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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:
HeffalumpTheFlump · 27/09/2013 22:47

Flapjack ffs read the op! The space is not actually designated for the neighbours, they are for anyone with a blue badge to use. The ops children have blue badges so they are well within their rights to use the space.

Op yanbu at all!

Original poster
Cantsleep · 27/09/2013 22:47

The sign just says for blue badge holders only, it doesn't have a specific bb number on it and the council confirmed that although they applied for it technically anybody can use it.

We have only used it a couple of times, once only for about 15mins as as soon as school rush parking was gone dh moved the car to outside our house but still got a mouthful of abuse from them.

I will be phoning the council again Monday and insisting on our own one for dcs.

OP posts:
Bogeyface · 27/09/2013 22:47

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?

RTFT

She did, they were told that only adults could get them, which is bullshit btw.

mimitwo · 27/09/2013 22:47

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

ImABadGirl · 27/09/2013 22:47

flapjack are you even reading the thread, as you seem to be sprouting rubbish

Finola1step · 27/09/2013 22:47

So you have 4 dc with health needs who all have blue badges and you are being harassed when using a blue badge parking bay? A few doors away from your home?

If I've read that right, this is crazy. Your neighbours do not actually own the space, do they? I think you should go back to the council regarding applying for a space. It is likely you will get no joy. If so, get ready to call on your local councillors and MP.

Continue using the space if your children need you to do so. If there is harassment from the neighbours, call the police on 101. Or use the space and then once the children are settled, move the car. Not sure if I can see why you should though.

Sallyingforth · 27/09/2013 22:48

It may be different in other areas, but in our town once a disabled space has been marked outside a house, ANYONE displaying a blue badge can park there. It is most definitely not reserved for the applicant only.

MsHighwater · 27/09/2013 22:49

In my area, a parking space will only be provided for a Blue Badge holder who is the driver. But, the space can legally be used by any BB holder.

It's a tricky situation. I can see both sides but your neighbours ABU if they are being abusive towards you, whatever the case.

HeffalumpTheFlump · 27/09/2013 22:50

Flapjack are you being deliberately obtuse?

pianodoodle · 27/09/2013 22:50

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

The council confirmed anyone with a blue badge was entitled to park there. The neighbours don't own it.

Do some people just read the title and a couple of words of the OP and base their replies on that?

Original poster
Cantsleep · 27/09/2013 22:51

I have a feeling I'm better off arguing with the council and insisting on a space for dcs than using the neighbours space. I would actually be too scared to use it again they are that angry and threatening.

OP posts:
PoppadomPreach · 27/09/2013 22:52

FlapJackFlossie - what the fuck's got into you? Projection, much ? You are completely out of order - are you the neighbour?

OP - YANBU - sorry you are facing this - keep pushing the council - they are being twats.

HeffalumpTheFlump · 27/09/2013 22:52

Both the council and your neighbours should be ashamed of themselves IMO. Who in their right mind would begrudge a family with four disabled children use of a disabled parking space?!

BasilBabyEater · 27/09/2013 22:53

Put everything in writing to the council.

As soon as they have stuff in writing, they stop bullshitting because they don't want bullshit on record.

Also, if they won't give you a parking space, approach your local councillor. Any request coming from an elected member gets looked on more positively, as long as it doesn't breach rules etc.

ImABadGirl · 27/09/2013 22:53

^^
what heff said

MousyMouse · 27/09/2013 22:54

but what about the disabled bays that say: disabled parking only for permit no 12345?
many of those in my area (residential parking only).

op yanbu

pianodoodle · 27/09/2013 22:54

Also, they are being ridiculous to complain about a couple of times in a few years.

WetDog · 27/09/2013 22:56

You need to escalate this with the council. You need to appeal against their rule (which many councils do have) that they only allow a disabled space if it's the driver of the vehicle who has a blue badge.

Write to the director of highways, the chief executive, as well as the leader of the council and councillor in charge of highways. Plus your local ward councillors. Ask them to reconsider this rule.

Waferthinmint · 27/09/2013 22:59

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Bogeyface · 27/09/2013 23:00

Mousey its different in residential permit areas, it protects those who need it from those who dont want to pay to go into town.

Original poster
Cantsleep · 27/09/2013 23:00

They are extremely territorial over the space, one other time somebody had parked there and the lady who lives in the house was taping a huge notice to the car saying not to use it again and the space belonged to their address.

I have seen the disabled spaces just for a specific BB and might insist that the council do that for us and just put the dcs numbers on the sign. It is rare that we have not been able to park by our house but I feel the need to prove a point both to the council and the neighbours over this.

OP posts:
Bogeyface · 27/09/2013 23:02

I hate this idea that only disabled drivers can have the spaces, in many cases the passenger isnt a driver because they are more disabled so ergo need it more!

Fucking ridiculous.

Sparkeleigh · 27/09/2013 23:13

YANBU - but are you sure it was actually the council that rang you back and not the neighbours?

If it was the council, you should raise a complaint with them.

pianodoodle · 27/09/2013 23:16

YANBU - but are you sure it was actually the council that rang you back and not the neighbours?

There's a thought! Might be worth a call to verify who you spoke to.

Original poster
Cantsleep · 27/09/2013 23:19

Yes most def the council as we have the same housing officer who I have spoken to before, always thought she was quite nice until she told me how they had had such a bad time with the mans illness and that's why they had applied for the space etc etc. I am just meant to let them believe they 'own' it apparently.

I explained about my dcs and how we have only used the space when there has been no other option but she was very keen for me to agree to never use it again to avoid arguments and was championing their cause and ignoring the fact my dcs are also ill.

OP posts: