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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think that both my neighbours AND the council are BU?

111 replies

Cantsleep · 27/09/2013 22:34

There is a disabled parking space a few doors down, it has been there since we moved in years ago and is used by the people who live there although the sign states it is for blue badge holders not just one specific badge holder.

A couple of times we have had to use this space when dcs have been unwell and we couldn't park near our house (no drive and there's a school across the road so gets very busy). On the two or three occasions we have done this the people who it 'belongs' to have screamed and shouted at us, left notes on the car and come round hammering on the door being threatening and telling us to never use the space again

They told us they had paid for the space and if we wanted to use a disabled space we should pay fifty pounds to the council like they did. We phoned the council, asked could we get a disabled space by our house and they said firstly it was nonsense that you pay for the space and secondly, no we couldn't as it had to be an adult in the household in need of the space so we could not get one for any of our four dcs who all have blue badges.

The council sent me an email confirming that the space was not paid for and that ANY blue badge holder could use it and I printed it off and put it through the neighbours door with a note saying that we could not get a space and would only use the one outside their house in an emergency. Couple of hours later they are hammering on the door again saying we are never ever to use it and if we do for our dcs and their father has to park further away and gets ill it will be our fault.
The council housing officer phoned during the day and said that she had had a complaint about us parking there and that we are not to as they applied for the space and think they own it so we should let them carry on believing that to avoid any problems!!!

I think the neighbours are being horrible as we have only used it in emergencies And I think the council are ridiculous only allowing adults to have a disabled space outside their house.

OP posts:
WorraLiberty · 27/09/2013 22:36

What sort of emergency other than bleeding to death or missing a limb, requires you to use this space?

ImTooHecsyForYourParty · 27/09/2013 22:37

What the council mean is don't use it because they can't be arsed to deal with it.

ImABadGirl · 27/09/2013 22:38

I think your neighbours soumd bonkers and very entitled, your dc have blue badges? Did I read that correctly?

ClutchingPearls · 27/09/2013 22:38

Sorry it's not completely clear, do you have a blue badge?

Original poster
Cantsleep · 27/09/2013 22:38

We need to park near our house and get the dcs in safely, there have been occasions when the whole road has been packed with parked cars at school pick up time and even with dh and I we cannot get all four dcs in the house at once but can't leave any of them alone in the car/house due to their health issues.

OP posts:
BewitchedBefuzzledBewildered · 27/09/2013 22:39

The OP did say her DC all have blue badges. So, she is NBU

Bogeyface · 27/09/2013 22:40

YANBU

We had this. If a disabled space it marked on a road then, by law, any person with a blue badge is entitled to use it. I know this because my grandparents had one outside their house and could never use as people with blue badges parked there to go to the supermarket opposite. Grandad said he wished he had never applied for it as it actually made parking harder.

The council probably said that as advice in order to stop enflaming your neighbours, but tbh, if it was me I would park there all the time now on principle as there is precisely bugger all that they can do about it.

I would also be complaining to the council about their decision, it is bullshit that only adults can have spaces outside their home. Contact the association for your childrens disabilities who I am sure will know the legal argument you can use (age discrimination?) against the council.

ImABadGirl · 27/09/2013 22:40

I thought I'd read it correctly, in that case OP YANBU they are, I'd go to my local paper/MP

Original poster
Cantsleep · 27/09/2013 22:41

Yes all four dcs have blue badges, 9 times out of 10 we can park near the house but occasionally it has been really really busy and impossible to park anywhere near except in the blue badge space.

I really don't understand why the council won't let us have one.

OP posts:
FlapJackFlossie · 27/09/2013 22:42

I thought the person who applied for the space was the only one allowed to use it.

If your DCs are not entitled to a disabled parking space, then what makes you think you can use the one designated for another adult?

YABVU and entitled.

WorraLiberty · 27/09/2013 22:42

I'm sorry OP, I missed the bit about you having blue badges for the kids Blush

In that case YANBU at all as it's not their personal space.

expatinscotland · 27/09/2013 22:42

So, do you have a blue badge then? I got a blue badge for my DD when she had cancer. We could use any disabled space.

wickeddevil · 27/09/2013 22:42

Could your local councillor help?
I'm sorry, that sounds horrid, what crappy neighbours you have.

Bogeyface · 27/09/2013 22:43

Next time they kick off say "well we wouldnt park there but you wont give us a space outside our own house so what choice do we have?"

5 will get you 10 that the advise you to apply again and it goes through Hmm

YouTheCat · 27/09/2013 22:43

Children can get disabled spaces. Your council is talking bollocks.

ClutchingPearls · 27/09/2013 22:43

I agree council are fed up with your neighbours complaints (they sound the type to complain about anything and everything) and are avoiding confrontation with them.

I would use the space and ask the council to put in another one or correct the neighbours belief that they own it. Council can't be asked to get shouted at by the neighbours, they need to know that it won't be resolved until they take some action.

Bumbolina · 27/09/2013 22:43

YADNBU

Original poster
Cantsleep · 27/09/2013 22:44

The council were adamant that only an adult living at the property with a blue badge could get a disabled space outside the house. I cannot understand why they will not accept that we need one for the dcs.

I suppose to prove a point I could use the neighbours space but they are really quite threatening and dh is out at work a lot and I really don't want to get on the wrong side of them any more than I already have.

OP posts:
pianodoodle · 27/09/2013 22:44

YANBU

It was confirmed to you in writing that anyone with a blue badge can use the space.

The council are also being unreasonable telling you not to use it after they confirmed anyone with a blue badge could. They just don't want to be bothered with your neighbours!

FlapJackFlossie · 27/09/2013 22:44

Why don't you apply for a disabled space yourself. When you get it I bet you would be the first ones to scream and shout if you came home and found someone else parked in it, wouldn't you?

Bogeyface · 27/09/2013 22:45

I thought the person who applied for the space was the only one allowed to use it.

Wrong.

It is a parking space reserved for those who are disabled, who have a blue badge. Anyone can use it if they have a blue badge, that is the law.

expatinscotland · 27/09/2013 22:45

Tell your MP. The bays are not just for adults!

mimitwo · 27/09/2013 22:45

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

WestieMamma · 27/09/2013 22:46

The neighbours are being unreasonable for having a go at you but I can sort of understand their frustration. My dad had to fight really hard for years to get a disabled space installed in front of his house. He couldn't manage without it and would have been distraught if someone else was using it.

The council are the ones who are being entirely unreasonable. Clearly the disabled parking provision in your street is insufficient and they need to do something about it.

wickeddevil · 27/09/2013 22:47

The OP very clearly says our four DCS who all have blue badges...