Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Wibu to paint a white 'no parking' line along the kerbside by my drive?

65 replies

SheBangDang · 07/01/2019 21:15

I've had a white 'no-parking' line to give me access to my driveway for over 20yrs. My driveway is very narrow and you can only pull out in a directly straight line. The line has now worn off and neighbours & their friends/relatives have started parking with the fronts of their cars overhanging my driveway meaning I can't get out. I've missed several appointments because of this recently. I phoned the council to ask about getting it painted back again (there used to be a fee for this) only to be told that due to cuts, they no longer provide the service. The council told me to get a sign made saying vehicles parked across my drive will be towed to the pound - and that in the event I'm blocked in again, I'm to phone the council who'll come & remove the offending vehicle. I don't want to fall out with my neighbours, it costs over £200 to get your car back once it's been impounded. On the previous 3 times I've phoned the police 111 they've told me the cars are registered to my street but there's no phone number listed for them to call & due to data protection, they can't tell me which house the cars belong to. Sometimes I have to go door-to-door knocking & either people don't answer or they don't know whose car it is. This is a major pita for me. I just want to be able to use my drive. Wibu to paint the line back in myself? There'd soon be a huge hugh&cry if I got each car impounded. What do you think?

OP posts:
lljkk · 07/01/2019 21:17

yanbu, I would paint it myself in a flash.

tablelegs · 07/01/2019 21:17

Paint the line.

Figgygal · 07/01/2019 21:18

Totally do it

DeepDarkWoods · 07/01/2019 21:20

I think you should get a sign made up first and if you see your neighbours discuss the problem with them. If you still get blocked in then get them towed. They obviously don't value a neighbourly relationship with you.

EggysMom · 07/01/2019 21:22

If you used to have a white line and the Council are refusing to refresh the faded paint, then I think it would be highly tempting to do the job myself.

Original poster
SheBangDang · 07/01/2019 21:23

Oooh, I'm surprised at the response, I expected to get my arse caned in true MN style. I'm a bit wary of getting caught doing the painting. I've no idea what paint I'd use because when the council do it, they use a kind of white tar that lasts for years. I bet paint doesn't last 5 minutes.

The problem with some of the bigger cars these days is that there's a really long overhang from the front wheel to the front of the car, so whilst the wheel is well back, the bonnet is still too far forward. When I moved here there was loads of spare free parking, but the number of cars per household has rocketed. My neighbour on one side has four and on the other side they have two, plus a business van.

OP posts:
Original poster
SheBangDang · 07/01/2019 21:24

To be fair, my immediate neighbours are considerate, it's the people down the other end of the street or round the corner who don't give a rats arse.

OP posts:
BillyCongo · 07/01/2019 21:25

It's illegal to do any work to the public highway without consent of the highway authority no matter how minor...... Don't do it just put up the sign as you have been advised.

MothertotheLordsofmisrule · 07/01/2019 21:25

If there was a line previously then yep I would just repaint.
Or maybe see if any road painting is going on locally and offer a friendly road worker a bribe to paint it for you.
That way it’ll look ‘official’ to any sticky beaks.Grin

Sallygoroundthemoon · 07/01/2019 21:25

Definitely paint the line.

Original poster
SheBangDang · 07/01/2019 21:27

Over Christmas I was blocked in for 2 days by a HUGE big bastard, brand new white 4x4 that I've never seen before. The police said it was registered to my street. I never found the owner and after the car got moved I haven't seen it since. I don't believe it was really registered here.

OP posts:
Original poster
SheBangDang · 07/01/2019 21:28

What gave me the idea is that the local vicar just got a tin of gloss out & painted one himself Grin

OP posts:
treehugger13 · 07/01/2019 21:28

Defo if it was there before, then repaint it. Don't let anyone see you though, and they'll think the council did it! Grin

gemwhitt · 07/01/2019 21:31

We've just had our front garden made into a driveway and we got a private company to do it. All above board and approved by the council of course. They used the same white material as the council uses to do our line.
Could you just look online for a local company who do driveways and pay them to redo your line?
No idea how much this would cost you, but it sounds like it would be worth it.

Imalittleelf · 07/01/2019 21:35

I am assuming you have a drop kerb..you could get your dropped kerb extended although it would cost but may give you more room.

Did you speak to the highways team at your county council or the local council?

anniehm · 07/01/2019 21:35

Is it a handful of culprits in which case leave a note on the windscreen - polite and explaining you are trapped on your drive. We have this quite often on weekends but luckily it's one of two households and easy to identify the likely source from car parking patterns (they aren't best pleased to move but do so whining)

Original poster
SheBangDang · 07/01/2019 21:38

I do have a dropped kerb but there is no room to extend it without knocking down the garden wall & it's a conservation area so that's not allowed.

I can't remember now which department I was put through to at the council but I hadn't thought of specifically asking for the highways team.

OP posts:
EggysMom · 07/01/2019 21:39

You can buy road/line marking paint online very easily, just Google it. Private companies have to buy it for their own carparks, it's not like it's Council/Highways only stuff.

Original poster
SheBangDang · 07/01/2019 21:39

It's rarely the same person twice & I leave polite notes under the wiper.

OP posts:
EggysMom · 07/01/2019 21:40

Normally there's a section on the Council website about these type of markings, they are called H-bar markings. (In case you're not sure if you're reaching the right department.)

VforVienetta · 07/01/2019 21:41

Tin of exterior paint, mixed with fine sand to make it more durable. Jet wash or scrub the area first to make sure it’ll adhere properly.

Maybe do a leaflet drop to the nearest stretches of neighbours explaining the council agree the line exists but cannot re-paint it due to cuts. Then get your tin out and do it!

viques · 07/01/2019 21:41

[tinkly laugh] op, you have nooooo hope of painting a white line on your drive if you are like totes unable to provide the statutory diagram that MN demands for parking threads.

. [ smiles winsomely and flicks hair in a non confrontational manner ]

ChakiraChakra · 07/01/2019 21:42

I'd just do it. I'm sure a quick Google would get you to the right paint.

DoggusSausageous · 07/01/2019 21:43

I would write to the council asking the same question you asked them - then when they reply on council headed notepaper, with the explanation about towing and the £200, photocopy it and post a copy through all letterboxes.

You could ask them if it acceptable to re-paint the line already painted?

Or..... tell the vicar you will make a donation to the organ fund if he will do yours too - as he is such a dab hand at it!

Original poster
SheBangDang · 07/01/2019 21:48

Grin No! The vicar's line is terrible - he sloshed the paint around all over the place - looks like a 6yo did it! Grin He's two streets away from me though..

I've had a google and Amazon seems to sell the stuff. You can even get thermoplastic lines you torch on.

OP posts:
Swipe left for the next trending thread