AIBU - Parking

[RedBlu]

AIBU in wanting to complain/report a neighbour that CONSTANTLY parks directly outside their house, taking up most of the path so you can't get past?

We live on a new build development, it's a nice area and it's fairly spacious and all houses have driveways for at least two cars. However the house in question does seem to have a design flaw, in that their driveway is attached to their next door neighbours driveway, and both sets of neighbours have stupidly large cars. This means that if one neighbour has parked their car on the drive, the other neighbour can't squeeze their car down alongside as the space is so limited. Clearly it's the builders fault but it isn't helped by the fact both neighbours have larger than normal cars.

Anyway, this neighbour lives across the street from us, so this parking issue doesn't "directly" affect us.

However, I am getting fed up with their disregard for anyone else and their selfish parking. When they park, they literally park outside their door, car up on the path, taking up near on the entire pathway. You can't get past it, you have to go around it via the road.

It's happens every single day because they can't get on their drive. There are better places to park where they wouldn't be on the path, but it's a whole 10 metres from their house, and clearly it's too inconvenient.

AIBU in wanting to complain or should I let it drop as they bought a crappily designed house/plot.

Parking on the pavement is illegal.

If it is a road that has a lot of passing traffic including pushchairs or wheelchairs, speak to them or report it. If it's a cul de sac or similar where no one really walks past let it lie.

I wasn't sure if it was illegal or not, as it's a residential area obviously no lines to say no parking on the road, wasn't sure on rules regarding pavements.

It's a quiet area but I know of a few young parents around here who complain they can't be passed because of the car.

Just looked out of the window, it's there. Like I said, it's there most of the time apart from when they are at work. It's currently parked entirely over the oath, leaving maybe 30cm of pavement "free". Would post pic but it would out me to anyone living here!

I hate it when people park their car over the entire pavement forcing pedestrians to go into the road to get round it

Agree with Eurochick though, if their house is at the end of a cul-de-sac then it would be petty to complian

It's not a culdersac, it's a road.

Would it be more, or less of a problem if they parked on the road? To everyone, not just to you?

Before you "complain", its probably worth talking to them and explaining that it's an area where there is high pedestrian traffic, and what the problem is. They probably think they are doing everyone a favour by keeping the road clear.

If its a new build, the developers may be understanding and be able to widen the drives and extend the dropped kerb to ease the drive access problem.

NB, its cul de sac. French. Means bottom of the bag.

The development is near enough finished so the builders can't change anything at this stage. I think the two houses mentioned were squeezed in as everyone else as wide drives apart from these two.

The roads are wide but probably would still cause issues for them to park on the road. It's tough as they purchased a house with crap parking, but I still don't think they should park on the path.

As I mentioned, other people with children in prams have complained (although as far as I am aware, not directly to the owners) as they can't get past with a pram.

Apologies spelling police, my phone changed it. Must buy my phone a spelling book....

Call 101 - it's illegal to park on the pavement and obstruct access for pedestrians. Pavements aren't made to take a car's weight either so will gradually collapse under its weight so your local council may be interested too

Just walk over their garden if you can't get past on the pavement.

It's not illegal to park on a pavement, BUT the general rule of thumb is that you need to be able to get a double buggy through on the path. I can't really imagine any police officer having the time or real inclination to deal with such a small issue and quite frankly I'm inclined to agree (as you can tell I'm an ex police officer)
You really need to just resolve this yourself, a chat with the owner should suffice and explain why it's a pain. They might just be oblivious to the inconvenience they cause.

It is in London but didn't realise that it didn't apply nationally. Sorry OP.

thehousewife - if the neighbour won't move their car, is that not a traffic warden issue? Aren't they part of the police?

No traffic wardens are generally run by the local council who often put it out on a private contract!! The police have no involvement in traffic wardens. A PCSO might be able to have a chat though if you have them there? They would be part of a neighbourhood policing team who normall have a website where you can email your local PCSO X

I hate people who do this. There is a really wide road next to us so no reason to pull into pavement but there is a car parked partly on pavement every day.

Conversely mil lives on s very narrow road so all cats park half on the oavent to allow traffic to get up and down easily. Her neighbour didn't do this and obstructed an ambulance getting through. He learned that day why everyone had two wheels on the pavement.

Thank you - very informative :)

Loads of cars do this on my street and when walking with my DC (youngest in pushchair) my four year is now in the habit of tutting, shaking her head and saying 'Mummy look at that ridiculous parking', think she may have heard me mutter one too many times! ??