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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To expect the council.......

56 replies

cheekeymonkey · 19/07/2011 15:34

AIBU to expect the council to help us with a problem that we have with one of their registered taxi drivers parking his taxi on our private driveway sometimes even blocking my exit from my own house?

Neighbour seems to think he can park on the end of our driveway even though we have shown him the deeds proving that it is our land.

Our solicitor had advised us that although he can send him a letter it is not recommended as we are trying to sell our house and it will show as a 'conflict with neighbours'.

DH called council today as they are the ones that license this ignorant twot and they said they can't do anything but mention it to him.

WWYD?

OP posts:
Original poster
cheekeymonkey · 19/07/2011 17:23

Thank you takethisone, there is lots of food for thought there.

There is a waiting list for disabled bay marking and was kind of hoping we would be out soon (wishful thinking).

Yes, we have a dropped kerb as the driveway leads to three separate houses and we are the end (furthest away) house which is why we have the extra land at end of drive which he parks on because he thought it belonged to the council.

On seeing the actual deeds to out house which state;
a) it is our land he is parking on
b) he is not aloud to park anyway on the entrance so as not to block access

he continued to do so, which can only mean that he doesn't care.

He has been trying to get us to sell the house to him cheaply so I feel it's just bullying.

It is really grinding us down tbh

OP posts:
emptyshell · 19/07/2011 17:24

Possibly worth tracking down who your local councillors are (will be on their website with their contact details) and ringing them and asking them to intervene on your behalf since they generally can bollock a department into a bit more rapid action if it's within their remit.

My parents are both on the council and when I'm at theirs I'm forever answering the phonecall to hear tales of woe about guttering not being fixed, a broken streetlight or other randomness (and normally they don't stop when I say I'll take their number and pass the message on - gah... even worse since I sound exactly like my mum on the phone as well so all her colleagues just launch straight into why they've rang)!

Original poster
cheekeymonkey · 19/07/2011 17:25

OUR house not out house, sorry

OP posts:
Original poster
cheekeymonkey · 19/07/2011 17:27

Counsillors were actually my next thought empty at risk of sounding like one of those whingers though?Smile

OP posts:
emptyshell · 19/07/2011 17:35

Sod winging - the council pays an allowance for the phoneline - so blooming well use the phoneline for what yer council tax is paying for and call 'em!

LineRunner · 19/07/2011 17:38

Councils don't actually control taxis; they are the licensing authority that grants licenses to drivers. They can remove licenses too at closed hearings of the licensing committee if there is evidence of a driver not being a fit and proper person; is that what you expected them to do? Coz they won't.

To be honest, if it's been going on two years and you're trying to sell your house, why make an issue of it now? Isn't is better for you to avoid all neighbour conflict, as your solicitor advises?

DartsRus · 19/07/2011 17:44

If he's trying to get you to sell the house cheaply to him, then it is indeed bullying, and I would try having a quiet chat with the police. I think he'll ignore any reasonable request, and it may explain why he continues to park where he does when potential buyers come round.

LineRunner · 19/07/2011 17:47

The trouble is that the OP then has to declare it to any potential buyers.

Bummer.

Birdsgottafly · 19/07/2011 18:00

You could report him for parking illegally, the council should have given you the details of how to do this.

It is usually a civil enforcement officer who gives out a notice. If he ignores it then it could be seen as 'misconduct' and it could lead to a warning over his hackney licence, it would under my LA, it depends on how strict yours are.

We have dress codes and codes of conduct for hackney drivers, but some LA's differ.

coccyx · 19/07/2011 18:04

could you park your car at end of the drive for a bit.

EssentialFattyAcid · 19/07/2011 18:08

The police have no interest in anyone who parks on another person's driveway without permission.

I can only advise everyone to park on anyone's driveway they fancy.

lenak · 19/07/2011 18:10

Our next door neighbour used to park across our drive.

Soon stopped after DH went and knocked on the door at 5am in the morning to get them to shift their car because he had an early start and couldn't get off the drive. Wink

If you don't mind a couple of early mornings, could be worth a go.

KirstyJC · 19/07/2011 19:10

Could you put a note through his door, advising him that as of the 1st August you will be introducting fees for the car park at the bottom of your drive. (since that what he seems to think it is?!)

You could list fees eg up to 1 hour £1, 1 - 2 hours £2, 3 -5 hours £4.50, all day charge £6.50 etc.

You could type it up nice and proper, and affix a laminated copy outside on a wall/fence where he parks.

If he still parks there, invoice him.

FabbyChic · 19/07/2011 19:23

Get a friend who doesn't use their car to park where he does and leave it there.

FabbyChic · 19/07/2011 19:25

call the police and ask them to remove an illegally parked car!

LoveBeingAbleToNamechange · 19/07/2011 19:28

I would park in front of his drive next time you cone home and don't need the car for a few days.

Original poster
cheekeymonkey · 19/07/2011 20:05

Kirsty I love that idea. You are to be bowed down to!

Don't think it would work but the light relief would be welcome! Grin

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cookcleanerchaufferetc · 19/07/2011 20:12

Could you go for a walk, stop to do your shoe lace up and accidentally somehow let the air out of his tyres.....

Or sneakily squirt washing up liquid on handles ....

Or stick a sign on it saying "I am an ignorant git who cant park"

Or call his boss to report bad driving when he is in his road ....

Or block his car in so he cant get out ....

What a tosser!

Original poster
cheekeymonkey · 19/07/2011 20:13

I think Darts that it is going to have to come to that, we really didn't want it to get nasty but he is clearly taking the michael!

We have tried parking over the end of out own drive coccyx and he retaliates by parking hanging off the end of his own drive (though nothing in front of him as his drive is big enough for 4 cars) so that we cannot exit from ours.

And Fabbychic thanks, always rely on you for good advice (even when I namechange) and I think police will be the way to go - although me thinks he has no respect for the law due to me being questioned by bailiffs trying to recoup money from him for un-paid parking violations?

Love being able I think I will do that when next go on holiday - although would worry shat would happen to my car?

Thanks everyone - I really appreciate support

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Original poster
cheekeymonkey · 19/07/2011 20:14

cookcleaner are you my mother? Grin

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VivaLeBeaver · 19/07/2011 20:15

3 or 4 mini fence posts with a metal chain stapled to the posts linking them together. Padlock for the chain so you can get between the posts and park if you want to?

If you don't need to use it as parking then how about some fairly big, heavy rocks. Big enough so they can't be moved easily. Placed so you can get out but not enough parking room.

Original poster
cheekeymonkey · 19/07/2011 20:15

Pity it's not halloween, might get away with a little raw egg on windscreen action?

OP posts:
VivaLeBeaver · 19/07/2011 20:16

Have you spoken to him since you showed him the deeds and asked him why he continues to park on your property?

Original poster
cheekeymonkey · 19/07/2011 20:17

Thanks Beaver but it's actually the entrance to our driveway as its a shared entrance apart from the bit he parks on- which is ours.

It's a right saga.

We and neighbours have been happily sharing driveway for 15 years and then this oik comes along and causes major hassles for everyone

OP posts:
VivaLeBeaver · 19/07/2011 20:19

Can you not just fence off the bit he parks on then? Sorry, hard to visualise the lay out.