It's a parking thread!

[KentMum2008]

It's not me who is potentially BU, and as yet the situation hasn't escalated, but it will....

We live in a small cul de sac, parking is an utter nightmare and consequently a few neighbours have had dropped kerbs installed. The neighbour opposite me had a dropped kerb installed today, but there's a brick wall across their garden and it's still turfed/covered with flowers in pots so until they've knocked that down they obviously can't park on their drive. The drive itself doesn't actually exist yet.

Another neighbour has just parked across the new dropped kerb. It was the last space at this end of the cul de sac. Said neighbour is 18, has just passed his driving test and works in a PRU. He lives with, and is a carer for, his disabled dad, who he takes out in the mornings, and brings home with him after work. I think he goes to a Day centre type place, but the dad is always with him in the car so he needs to park as close as possible. He's an absolute beaut of a young man, and wouldn't say boo to a goose.

Here's the issue. When Dropped Kerb lady comes home, she's going to flip that he's parked there. I heard her chatting away to the guys doing the work saying that she'll 'go to town' on anyone who parks there, even while the wall is still in place. I'm hovering in the kitchen because once she's back it's going to kick off, and poor lovely young neighbour won't know how to deal with her.

Is Dropped Kerb neighbour BU expecting people to leave the space free (and does the law regarding Dropped kerbs stand when there's not actually a drive in place?) or is Lovely Young Neighbour BU for parking there?

And AIBU for being absolutely ready to leap to his defence?! I'm pretty good in confrontational situations, rarely lose my rag etc and I'd like to think if it was my son and I wasn't able to help him out, someone else would be there, even if it was only for a bit of solidarity. The only other neighbour who is indoors is a really quiet woman, in 10 years of living here I've never heard her utter a word to anyone other than her cat and a hedgehog once.

Diagram attached, obvs. Not that it makes things much clearer but it's not a real parking thread without a diagram.

Has the neighbour actually got permission to drop the kerb? That would be my starting point. You have to apply for planning permission.

That's not to poo-poo on your idea Tingo, it's a really lovely idea but I know LYM just likes to get on with things himself. He never asks for help from anyone, although he's the first to come out and help when someone else needs it. He's ok with me and DH, but then he was friends with my nephew in primary school so I think he's quite comfortable with us.

Yes wowfudge she has permission, lots of residents applied jointly and all got approved.

Not sure why autocorrect is capitalising Dropped Kerb every time.... because it's now an official Mumsnet Proper Noun! Anyway, just checked my local authority's website and they have an online contact form to report illegal parking, one of the options being 'Parking in front of a dropped kerb' - no qualifier mentioned so unfortunately, although it's ridiculous, she's probably within her rights to complain about people parking there, and tbh, you'll all have to stop parking there when she does get the driveway done so may as well find alternatives now - the disabled bay application seems sensible. Depending on the LA though there could be a lot of restrictions on it, blue badge holder obviously but also it can't impede anyone else's use of the road/getting on off their driveways i.e. There's got to be 'space' for it. Took my dad ages to get one.

It's irritating because there's space for one car outside each house, but some families obviously have more than one. My NDN has a car, her husband has a car & a work van and their teenage daughter has a car!

The neighbour next to DKL has planning permission for a dropped kerb so that's the equivalent of 3 spaces gone, but only 2 cars off the road.

Aw what a nice neighbour you are OP I'm sure he is grateful for the warning

No offence taken Mango, just an idea but yes I can see how some people hate a fuss (I'm the same!)

Ahhh LYM just knocked and said thanks for the heads up and said he'll move down the road. DH insisted on moving so he's out doing that now. LYM said he hadn't even thought about the disabled space application, they've only just got a blue badge so it's next on his list of things to do. I've just printed the forms for him because for some daft reason you can't do it online. I spoke to a lady round the corner who said she paid £50 because it's literally just painting the bay. Had a quiet word with DH and agreed we'll pay if need be. LYM is barely a grown up himself and he's got enough to manage as it is.

Happy parking thread ending!

Mango

Several points.

1. Thank you for recognising that NO parking thread has any validity without a diagram

2. Thank you for caring so much about your neighbours

3. Thank GOD that you have the Belligerent MumsNetter Protection-of-the-Innocent gene in spades.

and finally -
4) If you decide to move, there's a really nice house in our street up for sale ATM

Mango you're a legend!

Tidy conclusion Mango, what a lovely family you lot are!

You and LYM both sound lovely :)

Ahh guys, trust me if you had LYM living near you, you'd want to do anything you could for him. He's a darling.

There is a very tiny bit of me that wanted DH to park across DKL's Kerb and see if she'd have the balls to 'go to town' on us. He suggested it and for a minute we both considered it, but then decided against.
Would have been fun/a poor parking choice/still really fun.

mango just wanted to say I had a lump in my throat and a tear in my eye when I read the bit about you and your DH offering to pay for the disabled space for LYM and his dad. What a lovely neighbour you are.

Wow Mango, you are a star

oh my goodness this thread is too cute!

I know any of you who could afford it would do the same for him. Me and DH have been broke before, like reeeeally broke. £15 to get dinners for a week sort of broke. And it's shit. LYM works with children with behavioural difficulties, which I know isn't the best paid job in the world. Plus disability benefits for his dad are probably less than they used to be (f*ck the Tories)
DH has had a good year at work and it's £50 we'd probably spend on dinner out or something, which will be eaten and forgotten. This is a much better use for it.

A heartwarming tale for a lovely day in July.

Ugh DKL pulled up across her fucking kerb and got out with a big, smug grin across her face. Wish we'd parked there now

Report her to the traffic wardens for parking across a dropped kerb

Would be funny as fuck if she got a ticket for it

It would be hilarious, sadly it's a tiny residential street and not a traffic warden in sight.

I'm now curious as to when they'll be installing the drive and if her DH is doing it. He's an accountant and I've watched him try to mow the lawn before, it's pathetic so doubt he'll be able to pave a driveway. And put in proper drainage....

Mango you are lovely

This thread has made me smile. I wish I had a LYM as a neighbour. My horrible neighbour's DC are currently trying to destroy my rose bush with their bloody football! You sound lovely Mango .

Hopefully the rose bush will destroy the ball woof