To think that a public road is just that (yep - it's another parking one)

[CuppaTeaAndAJammieDodger]

I live on a main road with no parking, there is a large car park next door to us (the council offices) which you're allowed to use at weekends and on bank holidays (which I indeed use at these times) the only other place to park within about a 15 minute walk (if you're lucky) is the cul-de-sac opposite which has about space for about 14 cars (although there is a boat permanently in one of these spaces), about 70% of the houses on that road have either got a driveway or a separate garage.

On 2 occasions now I have had residents (older ladies if that is of any consequence) come over to me whilst I am in my car and yell at me about how terrible and selfish I am for parking on their road and how it should be left for the residents and nobody else. I've calmly explained each time that it is a public road and not residents parking and I pay my road tax like everyone else (although if it was I suspect I'd get a permit as we're so close to the road in question and have no alternative parking on week days), that I have to drive to get my DD (just turned 6) to school and that I work some miles away in a place that is only accessible by car. I asked one of them where else they suggest I park - she just said "I don't care, just not here". I ended up closing my window on one of them, and let the other rant (we were a captive audience as a bin van was blocking the exit...fun!) until she ran out of steam and the van had left - at which stage I told her I wished she would focus her attention on more important things and drove off (yes - rude - not too proud of myself for saying that but she had just spent the last 10 minutes yelling at me).

DD was in the car both times I was berated and was very upset on one of the occasions as the woman was so nasty.

I continue to use the cul-de-sac to park, I have no choice, but I feel very uncomfortable doing so now.

But OP doesn't know that dexter, do you know the ins outs of all your neighbours?

I'm not berating OP, it must be hard living where she does, but I suppose I am just grateful that there is no reason I couldn't walk 15 minutes (as a healthy younger woman) whereas there may be a reason for the 'older ladies' (in the OP) not to be able to do so. If there really isn't any parking within a 15 minute radius, why is OPs need greater than the residents?

I don't think her need is greater than anyone else's, it is the same as theirs. They are all residents and are all allowed to park on the road. You can't expect people to only park in car parks just because there might be someone with a greater need than them who might want to park there.

OP, you say you asked where they suggested you park, but presumably there are days when the cul de sac is full and you have to go elsewhere. What do you do then?

Exactly Eve, that situation is a very difficult one and I have a similar situation with my mil who I look after but the people legally parked near her care home are not to blame for that. The residents of the street op talks about should get together and talk to the council about getting permit parking on their street. They have no right to go harassing people like op.

That's where we differ I suppose dexter. When we visit MIL we to to the car park 200 yds away because walking that distance is chicken feed to us. The people parking on my MILs road are doing so to go into town (5 mins walk) or the train station (10 mins walk) - except the Labour Councillor whose office backs onto the car park (wanker). It has made me much more courteous, especially of the older generation, and grateful that I am healthy.

I wouldn't move to a house without off street or designated parking. It would be one of my deal breakers for sure. I too wonder what OP does when the cul de sac is full.

But you are only visiting your MIL. The op lives at her house and would like to park close by to it and not a 15 minute walk away. As this is possible I don't see why she shouldn't. I imagine when the cul de sac is full she parks further away, but if there are spaces she uses them.

Yes I am only visiting MIL, but there isn't a person under 60 living in the street. I feel for all of them, especially those who are having to pay to park (using their pension) or walk 200 yds because fit and healthy workers cannot do the same.

Like I said, it's where we differ. MILs circumstances have made me more considerate of the older generation that's all. I'm not some bloody perfect princess, and having to carry MILs shopping those 200 yds is a pain in the fucking arse, but it's far worse for the others that live there, and have done for years. OP moved to that area, knowing there was no parking. I wonder how long the cul de sac residents have lived there and how much of an issue it was before.

It's hard for both parties, I see that and sympathise, but surely harder for the older less mobile person.

The residents of the cul de sac all have drives and garages so she isn't taking up their spaces.

No, she says about 70% do, not all. Maybe the two older ladies are in the 30% that don't.

Yes didn't see that. Still don't see why these two ladies think they have a right to dictate who parks on a public road though, and to harass people who do park there.

Absolutely, there was no need for the rudeness. Maybe they are just fed up with it though, and I will admit here that one one occasion I did run out of MILs house and challenge the MP that parked there... Then follow him up the road to his office berating him loudly for being a cheap arsed bastard that didn't care about his elderly and disabled constituents, as long as he could park his Audi for free and not dip into his eye watering wage to pay for parking

I think it is something you do have to accept though. I get fed up with all the cars parked on our road sometimes as they often park really badly and make it hard to get through. It has only happened, as I said earlier, in the past year since the school built over the staff car park. I put up with it though as the staff have to park somewhere and I can't see the council doing anything about it as they are the ones who agreed the plans for the building work! The school is amazing now as well.

The vast majority of the time there is a space available in the cul de sac, the other times I park the 15 mins away and walk back. For what it's worth the nastiest of the 2 admitted she didn't even have a car!