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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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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:

digerd · 28/09/2013 11:34

It makes me mad when nasty people are pandered to to keep them sweet. People who do that are just cowards. That council worker deliberately lied to you to gi.ve her a peaceful life and make your life difficult.

There is only 1 blue badge holder in neighbour's household, you have 4.
Hope you get this sorted.

digerd · 28/09/2013 11:48

Amber
. At the typo.

AmberLeaf · 28/09/2013 12:00

vtechjazz · 28/09/2013 13:35

So domino should worra be banned for her initial mistake?? I do wish people wouldn't make contradictory statements....they should be banned!

lottieandmia · 28/09/2013 13:41

YANBU - clearly you are entitled to use the space if you have a blue badge and the space is free.

Wibblypiglikesbananas · 28/09/2013 13:52

So, the council employee lied to you? Well, I'd be making a complaint about her first off, and asking to deal with someone more competent.

I'm not defending the abhorrent behaviour of the neighbour at all, but is there a chance the council have also misinformed them and hence they genuinely (and incorrectly) believe the space is theirs?

GreenShadow · 28/09/2013 16:06

I'm afraid I have a lot of sympathy with the neighbours.

They requested the space. It wouldn't be there otherwise. I can quite see how they think it is just for them to use. I would probably assume the same if the council had put one in for me.

That obviously doesn't excuse their over reaction of course.

Original poster

Cantsleep · 28/09/2013 16:14

They were very very angry and kept saying they had paid fifty pounds for the space and it was only for them to use, I checked about this with the council and got an email confirming they never charge for the spaces and that anybody with a bb can use it.

It really has been just a couple of times, we are not using it everyday or anything like that and the very fact it has been empty and we could use it meant that the person who applied for it didn't need it at that time it was just his wife who was at home going mad at us and then sending her son round to be really threatening.

I put a copy of the email through their door but did include a note saying we would only ever use it in an emergency.

I am very annoyed at the attitude of the housing officer who was telling me to just let them believe they 'own' the space and to not ever use it. Also angry that the person I spoke to in the traffic/concessionaire travel dept did not know what they were talking about and said we could not have a space for dcs.

OP posts:

ivykaty44 · 28/09/2013 16:26

if you have a blue badge and that means you can park in any disabled space - the council then can't ban you from using one particular disabled space.

Park in the space and if the neighbours have a problem then tell them to get the council enforcement officer to to ticket you for parking in the space and then do not engage.

Don't speak to people at the council - email them. County council have websites and you can send a general email and it will then be recorded, it is then sent to the correct department. Tell the council you are being threatened for parking in a disabled bay when you have a badge.

exexpat · 28/09/2013 16:31

Unless disabled parking rules vary across the country, it is ridiculous that you would not be allowed one outside your house if you have four DCs all with blue badges. A friend of mine with a disabled DD certainly has one outside her house. If the council tries to fob you off again, try contacting your local councillor, and failing that, your MP.

Mumoftwoyoungkids · 28/09/2013 16:32

Oh dear - Worst Typo Ever. I blame the IPad!

littlemisswise · 28/09/2013 16:37

I had a disabled space outside my last house. It was put in because I needed it, but it was made clear to me that anyone could park in it. I could not request that it was for badge no XXX.

In your shoes I would carry in parking in it and wouldn't move the car to pander to him. Ring the council on Monday and request they put one in for you, but as far as I remember it wasn't just a case of a bloke pitching up with a tin of paint, they had to get traffic orders or something and it took 5 months for mine.

I would, also, imagine that you won't be able to ask for it to be specifically for your DC because if that were the case the man would have done that when he got his.

littlemisswise · 28/09/2013 16:39

Have you got an OT or a social worker? My OT put the request in for mine, and it didn't cost a penny.

ihearsounds · 28/09/2013 16:48

Continue to use the space.
When they come round, tell them it's a pubic highway, you can legally park there. However, any more harrassment you will be contacting the police.

cooeeyonlyme · 28/09/2013 17:11

Your neighbour applied for the space for a reason. They didn't do it for fun. They need the space clearly. If they're out and they come home they might not be able to get out of the car because they have no where to park.

It is really worth causing agro on your doorstep over a parking space? Apply for your own and don't put anything threw the letterbox because if i was the neighbour that would piss me right off and you'd get it chucked back in your face. Sorry OP but i think you're being slightly unreasonable.

My nan had one put outside her house but everyone used it so she ended up house bound because she would have no where to park. She would go out for abit, come back and someone was parked there. She would have to wait for ages until they left to park up. She could only walk a small distance then she would have to rest.

YouTheCat · 28/09/2013 17:14

Cooeey, have you read the thread? OP has used it a couple of times because 4 of her kids have blue badges too and she needs to be able to get them safely into the house. She has then moved the car. So it has been used for about 15 minutes.

YouTheCat · 28/09/2013 17:15

In fact, OP parking there is doing the neighbours a favour as she will move but if another blue badge holder used it, they might not.

cooeeyonlyme · 28/09/2013 17:21

Yes i did read the thread and you lot are egging her on to cause conflict with her neighbour. With 4 disabled children she clearly doesn't need any more agro. OP don't fall out with your neighbour, it can cause all kinds of problems and stresses.
Apply for another space.

cooeeyonlyme · 28/09/2013 17:25

I am very interested in a point that a previous poster said. If a disabled space is at the bottom of a driveway could a blur badge holder block them in?

YouTheCat · 28/09/2013 17:25

Not at all. I think she should apply to the council. But in the meantime, the neighbours will just have to put up with it as she has 4 small people to get in safely and they only have one - a short wait, if necessary, is hardly an inconvenience.

cooeeyonlyme · 28/09/2013 17:26

*blue ffs

cooeeyonlyme · 28/09/2013 17:27

I have fell out with neighbours before and it caused a lot of agro and stress. I's just not worth it and if her neighbour is as strange as mine it could lead to further problem and OP does not need any more stress.

sleeplessbunny · 28/09/2013 17:38

YANBU the council sound completely incompetent and your neighbours sound a bit mad.

I would make an issue out of this with the council, they clearly need to give you a BB space outside your house. They have given you inconsistent and incorrect advice to try and palm you off. Unacceptable really.

I wouldn't bother engaging with the neighbour over it, it seems unlikely to help given their attitude.

coraltoes · 28/09/2013 17:39

Someone who lives on my road has a very disabled DS. They have a specially adapted mini van and lifts to their home etc. the parents are not blue badge holders...he is. They not only have a space, they have one with their reg number on the floor so only they can use it. It is at the end of the bays, so provided fantastic access for his wheelchair to the back of the van. The council have been very helpful. Yours sound awful.

coraltoes · 28/09/2013 17:41

Actually maybe it is their badge number. Either way it cannot be used by anybody else

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