Not enough parking - should I do something?

[MirandaGoshawk]

Genuinely wonder if current situation is OK or not.

We moved 5 weeks ago to a house at the end of a long (single-car) track. There is a garage, tarmac area and small patch of lawn in front of the house. We are 4 adults with 3 cars, and there's just about enough room for us, shuffling, to turn & get out, after DS has left early for work. But early on weekends all the cars are there.

We've had a paper delivered weekends for several years at the old house, & continued here. So far Sundays no problem, (early & through letterbox) but on Saturdays the paper is late and left on the doorstep, so must be different delivery person. Yesterday he, an elderly gent, rang the bell. Complained about the parking & that he couldn't turn round. I sympathised & told him my car is always hemmed in. He said we should park in the garage & I told him it's full of stuff from the move while we do work on the house. "So," he said, "you'll be parking in there soon?" Me: "Not necessarily..." because we have bikes, DS's tools & trailer, etc. He then suggested that we could rip up the front lawn! We had actually considered this before moving in but decided to manage without because it would look horrible. I don't want to be dictated to by a complete stranger!

So I said that he could a) turn round further up the track about 100 metres & walk or reverse down, or b) I could get the paper delivered from the other local newsagent, which is actually nearer the house. He considered this for a minute & then said "No, it's alright" and stomped off.

So, what do you reckon? AIBU?

So this is the paper delivery man, and not one of your new neighbours? And he's moaning because he couldn't turn his car around to get out of your road front-ways?

If I've got that right... what the hell. YANBU! I'd be switching to that other newsagent after telling the shop owner (if it isn't the man who knocked) why.

Ignore him
His inability to park his car is not your problem
If he moans again juat getbhem delicered by the other newsagent

Ted, I hope he isn't a neighbour! And yes, you've got that right.

Three of our regular dog pick-ups are from houses in this sort of lane. The biggest pest is that we have to send the dog-car to collect rather than the dog van, as reversing a Transit down them all is hell. And don't even mention bin day!

What do you do about visitors OP?

So he his the paper guy?
If it was a neighbour then he might have a point but not someone who it is going to be a pain for once a week for five minutes. He can do one.

There is parking about 200 yards away at top of track but so far no visitors have had to - they've all managed to turn round OK. Also we've had deliveries no probs, but all these when DS's car not there.

You could put a post box at the end of your drive.

He is being unreasonable moaning about this. Swap to a different agent if he moans again.

You don't have to do anything but it's likely to be an ongoing problem.

Probably the previous owners had fewer cars so the situation didn't arise.

In your shoes, I'd pave the lawn, the problem will get worse, not better. You have 3 cars but could have more if/when your DC have visitors or you do.

In our road most houses have OSP but I know the local council are declining some requests to pave gardens now.

Is yours the only house in the track or is there a chance that your NDNs will add to the car numbers (as I've noticed here when teen/adult children get cars)

I wouldn't have tolerated an interrogation from entered a conversation with the paperboy (regardless of his age) about my future plans for my house. So YWBU for that bit!

Seems like an awful lot of hassle to go to just to make life easier for the paper man?

I wouldn't have bought a place with not enough parking space outside. Ambulances, guests, deliveries, people who are lost...... What about when your children have girlfriends / boyfriends (or is a partner already living with you?)

Get one of those big metal boxes that you see at the end of long posh drives then he only has to put the paper in there instead of coming up to the house.

I should imagine he's paid very little for delivering a single paper. I've never lived rurally, but imagine it would add on hours to your round if you have to park up 200m from the house to deliver each paper. So, I wouldn't be surprised if the newsagent things it's not worth delivering to you.

Good suggestion above, about putting a delivery box accessible from where they can park, and you walk, IMO, as you've blocked what has traditionally been the turning point. Presumably this will be the same for post, for parcels, and for anything else delivered ? the bonus of course, is that you won't get 10 Pizza leaflets through your door each week, as we do

You could read the paper online?!

I wouldn't have bought a place with not enough parking space outside. Ambulances, guests, deliveries, people who are lost...... What about when your children have girlfriends / boyfriends (or is a partner already living with you?)
Seriously? What sort of ideal world do you live in?
I've re-read Op's post and it seems they have plenty of parking to meet their needs, that's a bonus really in a household with more than one car.
I'd probably just cancel the paper and go to the other shop to sort out delivery.

Seriously? What sort of ideal world do you live in?

I don't live in an ideal world, just Ohio, and I wouldn't have bought a house without ample parking. We spent too long living in townhomes where we had to park wherever we could find a space. We have two cars, which we park in our garage, but our driveway will accomodate 6 more (two rows of three), and then there's street parking as well. We have barbecues all summer long, as well as various parties throughout the year, so parking was an important consideration.

OP, is there not enough room for him to do a 3-point turn?

Id suggest you get the paper boy one of these babies

www.carturntables.co.uk/products/domestic-car-turntables.html

(not the car, the thing it's parked on)

As long as you are parking on your land then what's the problem?

I don't live in an ideal world, just Ohio

The U.K. is much more cramped that Ohio. We all fight over parking all the time unless we live in a mansion.

I live in a semi and have never fought over parking in the 26 years I've had a car.

Thanks for all the comments. I would love a car turntable!

Steff, yes, the UK is a bit more crowded! We had been looking for a house for two years. Had to get away from the other place (neighbour noise) and this place was the best solution, despite the tricky parking. As I said, we've managed fine for five weeks. If necessary when visitors come we will park up the road and they can park here. No probs with deliveries because DS's car not here in the daytime.

The previous owners parked in the garage Seriously, I can't think of anyone else I know who parks in their garage. All garages (apart from footballers' underground garages full of supercars) are full of bikes, lawnmowers etc & it's not like the USA where they have a cellar/under the house storage for such stuff.

There are other neighbours down the track but AFAIK no problems for them as their houses all have parking/turning off the track.

He had a teeny car but with DS's girlfriend's car there (I counted her as the fourth person - she stays weekends, DD is away at Uni & shares my car when she's home) he couldn't turn.