AIBU to be pissed off with neighbours?

[Samtree]

NC for this. Can't do diagrams.

We live in a row of terrace houses, parking is round the back in a communal area. This is reached by a private road at the end of the terrace and is used by all those in the terrace as well as those who have houses at the bottom of the private road. These houses are several large bungalows who all have their own private gardens and drive surrounding their property. So they do not need to park in the communal area that belongs to the terraces.

Last week one of the bungalows was having work done and so 2 large lorries were for most of the day blocking the private road. I am a new SAHM and as it happens I didn't need to go out that day. However if I did need to, it would have caused me a lot of hassle to get the trucks moved, the work stopped in order to enable me to get my car out of the communal parking area and drive out the private road.

AIBU or should my neighbours have informed us that the road would be blocked in advance? If it helps, all the other neighbours in the terrace work during the day so their cars were not blocked in, just mine. Would like to hear if I am being sensitive over nothing. This is not the first time it has happened either. Thanks.

The lorries should not be blocking a road at all regardless of whether it is private or not.

I cant see the point in being pissed off about something that didnt actually affect you or inconvenience you. They are having work done, so understandable that they will at some points have lorries there, and may block the road. But, if you were to go out and ask them to move and they do so quickly then whats the issue? Not your problem if the work stops is it.

thanks both, I shouldn't be pissed off a week later as it didn't cause any problems on that day but I really am! It would have caused a lot of disruption and I would have had to wait a while if I had asked them to move as the road is narrow and winding.

It is more the lack of communication and never knowing when I will be blocked in again as they are having a lot of work done. They are cliquey with the other bungalows who were also blocked in and I expect they all knew about it as they are all at home during the day as they are retired. Feel stressed about it happening again and having to ask to be let out. I suffer from anxiety since being a new mum which I know is not their problem but it makes the task seem more daunting. I didn't think I was beingU for expecting them to let us all know about it.

Legally they shouldn’t be blocking any roads or access that belongs to other people so maybe ask your neighbours in future if that access could be left clear

Why would you not knock on the door and ask the workmen to move the lorry!?

Next time insist they move - as per the law - it will make you feel so much better!!
We have this with ambulances blocking the road next door to us.
Ones dropping off equipment not residents.

So, these bungalow owners park on the land that belongs to the terrace owners? or is it common land belonging to anyone?

If it as you say in your original post then this needs to stop and a polite note to all of them should suffice.

If they are having work done and need access to their homes via the communal space then they can have access, but again parking a vehicle on an access only route to their homes is also unacceptable.

I think you need to clarify who has access and who has parking rights and make it clear to the bungalows that whilst you appreciate they need to have work done can you remind them it would be courteous to warn you in advance and unless unloading materials all vehicles should be parked in the bungalow grounds and not on your land.

I honestly couldn’t get worked up about this. If it happens again and you need to go out then say something and ask for warnings. Otherwise, there’s no problem is there?

greenfingers yes I would knock on the door if I had to though its an inconvenience to have to do this just so I can get out of my parking space. If I knew in advance when the road would be blocked then I wouldn't feel so anxious about having to use it as I could plan.

Plums no they aren't parking their own cars on the communal land as they have their own drives next to bungalows. Its the private road that we all have to use that is being blocked by the trucks from the work that is being done. Everyone needs to use the road even the terraces as the cars parked at the back and they need to drive up the narrow road to get out. the bungalows need to use it too as there are no other roads out if that makes sense.

To everyone, I didn't know it was illegal and I don't want to have a confrontation with any neighbours. I wondered if IABU to expect some notice in advance!

Sometimes these things can’t be helped though
Just ask them to give you some notice next time

thank you PorkyP I think you are right I will have to do that!

Most likely the owners didn’t know the lorry did need to block the road. The drivers aren’t going to take instructions from the owners - and I’m not sure where you thought they should park - end of the road so they can get blocked in by any of the other residents’ cars at any point of the day?

Legally, who’s going to enforce this on a privately owned road? Not the police.

I live on a new estate which is still being built. We constantly - every day - have machinery blocking the road as they're building the houses opposite us. It's not a problem, they see you approach in the car, they move. I've had to wait a maximum of 2 minutes before.

As long as they would have moved when you needed access, I don't see the problem.

Petulant there is nowhere else for the lorries to go so they would have known the road would need to be blocked for a while. I don't mind them parking on and blocking the road. Its just because its not happened yet again that I feel that neighbour could let me know as I am the only one likely to be blocked in from the communal parking bay out of everyone as I am at home. especially as they can be bothered to tell their immediate neighbours on either side. don't really want to get legal with them, that is not the point of the thread.

Someone mentioned legally parked, hence me pointing out it’s a private road and the police won’t do anything about it.

Sorry but you’re being ridiculous. If you had needed your car, you would have had to tell the neighbour and the drivers to move. And they would have. They would have realised you need constant access and they would make sure to tell you if there is a next time, so you can park on another road. As is, you didn’t need to go anywhere but you’re pissed off because what if

Petulant this is not the first time it has happened, they already realise I do need access to the road as I have no other options . It is common courtesy to let your neighbour know. It is not as if the trucks suddenly rocked up and they had no idea when it was going to happen.

I am pissed off because of the what if factor, you are quite correct. It could be so easily avoided. There is nowhere else nearby for me to park and it would be a massive inconvenience to find somewhere. These neighbours would be fuming if I had blocked the road for any length of time without giving them notice which adds to me feeling annoyed about it so I don't think I am being ridiculous.

The problem is as a PP indicated that the owners of the property won’t have any idea themselves that there will be a delivery /lorries at a certain time. It’s one of the many reasons why having work done on your home is so stressful! Even the best builders just get on with it without a full hour by hour account of what is going on. We once arranged for a window on a second floor gable to be replaced. DH asked if it would need extra space for scaffolding (there was only a fairly narrow path down the side that belonged to us) they said yes but there is enough space for it on the path. Came home from work to find they had put one row of legs of scaffolding in our neighbours’ garden. We were mortified as we would have asked their permission before even dreaming of doing that. Cue big apologies and presents from us. Fortunately they didn’t mind as they realised that a upvc replacement meant it wouldn’t ever need repainting again, and they had at least been in that day and given the scaffolders permission. We were very fortunate though The builder waved our concerns away with an airy ‘changed our minds’

I live in a narrow road (room for one parked car/van and one to pass).

We often have problems with builders lorries, and in the last 18 months have had Virgin, the gas suppliers and the water company all digging up the road with trucks and heavy lorries.

Without fail, they have all been happy to move to let people through. The only ones who don't are the bloody bin men, who are a complete pain in the arse.

Just ask them to move to let you out when you need to get out.

I think your being abit over dramatic and ridiculous.

You feel anxious over the fact you may or may not be blocked in again even though it didn’t cause you any problems.

How are the owners going to know where the the work men park