come into to common decency!

Blu · 04/10/2010 13:40

Has he parked across a dropped kerb, or across the actual driveway entrance (if no pavement / kerb)

SparklyJules · 04/10/2010 13:45

If you can't get out of your house to pick up your child then yes, call the local station and they will come out and have a stern word. I'm pleased to hear other people have had good results with this approach as one of our neighbours is a very selfish parker, does a similar thing (blocking driveways) and it's been going on for 4 years now and I think I'm going to ring my station too...

eaglewings · 04/10/2010 13:47

sounds like the village I live in. Police were called out last week as a neighbour had blocked my friend's drive meaning their child couldn't get to school.
Been much better since
Good Luck

Original poster

Lucky13 · 04/10/2010 14:07

There is no pavement/dropped kerb, but the lane is very narrow opposite our drive and if a lorry wanted to get past his car they would find it very difficult/impossible. It is actually one of the most stupid places to park in the whole lane.

It's odd as this only started in the last 3 years and never happened before. Others do it too when they take their dogs for a walk. I can't believe how inconsiderate people are and also how much they must want their cars to be damaged!

The neighbour's car is completely scraped and dented from his bad parking - clearly shows his madness!

OP posts:

DandyDan · 04/10/2010 14:41

We have people who regularly block us in so they can walk dogs and attend sports training. I leave notes on windscreens but it doesn't help much if you're trying to get to work/pick kids up from school. Never considered phoning the police but if it persisted, I might.

coodles · 04/10/2010 16:06

We had this for nearly three years while our neighbours were having building work done.
We have a dropped kerb and the road has a single yellow line, but despite asking the builders (and our neighbours who refused to speak to them, saying it was our problem) they carried on. Some days I'd have to get them to move up to 3 times, waiting each time.

You could see they couldn't care less and although I phoned the police and Council, neither would get involved.

These same neighbours still park across our drive on occasions. They are thoughtless and inconsiderate and it sounds as though this man is the same. I hope you get the police involved and he stops blocking you in.Its stressful and unnecessary.

newwave · 04/10/2010 16:18

Lucky 13 if you dont have a drop kerb then I am afraid you have no case.

FindingMyMojo · 04/10/2010 16:30

What's you car like? Gosh catch me driving an old banger on a bad day I'd just start driving very slowly while tooting & see how long it takes him to move it.

(sorry not helpful I know but it must be tempting. what a tosser! I have to get on a bus home soon with about 5million other Londoners and it's winding me up already)

gingernutlover · 04/10/2010 17:03

new wave, surely if there is no pavement, there is no kerb to drop?

surely in lanes in the country there must be some way of having a legal driveway even if there is no pavement?

newwave · 04/10/2010 17:06

Ginger, my mistake, I can only suggest she confronts him head (with support of course) on and asks WTF he thinks he is playing at.

scurryfunge · 04/10/2010 17:08

No one can block your lawful access to the highway. I believe it is different if you are trying to leave the highway to get to your drive.ie. you can be blocked in but not off.

You could put up a polite notice stating the drive is in use at all times.

gingernutlover · 04/10/2010 17:09

just checked highway code, you must not park accross the entrance to a property - I guess this would count as that? It's so confusing isnt. Part of our drive is dropped kerb, part isnt. People do park accross the part that isnt dropped which to be honest, while annoying, is fair enough.

i really think you have to involve the police since he wont even answer his door. I wouldnt confront him yourself. Ask if your community police officer can help - that is what they are there for.

thereisalightanditnevergoesout · 04/10/2010 17:11

You might have tried this (or someone might've suggested this already), but a someone blocked me in once when I lived in Brighton - I had parked in the street, not a driveway, and I had a car in front and behind both touching my bumpers. I rang the local police (non emergency number) and asked them what I could do - I gave them the registration numbers of both cars - one car was registered out of area, but the other was local. They searched and contacted the owner - who lived a few doors down, and she came and moved her car.

I guess you could knock on your neighbours door next time, if answered you could ask him to move it, and if not, do what I did. If I'd blocked someone in, even inadvertantly, I'd make sure, after a phonecall from the police, that I didn't do it again.

scaryteacher · 04/10/2010 17:13

Get someone to help you move the car by bouncing it out of the way. If he can't see you taking pics, he won't see you doing that. Also, if you do phone the police, then point out he is obstructing the route for emergency vehicles and could cause a death.

emsyj · 04/10/2010 17:14

My mum's DP had a neighbour who did this repeatedly to him - so one day he reversed straight out of the drive, shunting the neighbour's car into the middle of the road and smartly driving away and leaving it there. The neighbour didn't do it again!

I would definitely go to the police.

Blu · 04/10/2010 17:18

Is he parking on the other side of the road to your drive, but making it ipossible fo you to manouvre out?

I would contact your local council and / or highways agency and see if you can get a white line painted, given the narrowness of the lane etc.

SeaTrek · 04/10/2010 17:20

I'm not convinced it is illegal, bizarrely.

You could start parking there to stop him parking there (madness - I know!)

If he won't anwer the door - Pritt stick a large notice to his windscreen. Use lots of pritt stick. That is what I would do, and yes I know it is childish but needs must....

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