To be furious? CF business

[IndependentRetailer]

I’ve name changed for this as it could out me.

I have a small Independant business, on a road just off the Main Street of a town. There is a layby in front of my shop where about 3 cars can park. Since Monday there has been an unsightly skip with construction rubbish sitting right in front of my door. It’s not only an eyesore that blocks my shop from view but people passing are now throwing food rubbish into it 😡

Initially I thought it was the council but turns out it’s a department store that’s on the Main Street (also a competitor) - AIBU to think they should have either parked it outside their own door or the car park behind them?

It does seem pretty thoughtless of them - I assume it was because they don’t want the mess of a skip outside their premises - but it is just fine to have it outside yours!

Have you considered complaining?

YANBU. Call the council and tell them a competitor has deliberately put a skip outside your store and left their shop front clear.

Maybe try the skip company too?

I'd complain to them then the council, definitely cheeky.

I have told them to move it but I could tell they thought I was over reacting. I was very nice & didnt tell them to park outside their own premises in future though.

I hope it’s gone today

There’s no number on the skip, I’m not sure who owns it

They should have got Highways permission for this. Have you checked they did? Because they might not have done in which case it should be easy enough to have it removed. Unfortunately, if they did then it’s likely the Highways authority insisted it be placed in a lay-by rather than main road.

Establish if it’s there lawfully, you could check if there is a permit in place, call the council.

They may have been told to put it there, depending on space availability, safety etc.

Do they have space outside their front door that won't impact on traffic?

No they have no permission, council knew nothing about it. They could have put it in the car park behind them if not out the front - it would have been much easier

YANBU Though I'd take the opportunity to have a huge clear out and fill it!

Yep get the bastard filled up then report it and get it shifted then curl out a great big poo on their doorstep as a fuck you - Someone actually did this at a shop i worked at once we caught it on CCTV

There's several laws on skips which appear to not be followed here..

A contact name and phone number of the skip hire company should be clearly marked on the skip.

If you are intending to keep your skip anywhere which isn't your own land, you'll need to gain permission from the relevant person or authority before the skip is delivered. It is the law for any skip left on a pavement or public highway (e.g. your street) to have a license to be there

Fill it up. Ask for the skip companies name from their facilities manager. Call company and tell them to move it within 24hrs or you'll phone another company who will. (Skips are valuable!)

Thanks everyone, some of the debris came out and hit a parked car yesterday evening so they now have more to worry about than me (karma is bitch)