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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

..that this car blocking access is driving me nuts

60 replies

flowerygirl · 26/08/2015 22:10

We live in a house with a shared driveway. The driveway is gated and we and our neighbours all have a key. Lately, a car keeps parking in front of the gate blocking access so noone can get in or out. It is driving me NUTS, but as far as my online search goes, there isn't much that we can do about it. It's not a police matter as far as I can work out. Anyone got any suggestions of what to do? Or should I just let it go and park in the street?

OP posts:
Squishyeyeballs · 27/08/2015 00:06

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Fatmomma99 · 27/08/2015 00:11

OOOoooo. A good parking thread!

Good luck with the blocking in, flowery. Let us know how you get on.

btw, I think it IS illegal to park in front of a dropped kerb, but I may be wrong in that, so don't take it as correct!

SistersOfPercy · 27/08/2015 00:18

btw, I think it IS illegal to park in front of a dropped kerb, but I may be wrong in that, so don't take it as correct!

Not exactly. It's illegal to impede a vehicle from driving into the carriageway but not off it.
In a nutshell, if car is on the drive or in the garage its illegal. Nothing on the drive, it's not.

Adarajames · 27/08/2015 00:36

Lots of boroughs have a bylaw that means you'll be ticketed and / or fined for parking across dropped kerbs, but it's not every area that does this

Rainbunny · 27/08/2015 02:15

Are they parking there because there are no other spaces on the street? If there are other available parking spaces I'd almost think this was deliberate, maybe a personally motivated act?

Lweji · 27/08/2015 02:29

www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2004/18/part/6

"In a special enforcement area a vehicle must not be parked on the carriageway adjacent to a footway, cycle track or verge where—

(a)the footway, cycle track or verge has been lowered to meet the level of the carriageway for the purpose of—

(i)assisting pedestrians crossing the carriageway,

(ii)assisting cyclists entering or leaving the carriageway, or

(iii)assisting vehicles entering or leaving the carriageway across the footway, cycle track or verge;"

And according to this www.newparkinglaws.co.uk/post/Parking-Next-to-a-Drop-Kerb the local authority should have the power to take action.

So, I'd contact the council about it.

purplefizz26 · 27/08/2015 05:03

Don't let it go!!! Block them in Grin

HellKitty · 27/08/2015 05:11

We were blocked in once by student neighbours. XH needed to get to airport at 5am, rang their bell a lot, no answer. Ended up calling the police. They organised a tow truck who moved the students car - who by that time was chasing it down the road in his boxers. They never did it again.

Icimoi · 27/08/2015 06:35

Don't block them in, get the police and the council onto them. It plainly is illegal. Tell the police that you need to get your car out urgently and they're stopping you.

cashewnutty · 27/08/2015 07:02

Some people are cheeky fuckers. Call the police and get it towed.

EponasWildDaughter · 27/08/2015 07:19

If it's there this morning bung a note on it saying clearly: ''This morning the residents of the four affected properties will be reporting this vehicle to the council and the local police for continually blocking access to and from a right of way''.

You say they come and go during the day, so they'll see the note and maybe bugger off and that'll be the end of it. Report them this morning either way.

StillStayingClassySanDiego · 27/08/2015 07:25

I'd definitely leave it to the police.

Whoever is doing this doesn't give a fuck about annoying you or the neighbours, I'm always wary about people like this.

Blocking them in might seem a good idea but what if they're a bit mad and get nasty, you never know who you're dealing with in these instances.

Get the police on it

grapejuicerocks · 27/08/2015 07:38

I like the wording of the note above.

Fluffyears · 27/08/2015 08:29

There was another poster who had someone blocking her drive and the police towed the vehicle.

WorriedMutha · 27/08/2015 08:30

Phone your Council's traffic enforcement unit. This is what the owners of houses did near to my child's former primary school. They would get regular back chat from inconsiderate parents who were 'just dropping off for 10 minutes'. There's no point getting into arguments with these entitled types. The traffic wardens turn up and ticket them.

MonstrousPippin · 27/08/2015 08:56

I had a friend stay over at my house and unbeknownst to me, he'd parked across someone's driveway on my street. Whilst I was at the bus stop the next morning, a council tow truck was loading someone's car onto it and I thought "stupid person parking there" and it was only later I found out it was my friend!

So some councils do move people's cars based on my only experience! Give them a try.

HellKitty · 27/08/2015 09:05

Good idea about the traffic wardens!
And they take photos now Wink

Pipbin · 27/08/2015 09:10

Don't damage the car!
Leave a note, if they do it then think about more interesting responses.

You say that it comes and goes all day. Do they live or work nearby?

Theresaflyinmyhouse · 27/08/2015 09:10

I'd go with the warning note above... Hopefully then they'll bog off

Jbck · 28/08/2015 19:27

OP please come back, I love a good parking tale Grin

HermioneWeasley · 28/08/2015 19:32

I would go for letting down tyres or similar non perm but V annoying non-damage. They'll soon move on

DJThreeDog · 28/08/2015 19:35

Buy a cheap lipstick and write all over the windows that they are not to park there. It's a bitch to get off but won't damage the car.

Or do spray mount a letter onto the window. Maybe the passenger window.

What and arsehole though seriously.

BlackeyedSusan · 28/08/2015 19:40

kids and muddy football.

poppetina · 28/08/2015 19:42

People keep doing this to me. I feel your pain, it really gives me the rage.

UnderTheGreenwoodTree · 28/08/2015 20:36

The last time this happened to us, I, in a fit of pique, threw potato peelings all over the bonnet and windscreen - much to DH''s horror. I started a thread on here, and was deemed not unreasonable Grin I had been drinking Wine though Blush

OP contact your PCSO - we did this, and he gave us a number for council where we could report a car blocking access, and they would have it towed. We haven't tested this as yet, as our driveway blockers tend to only be there for a short time - but it's good to know.