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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

regarding disabled neighbour

190 replies

tinyfishbigpond · 12/02/2011 11:13

I have just moved into an area where parking is very scarce. I have a parking port in my house (think garage without a door for those who aren't familiar with one).

There are 2 parking spaces opposite my house. These are angled so that the cars run parallel with the front of my house. The council has only put in spaces because any more would stop me from being about to get into and out of my parking space.

The past 2 nights I have had a car parked on double yellow lines opposite my house in a 'third' space. This means I am really struggling to get my car in and out. I went out yesterday because I saw the car arrive and explained this to my neighbour.

The neighbour point blankly refused to move stating she has a disabled badge and can park wherever she likes. And apparently for as long as she wants. Her husband came out and was really aggressive, mocking me for renting the house when he owns his and telling me he was going to complain to my landlord.

Are they allowed to leave their car overnight on double yellow lines and cause an obstruction? I thought the max time was 3 hours. They also have no clock displayed next to the badge.

AIBU or are they? I was hoping to sort it between ourselves but they were very aggressive and told me to get the council involved.

OP posts:
BuzzLiteBeer · 12/02/2011 11:21

You can't park causing an obstruction if you have a sky pink pass from the queen, so tell her to move her damn car.

ZillionChocolate · 12/02/2011 11:23

Double yellow lines means she can park for 3 hours and the clock has to be displayed. The council could potentially put a restriction on loading and unloading which would mean that she can't park there at all.

I think whether YABU depends on how difficult makes it for you to park. If you're a crap driver and need 5 foot clearance on either side, YABU. If it's genuinely difficult then YANBU. I would agree that their attitude sucks. Disabillity is not an excuse to be rude and aggressive.

TmiEdward · 12/02/2011 11:23

Where do I get a sky pink pass from the Queen? Sounds like it might come in handy...

Glitterknickaz · 12/02/2011 11:25

Regardless of whether or not they have a blue badge they cannot cause an obstruction, and if they are preventing you from leaving your property you are within your rights to get the police to remove the vehicle by any means necessary.

Plus I might be wrong in thinking you only get 3 hours' parking on a blue badge?

werewolf · 12/02/2011 11:25

Ask the council to make one of the 'official' spaces, a disabled one? Then she can park there instead of on the yellow lines.

pagwatch · 12/02/2011 11:26

Do as they suggested. Get the council involved.

The disability issue is nothing to do with it. Your neighbours are just aggressive arses.
Unfotunately you just have to challenge them.
Just try and keep calm and be friendly if you can -not easy but try not to start ignoring them or trying to 'win'. Treat it as an issue. Try not to get caught up in their wanky personalities

OhForBoonessSake · 12/02/2011 11:28

3 hours is the max as far as i know. i would tell them you have done your homework and know the rules so they have to move.

FabbyChic · 12/02/2011 11:38

I would not bother with them but would actually report it to the police on a non emergency phone number. When they get towed then let's see them get arsey.

bigcar · 12/02/2011 11:47

Have a look on your council website and see what it says about requesting a disabled parking bay and then pass the information on to them?

GreenAmy · 12/02/2011 11:58

Friendly, YABU pagwatch, Calm, yes!

As everyone says only allowed to park on double yellows for 3 hours and can't cause an obstruction.

Sorry for going off the subject but...

Half the time these people with blue badges I suspect do not need them. I watched a couple arrive in Sainsburys in a Lotus Elise, park in a disabled bay and pull out a blue badge and clock.

When I was leaving 30 minutes later they were still walking round the store without any problem.

This is an extreme example but many get out of their cars and walk off without difficulty

One of my neighbours has a New Skoda Octavia supplied on Mobility (had a sticker in the window for a week or two) yet I see the woman walking to the shops and pub a mile away.

OhForBoonessSake · 12/02/2011 12:00

green army, are you really so thick as to believe all disabilities are visible?

yogididabooboo · 12/02/2011 12:05

green army - i am intirgued by this "sticker in the window" my father is disabled and has had a number of motability cars over the years.
He has never had anything on the car that has indicated who has supplied it.

as for the rest...Hmm

JaneS · 12/02/2011 12:05

Ok, I'm confused - traffic warden here told me someone with a disabled badge can park on the double yellows for as long as they like!

Is it different in some places, and is your neighbour maybe a bit confused about the rules in her new area? One for the council to clarify, I think.

Original poster
tinyfishbigpond · 12/02/2011 12:08

Thanks for the feedback! I'm not a bad driver I promise, there just isn't enough room at the front of my car to maouvere around to reverse in IYKWIM?

I don't doubt their disability is genuine, it's not up to me to make presumptions about that. I was just hoping a quick word would resolve it.

Have looked out of my window and they have a parking ticket. I feel sorry for them because their obviously going through a hard time, but they have parked illegally.

OP posts:
Original poster
tinyfishbigpond · 12/02/2011 12:09

Thanks for the feedback! I'm not a bad driver I promise, there just isn't enough room at the front of my car to maouvere around to reverse in IYKWIM?

I don't doubt their disability is genuine, it's not up to me to make presumptions about that. I was just hoping a quick word would resolve it.

Have looked out of my window and they have a parking ticket. I feel sorry for them because their obviously going through a hard time, but they have parked illegally.

OP posts:
altinkum · 12/02/2011 12:11

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster
tinyfishbigpond · 12/02/2011 12:11

Thanks for the feedback! I'm not a bad driver I promise, there just isn't enough room at the front of my car to maouvere around to reverse in IYKWIM?

I don't doubt their disability is genuine, it's not up to me to make presumptions about that. I was just hoping a quick word would resolve it.

Have looked out of my window and they have a parking ticket. I feel sorry for them because their obviously going through a hard time, but they have parked illegally.

OP posts:
Original poster
tinyfishbigpond · 12/02/2011 12:12

Don't know what happened there. Sorry for the excessive posts!

OP posts:
JaneS · 12/02/2011 12:13

Woah, tiny, we believe you! Grin

Seriously, you sound nice - good that it's sorted so easily, I doubt they'll keep parking there once they've had the ticket.

yogididabooboo · 12/02/2011 12:14

well hurrah for the parking attendant knowing what he is doing.

Being disabled does not give you the right to be rude and aggressive, nor the right to park where you like.

hopefully the parking ticket will help educate them on parking properly

TheMonster · 12/02/2011 12:15

I am glad they havea parking ticket. There was no need for them to be rude to you.
It annoys me when people look down on renters (we have a neighbour who thinks he has more right to park where he wants because he owns his house and we don't).
Karma is a wonderful thing.

valiumredhead · 12/02/2011 12:17

You aren't allowed to cause an obstruction and only on double yellows for 3 hrs in England. Pretty sure in Scotland it is unlimited time ( I'd have to dig out my BB booklet please don't make me, as that would involve sorting out the big pile of paper work I keep ignoring

valiumredhead · 12/02/2011 12:18

Oh ffs -my strikeouts didn't work!

kittybuttoon · 12/02/2011 12:23

Ha ha ha! That parking ticket came at just the right time for you!

That'll teach them to be unreasonable and sneering.

I wouldn't do anything now - I expect they have learned their lesson.

Glitterknickaz · 12/02/2011 12:25

GreenArmy is the perfect reason why my family gets abuse.