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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to park my car on a residential street for two weeks and walk two miles to the airport

411 replies

suzzieanneba46 · 05/03/2015 15:11

Is any there anything legally / morally wrong with this? I would save almost 50 just for a short walk..

OP posts:
ptumbi · 06/03/2015 11:50

I;ve just driven past Gatwick along the road outside the perimeter, ie just outside the airport boundary. It is a dual carriageway and has for some reason a lay-by on one side. This lay-by is always full of cars, about 8 or 10 in various degrees of straightness; I assume they park up and walk over the dual carriageway and up the perimeter road, through the barriers and into the airport.

As I drove past it, there were 2-3 car transporters loading all the cars onto them, supervised by police.

Just saying.

GratefulHead · 06/03/2015 11:52

Just what is wrong with considering the needs of others?

Please do enlighten me.

And I am NOT dictating where people should and should not park. I am merely suggesting they have some consideration for the needs of others before leaving their car for two weeks. Not two HOURS, two WEEKS.

SoupDragon · 06/03/2015 11:55

The attitude of some posters on this thread is astounding. Christ knows what their children are like!

Care to explain...?

AvonCallingBarksdale · 06/03/2015 11:57

What's rather unedifying about the whole thing is the glee with which some people seem to view the fact that they've inconvenienced others. Quite eye-opening. OP, what about getting a taxi to the airport, then you don't have to worry about your car, do you? Or get a lift. Or just drive to the airport and park your car there. Why go to all the hassle, just to save £3.50 per day?

TheFairyCaravan · 06/03/2015 11:58

Yes there are a lot of selfish people who think they own the piece of public highway outside their house.

I was thinking more of the people who stick two fingers up to the rest of the world and do what they like without a second's consideration to other people!

SoupDragon · 06/03/2015 12:00

I think yr last post explains which side of the fence the comment I was querying came from :)

bbcessex · 06/03/2015 12:01

OP... Your suggested parking spot on that link looks like it's outside a pub of some sort (there are certainly picnic tables there).. so you are taking away a space from a business by deserting your car for two weeks.

Soupdragon.. I can't speak for the intent of the 'what their children are like' comment, but I in my opinion, I do think that parents with the attitude of 'fuck it, these are my rights' are likely to indicate other selfish character traits within their own families.

muminhants · 06/03/2015 12:04

In my view, a lot of residents parking is created not because residents object to people parking outside their houses (although they often do) but because the council objects to people parking for free a few minutes' walk from the town centre and therefore are not paying to park in the council car parks. Call me a cynic, but I think the latter is the reason residents permits are issues, not the former (unless a councillor lives on the road concerned).

If a road is busy with lots of cars and nobody is going to notice your car, it might be ok to do it. But if it's quite quiet and an unknown car will stick out like a sore thumb, I wouldn't. Personally I'd be really worried about leaving my car somewhere for two weeks.

I live at the end of a cul-de-sac near a school. I knew it was near the school when I bought the house. But it is quite unbelievable how many parents park in front of, or opposite driveways, and block the turning area outside my house. Occasionally a traffic warden comes along and gives out a few tickets but not often enough.

muminhants · 06/03/2015 12:05

issued not issues

Mumsnet SO needs an edit function!

TSSDNCOP · 06/03/2015 12:13

You are absolutely going to come back to a keyed car.

I had yo park in a different street a couple of weeks ago as the council were replacing our lamp posts. I have a nice wibbly go faster stripe down my car now.

Have I missed the part where you explain why you can't get public transport to the airport?

Original poster
suzzieanneba46 · 06/03/2015 12:13

The spot is near a pub but its not part of a pubs car park, its just a public road. By your reasoning you should never park near any business on the public road?

Ffs stop with the people saying its only 50 quid, may not be a lot for you but it is for some after they are taxed on their income and have to pay for all the essentials.

OP posts:
Original poster
suzzieanneba46 · 06/03/2015 12:14

No public transport from my house to the airport, unless I changed busses 3 times and for the return flight no bus back home as too late.

OP posts:
MQv2 · 06/03/2015 12:18

" I do think that parents with the attitude of 'fuck it, these are my rights' "

But that's the thing, people parking aren't doing it in a pigheaded "fuck it these are my rights" way. I genuinely find it baffling how the people saying its not right to park in a public space think they are reasonable.

And from our point of view I'd draw conclusions about people who think its their right to kick up a fuss and get their way despite being in the wrong or having any sort of authority to stake claim to a public spot. To me there's the I'm alright jack, it's my spot type of people. The kind of relative who's incredibly difficult so everyone just goes along with their terrible attitude to keep the peace and this convinced them they're right.
Sure look at some of the people practically giddy at the thought of a bit of criminal damage to a legally parked car on a public road.

If you're going to draw assumptions about people based on their attitude to this particular issue then everyone is fucked on both sides.

TSSDNCOP · 06/03/2015 12:18

Fair enough. But your car, outside a pub, two weeks, pissed people coming home you are absolutely getting keyed.

Why don't you ask the landlord if you can park in the pub car park? If it's not a busy pub he might be cool with that.

SirChenjin · 06/03/2015 12:19

So is this one of those AIBUs where you've already decided what you were going to do before you actually posted?

Original poster
suzzieanneba46 · 06/03/2015 12:22

I totally don't mind getting keyed, my car cost 900, I've done 30k miles in it and have various bumps from reversing into my narrow drive and running over animals. It owes me nothing. Would mind the tires being slashed or wipers bent.

Good luck getting through the mud to key it

OP posts:
jbee1979 · 06/03/2015 12:22

YABVU

if you lived in Northern Ireland the bomb squad would be all over your vehicle, houses evacuated, inconvenience to residents etc.

NI don't have the monopoly on terrorism anymore, there's a fair chance if they can't contact you your car could be involved in a "controlled explosion" never mind being keyed!

Original poster
suzzieanneba46 · 06/03/2015 12:23

Not really. I still haven't found a great spot to park in. Thinking more of parking in Bristol and just getting the expensive airport bus.

OP posts:
Fugacity · 06/03/2015 12:23

I live near Heathrow - £3.50 for a bus fair.

I exercise passive aggressive parking on my street. It's perfectly legal ;)

TheFairyCaravan · 06/03/2015 12:23

Ffs stop with the people saying its only 50 quid, may not be a lot for you but it is for some after they are taxed on their income and have to pay for all the essentials.

Oh,sorry! People didn't realise that you are the only person in this country who pays tax and the bills! Hmm

countessmarkyabitch · 06/03/2015 12:24

"Oh so sorry Countess clearly you belong to the sad and selfish me me me brigade"

Fugacity · 06/03/2015 12:26

Stupid autocorrect. Bus fare

sherbetpips · 06/03/2015 12:27

depends on where you are parking it. There was a car parked on the main road near us for 2 weeks, totally blocking the road in the rush hour. Looked okay at the weekends because there wasnt as much traffic. Make sure its not a school run road for instance.

TSSDNCOP · 06/03/2015 12:29

jbee in Kent 1979 I as a 9 yo left my little attaché case at a bus stop near the local shop parade.

The police were called and blew it up. I shit you not. It had Chalet School books and my colouring in it!

emwithme · 06/03/2015 12:32

How about the public (council) car park(s) in Winscombe? There's one next to the pub and one behind it (but not in front); it's on a direct bus route to the airport (takes about 1/2 an hour) and lots of people park there for a while (and others only while