To park over my neighbours drive

[asianbabe]

Just really wanted some opinions really. Today I parked over my neighbour's drive. There was a reason for me doing this I wasn't being a total arse.

Basically I have two very young children and live on a road where every other house has a drive as we live by a station many people tend to park their cars on my road all day and go off to work. Unfortunately, I don't have a drive.

I've been getting increasingly annoyed with my neighbour who lives across the road for the past year she has only parked her car in her drive a few times instead she chooses to park outside her house on the road. i think she does this so that her visitors are guaranteed a parking spot on her drive.

Anyway I came home from shopping today and was unable to find parking on my road. With Two young kids under the age of 2 and 20 shopping bags i Saw her car not on her drive and just got so annoyed that I parked over her drive. She came out we exchanged words I told her how selfish she was being and she told me to move my car. I informed her that I would not move the car until a spot became available to park in and if she was so concerned to park her car in her drive and I would park my car where her car was.

To cut a long story short she refused and said she was expecting visitors so they could use her drive.

I left my car there over an hour until a parking spot became available then I moved my car.

Just to add she has no kids and leaves her car on the road for weeks at a time so taking up a parking spot.

I told a friend about what I did and she said i was being unreasonable. Just wondered if this is normal behaviour got those that have drives or am I a total bitch

[WillSantaComeAgain]

Why didn't you just ask politely if you could stay there for a few minutes while you unpacked your shopping? Or go round and ask (nicely) if there's any chance she could move her car onto her drive so you could park.

Now you've wound her up and have no chance of her ever being co-operative at all.

Why don't you convert the front of your house into a driveway instead of complaining how unfair it is that you don't have one? Unless you're in HA property then you knew what you were taking on when you bought/signed the rental agreement. You pays your money, you takes your choices.

[asianbabe]

Thanks for all the replies I can see how this issue can get people so worked up. I did not get a ticket and she did not call the police. I did go and speak to her in the morning and explained to her how I felt and to be honest she was very sympathetic and we both apologised me for losing my temper and parking over her drive and her for swearing at me. She was just pissed off I didn't ask her before I did it. In future we agreed that I would ask before I park there.

I also asked her why she didn't park in her drive and she didn't really give an answer. I guess it's none of my business anyway but I was just curious.



I guess it's

I will look into to see if I can chase up the council regarding cpz.

[hernow]

YABU and you in the circumstances if you would both behave in an understanding manner then life would be a lot happier. Why do people have to cause upset and argue over things like this? Why can't people just show consideration and help each other? Imagine how much nicer a place your road would be if the locals would talk and show each other respect and consideration. For this reason I would rather rent until something became available where everyday things like good parking was not a problem, because too many people choose the aggressive route rather than talk and compromise. As for the commuters parking can you not approach the council to ask for yellow lines which stop people parking for a short time in the morning and again in the afternoon so that their cars cannot be parked there all day? Then again whoever heard of a council being considerate of the local needs if there isn't money in it for them?

[MaxPepsi]

Well done OP, you apologised and sorted it out.

As for 'the neighbour is doing nothing wrong', I suspect that she probably is. Invalidating her insurance by telling them she has a drive then parking on the street!!

[Dahlialover]

The neighbour is has a drive she is not using, taking space where the dropped kerb is for the drive she is not using and using space in the road, in a street where her neighbours have trouble parking. I'm not sure she is that far in the right, even if it can be considered technically so.

I hope she thinks a bit more about what she is doing too, now that you have spoken to her.

Well done you for sorting this out in a sensible manner. There is no reason to think she would have been receptive to you if you had not first parked over her drive, so no need to feel guilty. I hope the council parking permit system will make this better for you.

[Ezza1]

I don't understand why the neighbour cannot park in her drive and have her visitors park over the drive (like you did)

But yabu anyway. Do shopping online next time and take the kids to the park instead (walking. ..)

[asianbabe]

I just got back from Playgroup again not one parking spot on my road so I parked really far away from my house. Neighbours car is still outside her house and her drive is empty.
To be honest I still can't understand why she doesn't use her drive.

I guess this will always niggle me until I move !!!

[quoteunquote]

Just put in a drive where you live.

[Truffkin]

I hate arsey neighbours! I can't see why she can't park on her own drive and then let her visitors block her in. I should imagine that 'ranty harassed mother' won't make her any more empathetic to you than she previously was though! You were both unreasonable IMO.

Happy moving

[hamilton75]

YABU.. Totally unreasonable to be honest. If its a public highway with no restrictions she can park where the hell she likes, its none of your business if she chooses not to use her drive. Also its not her problem your kids and shopping.

[BettySwollocksandaCrustyRack]

YAB Totally unreasonable.

She is as entitled to park on the road as you are - the fact that she has a drive is irrelevant. She is saving it for visitors and thats her perogative.

See, this is why I would never buy a house with off road parking!

She pays her road tax, she can park where she likes.

[BettySwollocksandaCrustyRack]

without off road parking....duh!!

[1Veryhungrycaterpillar]

She can (and does) seem to park where she likes but I can totally see why it aggravates, you need to get a drive or move

[morganster]

She might have a drive like us; it's a really narrow concrete plinth and our neighbour has a big bush in the way so you can't see to pull out safely. It's also too short so our car sticks out 2 feet onto the pavement preventing anyone with a double buggy or a mobility scooter getting past.

I think we'd try harder to park there if there were a shortage of spaces on the roadside though.

[tiggerpigger]

Yab very u. Sort your parking problems iut yourself

[cumfy]

YABU, but I wish they would tax driveways at the going rate for a resident permit, they permanently take up a car parking space.

[EachAndEveryHighway]

Well done for apologising .... you were BU. If you feel so strongly about ease-of-parking / guaranteed parking, you need to prioritise having off-street parking when making your choice of house to live in.

[sparklesandbling]

YABU
people think they can justify any type of bad parking (including using disabled spaces even if not disabled because their need is more important)

-climbs on high stool -

[sparklesandbling]

#off

[katydid02]

The thing is though, asianbabe, you chose to buy a house without a drive so you have to take responsibility for your choices and deal with the consequences - not your neighbour.

[Jaynebxl]

Any reason why you can't put a drive in? Not read every page so may have missed that obvious solution.

[asianbabe]

I know that It was my choice to buy this house without a drive. On my particular road every other house has a drive so i kind of assumed that the few parking spots that were available would be left for those who lived here that didn't have drives. I have noticed a few of my neighbours don't use their drives and will often save their drives for their visitors and family. This makes it really tough for others who also live on the road to park. I have enquired about having a drive put in but was declined as the council are already aware of the parking issue and will not authorise it.

[southeastastra]

i bet all the yabu's have drives they keep empty for 'visitors'

there are some selfish feckers about these days

[asianbabe]

Thanks southeastastra finally someone sees it from my point of view. The sad thing is that the drives on my street are massive and can each accommodate up to 2 cars each

[FasterStronger]

personally I think if you have a drive you should use it, but if you choose not to, well, its your choice!

if we didn't park on the drive and a neighbour suggested that we should, I would wonder what planet they were on. there are many things I would prefer other people to do, but I don't go around telling them how to live their own lives.