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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think parking makes people so difficult

29 replies

Fleta · 13/02/2014 08:43

I'll try to set the scene and avoid drip feeding.

Our road is a real mish mash of houses built at different times. The more modern have cobbles to the road edge. We are one of four that were built much earlier. Our four houses have grass verges in front but we each own the land up to the kerb. Two houses have no wall and have incorporated the land into their own. Next door has a wall and a verge. We have a wall and a parking bay - put in by the people we bought from and access by the original dropped kerb to our driveway. There is no pavement on our side of the road all the way along.

500 yards down our road is a long stretch of walled garden with parking for maybe 10 cars alongside.

New people moved in opposite last year - two cars, no parking. The day they moved in I came home and their removal van was parked in our parking bay. Fair enough, moving is hideous so I didn't say anything.

Then they started parking in our parking bay regularly. I went over and explained that we owned the bay and she was really snippy and said "actually roadside parking on a public road is for anyone to use (maybe she reads Mumsnet Wink). So I explained that we owned it. This was just after Christmas.

Got home last night - torrential rain, hideous wind and she's parked in my space. So I went over and asked her to move. She huffed and puffed and said "I've had a hard day at work and didn't want to get wet" Hmm

She then went on to say she'd continue to park in it when we weren't using it. I asked her how she supposed she knew my timetable.....

So how do I deal with this now?

OP posts:
LaurieFairyCake · 13/02/2014 08:47

I'd send her a letter saying "I absolutely agree that road side parking is for everyone, however this space is owned by the property and I would ask you not to park there as it's trespass".

Then I'd get one of those up/down lockable bollard things for £25.

WaffilyVersatile · 13/02/2014 08:48

Block. Her. In.

She will soon tire of having to knock on your door to ask you to let her out especially when you are busy so she has to wait.

Seeline · 13/02/2014 08:50

Send her a copy of your deeds showing that you own the land.

Send your kids over to play in her front garden Grin

Agree with bollard or lockable chain or similar.

SavoyCabbage · 13/02/2014 08:51

I would pay the fiver or whatever it is and get a copy of your property from the land registry and show it to her. She might think you are trying it onl

Original poster
Fleta · 13/02/2014 08:54

Thanks everyone.

I would get a bollard but she could still park in the space if she bumped up the kerb. I access by driving up onto the end of our drive and sweeping in parallel to the wall. You could still access from the side.

I have a copy of the deeds so will pop them through the door. Sadly no way of blocking her in!

OP posts:
Forago · 13/02/2014 08:54

Block her in

Forago · 13/02/2014 08:55

Sorry just seen you can't. Can you park on the road alongside her of she's in your space or would that block the road?

LaurieFairyCake · 13/02/2014 08:55

If you put the bollard on the side of the parking space wouldn't she then have to go on your more obvious property (the drive) to park there though?

ISeeYouShiverWithAntici · 13/02/2014 08:59

You could get more than one bollard and make it so there is no way to get round them?

Or could you? I am shit at visualising things.

Original poster
Fleta · 13/02/2014 08:59

Maybe Laurie actually - that might work. Can you get automatic ones so I don't have to get out of the car in the wet Wink

Maybe I need two bollards!

Forago - it wouldn't quite block the road but would make things diffult for other people - especially as this household in question park one of their cars outside their house (which of course is no problem)

OP posts:
Seeline · 13/02/2014 09:02

Can you make it a bit more obvious that it's private land? Notices, different paving etc?

RunRunRuby · 13/02/2014 09:04

Could you put some rocks or concrete blocks or something along the side so you can only access from your drive? Then if she carries on, you could put a bollard at the entrance too.

My grandad has rocks on the verge outside his house to prevent people parking there, so he expects his visitors to park on other people's instead, but that's a thread in itself Grin

Original poster
Fleta · 13/02/2014 09:05

Thank you Seeline - we have a "private parking" sign on the wall and the parking space itself is bricks so its really obvious its not road.

I just wouldn't have the brass neck Grin

OP posts:
dexter73 · 13/02/2014 09:06

If she is so free and easy with other peoples private property you could have a bbq in her garden one day and see how she feels about that!

CogitoErgoSometimes · 13/02/2014 09:08

Where DM lives I think their PSCO spends 90% of their time either intervening with neighbours parking in the wrong spaces or asking parents dropping children off at the nearby school to be more considerate. So I'd contact your local police if nothing changes.

QOD · 13/02/2014 09:10

Grrrrr that'd drive me insane

I do love that we are so territorial and all get orf moi land like!

KoalaFace · 13/02/2014 09:16

Definitely post her a copy of the deeds and an 'official' sounding letter stating that she must cease trespassing on your property.

Do you have a CPO in the area? Here they periodically post an update letter that includes an email address. You could get in touch with them and ask for advice?

toastedteacake · 13/02/2014 09:19

If it continues could you put up a low fence next to the road and take down the wall that separates the parking from your front garden?

That should make it bloody obvious.

Not that you should have to do anything other than politely point out the error of her ways just the once.

AnnaLegovah · 13/02/2014 09:22

I would contact your local PCSO and explain this woman is trespassing on your property - ask them if they could pop round and speak to her? Hopefully that would be enough to frighten the bitch her.

Original poster
Fleta · 13/02/2014 09:28

Thank you everyone, some good suggestions. YEs we have a PCSO I see pretty regularly so I shall have a word with her.

toastedteacake - I could put I'm really loathe to lose my lovely dry stone wall. I know that sounds so silly but its really pretty Blush

RunRunRuby - I wouldn't be able to open my car door sadly. Good idea though!

What really irritates me is that we deliberately paid slightly extra for a house that meant we could park both our cars without needing to park on the road. Surely if you pick a house with no parking and two cars you assume you might not always keep dry.....

OP posts:
toastedteacake · 13/02/2014 10:19

Definitely keep the dry stone wall. Sounds lovely (Do you have those trailing violas growing in/ on it? Jealous)

If polite conversation and production of deeds doesn't have the desired effect may I suggest a small spillage from your toolbox of an assortment of screws, nails and other sharp objects whilst erecting another 'Keep Off - Private Parking' sign?

A couple of punctures may put her off... Wink

eurochick · 13/02/2014 10:25

I think showing her a copy of the deeds would be a good start.

JennyOnAPlate · 13/02/2014 10:36

I would send a copy of the deeds and a solicitors letter. Obviously the letter would cost but to me it would be worth it!

OwlCapone · 13/02/2014 11:28

Have you actually told her explicitly that it's part of your front garden?

OwlCapone · 13/02/2014 11:30

You could say "I realise it looks like its just an on-street parking bay but it's actually part of our front garden. It would be like me having a BBQ in your front garden." With a smile and a laugh.

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