Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Flip

1 2

Original poster

Work men are blocking me in and I’ve got three weeks of this shit

28 replies

Quietlife1979 · 05/04/2018 09:22

I live at the bottom of a T junction on an estate so the roads are not very big. The road which directly leads away from the house is complexly blocked with metal fence. Leaving basically one lane.

Then vans have parked on my side - on the curb directly either side of my drive way so I have no room to swing my car out. Even when the vans are not there it’s a nightmare as I’m terrified I’m going to scratch my car on my gate posts as it’s so tight manoeuvring in.

A fucking generator is chugging away ALL night.

Dd3 had a bad night which means I had a bad night. I have PMT.

Dd2 has two more weeks off school

I feel a bit stabby this morning.

OP posts:

IADBUithink · 05/04/2018 09:29

Can you not ask them to move around a bit so you can get your car out? If I ever have to do this I make a point of saying “I’m a terrible driver and I’d hate to scratch anyone’s vehicle...” Smile sweetly and do the tinkly laugh. I’m actually alright with driving and parking but if they’ve genuinely blocked you in I see why you’d rather they move.

Smeaton · 05/04/2018 09:32

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Mumsnut · 05/04/2018 09:33

I imagine the generator is for traffic lights since there is only one lane?

scurryfunge · 05/04/2018 09:35

Can you park on the road for the next three weeks?

OhMyGodTheyKilledKenny · 05/04/2018 09:38

Like Scurry said can you park on the road whilst the work is being done?
Either on the road outside your house or further away. It might be a pain having to walk further to your car but if it takes away the stress of getting through the roadworks area it might be worth it

ClaudiaWankleman · 05/04/2018 09:38

Could you park in one of the spots where their vans currently are?

Eliza9917 · 05/04/2018 09:40

What work are they doing? Ie who are they working for? Depending who it is, if they don't sort it after you've asked them to you could try contacting considerate constructors.

Original poster

Quietlife1979 · 05/04/2018 09:44

There are no traffic lights so why the generator is going I don’t know but I’ll ask.

I was guided in yesterday, backwards which I hate. I had a man in my garden in a high viz talking to me like a dumb blonde I nearly said ‘look just get the fuck out of my garden’

DH said to park out side but hourly a small bus runs past so I’d have to put it half on curb which makes it hard for people with prams to get past.

Gah !

OP posts:

AlphaApple · 05/04/2018 09:44

Oh god please don't play up to women driver stereotypes with ditsy behaviour and tinkly laughs. Just tell them to move at least one of their fucking vans.

52FestiveRoad · 05/04/2018 09:48

Are they council workmen or private? I would try speaking to whoever is in charge on the site, if there is no joy then perhaps try the council? To close a road they must have got permission, so the council should be aware of what's going on. You could then make a case about the parking problems and the generator noise. You should not have to put up with so much inconvenience. Did you get a letter warning you of the work in advance?

FluffyHippo · 05/04/2018 09:50

Instead of wasting time posting on an internet forum and looking for validation, just ask them to move. Simple. And then park somewhere else whilst they're working.

Jesus! Talk about living up to female stereotypes. Pathetic.

AskBasil · 05/04/2018 09:55

Who is the contractor for the works?

Ring them and find out why the generator is going all night, that seems to me a much greater problem than the parking, all you have to do about that is ask them to either move their van or guide you out.

Without the tinkly laugh.

Tawdrylocalbrouhaha · 05/04/2018 10:05

Agree no tinkly laugh or pretending to be a dimwit (WHY WOULD ANYONE DO THAT???). Just keep making them move until they stop parking you in.

WeAllHaveWings · 05/04/2018 10:09

Smile sweetly and do the tinkly laugh

Seriously??

Why not just ask them to move and if they don't ask to speak to speak to whoever is in charge.

Original poster

Quietlife1979 · 05/04/2018 10:13

fluffy thanks that’s just gave me my first laugh today I can’t possibly go out yet I’m still wafting round in my silk robe- I fear they would never leave if I did so...

No letter but apparently one was sent

They are taking a pylon down (I think) lots of scaffolding.

When I’m ready to get going I’ll go out and tell them to shift.

I wish I had name changed so I can post a picture. It’s a fucking Liberty!

OP posts:

GrumpyPantz · 05/04/2018 10:27

Park outside if you need to. When the bus can't get past they will complain and probably be more successful at getting it sorted. Tell the workmen to move their vans or else. Use your car to block them in if they don't listen. Tell them to turn the generator off overnight or you'll make a noise complaint to the council.

TERFragetteCity · 05/04/2018 10:34

Park across your own drive until they fuck off.

Original poster

Quietlife1979 · 05/04/2018 10:43

grumpy I’m already working an email together in my head

Terf that’s exactly where I’m parking which will be a pita for them as it’s where there is most room

OP posts:

piercinggelo · 05/04/2018 10:52

I would t question the generator. It's pretty much guaranteed they are not going to leave one running all night unless they need to.

As for the vans, just ask them to move?

piercinggelo · 05/04/2018 10:53

*wouldnt

KriticalSoul · 05/04/2018 10:54

tinkly laugh?

fuck that, i'm one of the 'move your fucking shit so I can get off my damn drive' kind of people (politely at first of course)

Find the site manager and complain. They're not supposed to cause a nuisance.

HidingFromTheWorld · 05/04/2018 11:38

We live on a new build development and I’m frequently blocked in by various subcontractors. A polite request to move is always greeted with an apology and a swift response. If asked to ensure they leave my driveway clear that day, they always do so.

Just ask them to move, don’t flutter your eyelashes and dramatise something that is easily resolved with a conversation. By all means explain you find accessing your parking area difficult and that you’d therefore appreciate it if they ensured the area directly outside/in front was kept clear.

52FestiveRoad · 05/04/2018 12:00

All those saying just ask them to move, it may not be that simple. When the house next door to me was being renovated we used to have seven or eight vans parked wherever they could in a small cul-de-sac, including across my driveway. Whenever I would go next door to ask them to move it would go something like:

Me: (After knocking for several minutes but no one can hear because of the work going on) Hi, could you move your van from across my driveway please, I need to get out.
Builder 1: Sure but whose van is it, there are about ten of us in here?
Me: I don't know, it is a white van.
Builder 1: Well they are all white vans! What is the reg?
Me: I don't know, I can't see it from here, hang on.

Back down path to check reg. Tell the builder the reg

Builder 1: (Calling inside) Whose reg is xyz123? Can you move your van?
Builder 2: (Calls outside) I think that is Bob's van, and the last time I saw him he was in the loft. Hang about, I will go and get him.

Go back to my car, where DD has been strapped into the car seat for five minutes or so. After ten minutes Bob finally appears, gives me a cheery wave, moves his van so that I can get out, then moves it straight back over the drive again so I have to go through the same process when I get home. Drove me nuts! But at least we didn't have a generator on ll night. I feel your pain OP.

CharltonLido73 · 05/04/2018 12:34

We recently had ten weeks of Thames Water digging up our road. We had a generator across the road, which initially was coming on at 5am. It transpired the night security guard was getting cold. I complained to Thames Water and they installed a much quieter overnight generator. The loud one was on every day except Sunday from 7.00am, but at least we were no longer disturbed overnight.

If you have no joy from the contractors, get in touch with the Environmental Health dept at your local council. If this impacts on your sleep, that is just not on.

diddl · 05/04/2018 13:22

" I’d have to put it half on curb which makes it hard for people with prams to get past. "

Doesn't that apply when the vans are there?

Flip

1 2