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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

I am slightly annoyed about a van parked outside my house. We have unrestricted parking (London terraced street).

134 replies

Mintyy · 06/02/2015 20:55

So I know the law, and I know I have no rights to the space outside my house. I honestly do and you don't need to remind me Grin. Our road can get busy but I can usually park within a 1 or 2 minute walk of my front door. So no real biggie.

But in my place would you be irritated that a largish van (think transit size) has been parked directly outside my house for 14 days now and not been moved once?

Please be honest. If it wouldn't bother you, would it really not, really and truly?

And wwyd? I am fairly sure I know who it belongs to. If I'm right, owner lives 15-20 houses away. They have a driveway which one of their cars occupies. They also have quite a large commercial vehicle, also parked on the road and also hasn't moved for a couple of weeks.

OP posts:
TheyLearnedFromBrian · 10/02/2015 20:31

Have you posted it? If not, could you make up something about having something big delivered in the next couple of days and you would be really grateful if they shifted it to allow your HUGE new fridge freezer/king size bed frame/grand piano to be unloaded?

Then as SOON as it's gone, get your own car there.

Medoc · 10/02/2015 20:38

We have this problem. The van owners do not even live in our road! When the road was resurfaced, the van was towed away and impounded, so they cannot live here, as they would have had notification through the door.
They come and move it for 2 hours every saturday morning, and that is it. It's a real fucker, not because it's an eyesore (it's just an ordinary white van, neat condition) but because it blocks the view from the drives on our section of road, and people drive down it like demons. We can't see when pulling out of our drives, it's really dangerous.

DadDadDad · 10/02/2015 21:56

I agree with TooSpotty about your note and I prefer hers, and slightly better is the the plantsitter one that was suggested yesterday (with a couple of tweaks as mentioned up-thread).

tara49 · 10/02/2015 22:28

Yes it would bug me BUT I once parked outside a house near my work (legally) and got a note on the dash telling me not to park there. I therefore park there whenever possible - if I were you i'd say nothing and each time you see it remind yourself that you are lucky if that's all you've got to worry about.

Original poster
Mintyy · 12/02/2015 20:48

Thank you for that sage advice Tara49.

I certainly will remind myself that I'm lucky the van outside my house is all I have to worry about every time I see it.

By the way, I don't remember saying that it was all I have to worry about? Gosh I really would be a lucky person if that were the case wouldn't I!

Anyway, I've had a word with the owner. He told me that he can't start it and needs to get a mechanic out and he's about to go on holiday, so it will be there for another 10 days.

OP posts:
Original poster
Mintyy · 12/02/2015 20:51

Also, tara, you say you "once" parked somewhere and got a note on your windscreen.

Whereas this is a case of a van parked outside my house for 20 days and counting now.

Slightly different ... ?

Perhaps ... ?

OP posts:
Mocheenee · 12/02/2015 21:04

Is it really true that you can park across someone's drive providing there is not a car on the drive?

This would help me immensely on the school run ;) !

Original poster
Mintyy · 12/02/2015 21:06

I think it is, but don't deliberately antogonise people on your school run!! Just park a bit further away and walk if you have to drive.

OP posts:
Original poster
Mintyy · 12/02/2015 21:06

antagonise

OP posts:
Mocheenee · 12/02/2015 21:12

My 'wink' didn't work properly oops....you are right, I would never deliberately antagonise my fellow locals.
There are the rare occasions when I have had that mad dash back from work (you know, the phone call that comes in to your desk a minute before you are due to leave that pushes you into lateness!) to get to the school gates on time when it has crossed my mind - but have never actually done it.
I end up having to park further down and run puffing and panting into the playground.

Mocheenee · 12/02/2015 21:14

Totally understand your frustration at this situation - it would infuriate me too. I hope for your case when the owner returns from holiday they behave with more consideration..

fizzycolagurlie · 13/02/2015 02:18

I'm not being funny, but its astonishing that this thread has lasted 6 days and 5 pages.

Its got to be a particularly British thing, worrying about what is parked in the street.

GirlOnATrainToShite · 31/07/2017 16:33

This is happening to me now!!! I Googled and found this thread 😱😱😱

So frustrating it's taking up mine and my neighbours space and has been for over a week!!

Beebee7 · 31/07/2017 16:35

ZOMBIE THREAD!!!!! Shock

That is happening a LOT this past few days!!! Hmm

GirlOnATrainToShite · 31/07/2017 16:37

Yeah sorry it was me just posting on it rather than starting a whole new thread venting about it. I can do that if you would prefer?

It didn't come up with the Zombie warning so obvs not old enough Smile

HipsterHunter · 31/07/2017 16:39

Yes it would bother me... but I KNOW that it is fair game ot park there!

When I lived in a terrace with street parking I used to always get a little bump of happiness if the spot outside my house was free, even tho you hardly ever had to park more than 30 secs walk away anyway!

Lilmisskittykat · 31/07/2017 16:44

Oh I think white vans should be banned from housing estates full stop. Ugly things never used to see it..

It would totally annoy me being totally honest. But like you infuriating as nothing can really do about it

AndHoldTheBun · 31/07/2017 16:56

It's been a couple of years folks, the van has probably been moved by now Grin

safariboot · 31/07/2017 16:58

Wow, didn't realise the thread was so old.

But yes, it would irritate me. It has irritated me when I see the same old banger parked outside mine for day after day. But it sort of comes with the territory, living in a small terraced house. I'd be more annoyed if I'd parked outside a random house, not driven the car for two weeks (very possible for me), and then get that house's residents leaving annoying notes.

That said, that's private cars. I think there might actually be different rules for business vehicles, regulations that they're not supposed to be parked on the road?

hesterton · 31/07/2017 16:59

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Lucysky2017 · 31/07/2017 17:57

I reported a dumped taxi to the local council this week as various people kept telling me to do that and it's been near our road for about 10 days. Also it is near where a stolen car was dumped a few weeks ago another neighbour said. They steal the cars, change the plates, do the crime and then dump them up here it seems.

if it's not abandoned are the neighbours running an illegal car business from home and you could report them to local planning?

GirlOnATrainToShite · 31/07/2017 18:04

Apologies I thought it said 2017 Blush

DailyMailReadersAreThick · 31/07/2017 18:06

It wouldn't bother me at all and I can't understand why it would. Do other people spend a lot of time looking out of their window? Confused

GirlOnATrainToShite · 31/07/2017 18:08

No it's just your shopping etc ....

NotAPuffin · 31/07/2017 18:15

I wonder has the van moved yet?