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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

shut the bloody gate/parking/dog walking

32 replies

ThePrisonerOfAzkaban · 09/04/2014 10:38

Yes a aibu with those lovely 3!

I live in a house that is on its own in the middle of field, the house has a long drive way about 1/4 mile you can't pass another car on it, big drops on both sides. The house its self is cut into the hill so it has several levels. There are 4 parking spaces, 2 right out side the front door and another 2, the second level down. If you park like crap on the lower level you can't get the cars out from the front of the house.
Now the person who livid the house before us didn't drive and was the type to say to people come and park and mine and take.the dogs for a walk. The driveway it's self runs next too a footpath, it's not actually the footpath that's the field and not the drive, the footpath continues up the hill past the house. Anyway we've been getting blocked in ever since we've moved in with people parking in our private parking spaces, or just on the drive it's self. Notes/asking people not too doesn't seem to work. It's a popular dog walking route so it seems. So we put up a gate at the bottom of the parking spaces, people just open the bloody thing and still drive in, we've got no parking signs up the works. Or if they have walked up the drive just leave the gate open. We can't really lock it as there is no where to turn around for the Postman/partners clients works from home/or the farmer for his fields.
Aibu to just go out and puncture there bloody tyres?

OP posts:
Scrounger · 09/04/2014 10:47

How annoying? The only things I can think of, is going out to everyone who parks and saying that this is private property don't park on here again, blocking them in somehow. More signs saying 'Private Property - No Parking' or electronic gates that the Postman, Clients etc can be buzzed in through and letting the farmer have the code. It is just really expensive to do that to stop people doing something that they shouldn't.

Scrounger · 09/04/2014 10:49

Sorry, just seen that you have tried talking to them. What is their response when you ask them?

MarysDressSways · 09/04/2014 10:52

I'd get a code or remote for the gate, give the farmer a remote so he can come and go, and just buzz the postman/clients in as Scrounger suggests.

HecatePropylaea · 09/04/2014 10:56

Put a big sign up saying that the new owners do not give permission for vehicles to park here and also get one of those fake cctv cameras and point it at the parking space?

Or lock up the gate but give those who need access a key? get a lock box for the postie.

Original poster
ThePrisonerOfAzkaban · 09/04/2014 10:58

Also the issue is its a rented house, the landlord was not keen on the gates so don't think he will go for electrical ones. Tbh every time I've spoken to someone they have been really nice, and moved straight away, but they still come back the next blinking day as it's "their route" to walk the dog on. It doesn't help that we can't see the lower spaces from the house as there is a big wall holding back the hill so you park there and we don't even know till you walk outside to do something. Land Lords not interested either as long as the rent is paid he just seems to think we are being fussy as the last person livid there for 6 years with no issues.

OP posts:
HindsightisaMarvellousThing · 09/04/2014 10:59

How irritating. Can you put a notice on the main gate at the road end of your drive saying that the drive and parking places are privately owned and walkers are not permitted to drive or park on your drive or park at your house. And add a "humorous" postscript saying that yes, this notice applies to everyone who isn't actually coming to see you/DH.

Or lock the main driveway gate, and have a delivery bin there for post and parcels, plus a remote for the farmer.

I' incensed on your behalf, this would drive me up the wall and have me out shouting at parked cars.

HindsightisaMarvellousThing · 09/04/2014 11:00

Sorry, cross post. Can you physically block the lower car park spaces?

thinkingaboutfostering · 09/04/2014 11:05

Could you just park there yourselves for a bit? Or offer storage fora friends trailer/ caravan and park it across where the walkers would normally park but still allowing you to get your ads out?

thinkingaboutfostering · 09/04/2014 11:06

Cars not ads lol

Original poster
ThePrisonerOfAzkaban · 09/04/2014 11:15

Putting a gate at the other end of the drive isn't really an option it's too close to a busy A road and no pull in, plus the landlord has veto'd it. We have put up signs saying private drive at the road end too. Can't really leave a caravan/cars there as we need the spaces for clients. My partner did park our cars in lower spaces but some idiot still parked on the bit that runs between the different levels. I think there about 25-30 different cars who are parking here often but then you get the odd few ones that I don't recognise.

And don't even get me started on letting the dogs loose on our garden and not picking up poo, or upsetting our own dogs.

OP posts:
RoganJosh · 09/04/2014 12:47

Padlock the gate and give people who need it the combination? Could be easy, 555 or something.

5Foot5 · 09/04/2014 12:53

If someone parks there who shouldn't could you move one of your cars to block them in and then be "unavailable" for a couple of hours. Might discourage them another time.

Would the police be able to offer any advice about what you can do to stop someone parking on a private drive?

TarkaTheOtter · 09/04/2014 13:00

I agree, you need to start blocking people in.

Abra1d · 09/04/2014 13:01

Bollard that can be easily folded down when you/your friends/your clients need the space, or the postman needs to turn around?

SpeverendRooner · 09/04/2014 13:02

It's trespass, isn't it? Give 101 a call and see if they have any advice. Maybe they'd be willing to have a word, or even just write to the car owners if you can give them the registration numbers (and some photos).

Don't puncture anybody's tyres.

Do make sure you know your clients' and guests' registration numbers. Grin

wheresthelight · 09/04/2014 13:08

O would go buy a. Few cheap wheel clamp's and then start warning folk that's they park their they risk clamping and a release fee then start clamping them!

TheWomanTheyCallJayne · 09/04/2014 13:10

I think a padlock with a code on the gate you have that you can give to relevant people is probably the next step

Noodledoodledoo · 09/04/2014 13:12

Get some very sticky labels and print on them a polite reminder that it is private property and stick them on their windows - obvisously not in driving line but in a place that is irritating.

Persist with doing it till they get the message!

Squirrelsmum · 09/04/2014 13:14

If you have made it clear to them that they are parking on private property and that you don't want them, ring council and have their cars towed.

Original poster
ThePrisonerOfAzkaban · 09/04/2014 13:22

That's it I think we are going to have to get tougher, didn't want to upset the locals but it's going to have to get that way. Such a pain as it's a lovely house and area. Partner said he will call the police (even though one of them uses the space to let the police dog out!) And see.what they say. Think its just been going on so long people believe it's there right. Why would you wan to walk up a muddy field climb up a bank which has bambles etc on it instead of walking up a lovely smooth drive with a clear path up to the walk. The walk it's self is stoned too, just think people don't want to get muddy when our route is lovely and clean.

OP posts:
Inertia · 09/04/2014 14:02

If you are blocked in, call the police.

Original poster
ThePrisonerOfAzkaban · 09/04/2014 14:05

Thing is by the time the police get here the walkers would be finished and gone, it's not like they go off for hours and hours. 45min-1hr, buy it does make me late for things

OP posts:
Pipbin · 09/04/2014 17:33

I can't believe that people have the nerve to do this. It's a pain it being rented and therefore you can't really put up gates etc.
I guess notes on the cars saying 'please be aware that this is private property and if you continue to park here then your car will be towed. Your number plate has been noted.'

Call a local car recovery firm and ask if they will do something like that. Best to find out where you stand legally too.

Pipbin · 09/04/2014 17:34

Or you could start charging for parking.

CerealMom · 09/04/2014 18:12

www.pittmantraffic.co.uk/p/adhesive-warning-sticker-please-refrain-250_roll/p-753700

Sticky labels.

They are an arse to get off, but no damage done.