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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Another Parking Thread

51 replies

ParkaPerson · 17/02/2019 21:53

Apologies in advance - I know this has been done to death but you lot always have the best ideas of how to deal with bad parkers!

I live on a street where my neighbour and I are the only ones with drives (with dropped kerb). Neighbours have a car but rarely use it however DH and I both do jobs where we are called in from home a lot often at odd hours. Our drive is set up so that although it's only the width of one car we can both park on it and get in/out without blocking each other. It's part of why we bought the house.

The street is busy and not enough parking. When we first moved in we had an issue with neighbours parking over the drive but this was sorted quickly with polite words.

Now, our main issue is with delivery drivers and visitors. Taxis often pull in to drop people off which doesn't really bother me though it's a pest when they're there when I get home. On one occasion DH has collared a tesco delivery van and forced him to move - to much annoyance by the delivery guy. But more than once I have been blocked in by a strange random car and had to get a taxi in to work late at night. I am often called to quite inaccessible places and have a 4x4 for that reason. I don't know what I'd do if I was blocked in in that situation.

We have a sign up on our wall saying "drive in constant use" but it's not been effective. I asked the council to paint a white H over the dropped kerb, said I'd pay for it but they said they only do that in certain areas.

I know the short term solution is for one of us to park over the drive and let the other out if needs be, but that means both of us getting up if one is called in at 3am and just makes me annoyed!!

Is there anything else we can do? For some reason it has been particularly bad lately - I've had to ask people still in cars to move on a daily basis and been blocked in twice in the last fortnight.

OP posts:
youknowmedontyou · 17/02/2019 22:02

Need a diagram, sorry

Pumpkintopf · 17/02/2019 22:05

Are you able to monitor your drive at all op? (I appreciate this may be difficult if they are blocking you after you've gone to bed). Is it the same car blocking you in?

Candidsugar · 17/02/2019 22:08

If you’re blocked in from accessing the highway you can report the car. If they get a ticket or towed it will stop them blocking you in again. Hard to do in the middle of the night when you’re leaving for work but worth reporting at least.

TrixieFranklin · 17/02/2019 22:08

Firstly, never apologise for a parking thread.
Secondly, where's your diagram?! As you say you know there have been so many of these threads, you should be prepared to meet the basic requirements of a thread like this!!! Grin

Aprilshowersarecomingsoon · 17/02/2019 22:09

Big stone plant pot on the inside edge of the drive.
You will be able to gauge its position from your angle but a cf would prob scrape their car.....
Ime.

TrixieFranklin · 17/02/2019 22:12

Possibly invest in some drive markers ?

Another Parking Thread
Angie169 · 17/02/2019 22:23

You know the rules we need a very detailed diagram marking the exact position of your cars / drive / kerb / other cars / neighbours cat and dog Grin

Can you get some cones to put across the space ? or buy some very bright yellow paint and paint your own double yellow lines ? though I am not sure what the council would think of this ,
Or any time you see a car parked there stick a note on the windscreen politely explaining that they are blocking your drive . Make a note of the reg and next time they block your drive write a second not so polite note and keep escalating each time .

ParkaPerson · 17/02/2019 22:25

Haha sorry will attempt a diagram!
I hadn't thought about monitoring the drive but it would be easy to do as the front door is directly at the top. Would a nest type camera work? I think it's visitors who do the blocking for longer periods I guess if I was filming I could see what house they then go to. Anyone know if you're allowed to film the road as well as own property?

The footpath is quite wide but it's definitely obvious it's a drive

OP posts:
TitsAndTomatoes · 17/02/2019 22:37

Wheres.
The.
Diagram.

Also they sound like complete dicks. Who the f parks in front of a drive especially when there's a car on it?! Who?! These people need to be banned from life lol. I dont get these people.

TortoiseLettuce · 17/02/2019 22:40

I’d suddenly have an urgent need to power wash my drive when someone parked across it. And I’d definitely report and get the car towed to teach them a lesson.

MiniMum97 · 17/02/2019 22:48

What do your and your DH do for jobs that you get called to remote places in the middle of the night?

ParkaPerson · 17/02/2019 22:48

I hope this is acceptable! - the grey line is the dropped kerb

Another Parking Thread
OP posts:
ParkaPerson · 17/02/2019 22:52

@MiniMum97 DH is NHS so just gets called in to hospitals (specialised lab work), I get called all over the place - sometimes not remote, sometimes is, hence 4x4.

OP posts:
Elclr · 17/02/2019 22:53

Quite possibly my favourite parking diagram of all.

www.gov.uk/government/publications/domestic-cctv-using-cctv-systems-on-your-property/domestic-cctv-using-cctv-systems-on-your-property

Rules regarding CCTV outside of your private boundary.

ConfusedAngryWorried · 17/02/2019 22:54

Great diagram. Can u invest in some cones that you could leave out once you are both home (no idea on legalities of putting cones out on public highway)

seven201 · 17/02/2019 22:56

I've been blocked in on my drive before. I really don't mind delivery drivers, but people just leaving their car there is just so ridiculous! That's only happened once to me thankfully.

If it were me I'd print off a load of "we work on call and if you block me in you are a selfish twat" type notices. Put one on every car that pulls up. And/or make a neon sign that you put up on your rear windscreen that says "car on call 24/7. Please don't block me in" as most people would at least glance at the car they're blocking in.

Redshoeblueshoe · 17/02/2019 23:01

OMG best diagram ever

MeredithGrey1 · 17/02/2019 23:09

How well do you know the people on your street? If someone is blocking you in overnight than presumably they’re nearby, maybe try knocking on some doors, or drop a polite note through the letter boxes, explaining the situation? I never pay much attention to where people park when they visit me (tbh I just assume they park considerately) but if a neighbour asked me specifically, I’d check with any visitors I had where they’d parked, especially since asking for someone not to park directly across your drive is not remotely unreasonable.

CoffeeRunner · 17/02/2019 23:10

Your guard cat has quite mousy features Grin.

I love the suspicious ice cream van & the rusting Astra. Maybe you should start a thread about those next 😉.

DeathyMcDeathStarFace · 17/02/2019 23:12

Love the rusting Astra and guard cat. Wtg with diagram OP.

Mmmhmmm · 17/02/2019 23:12

May I be the first to suggest Penguin Bollards? Grin

I do think it's rude the council won't help when you're going out for medical emergencies and such. Not just for a jolly down at the pub.

Another Parking Thread
Sweetheart1313 · 17/02/2019 23:13

I have no advice, just wanted to compliment you on your excellent diagram! Grin Great work OP

AlpacaLypse · 17/02/2019 23:17

A* for diagram OP!

DeaflySilence · 17/02/2019 23:18

Put up a sign saying

NHS on-call Do not Block Exit Police will be called

theonetowalkinthesun · 17/02/2019 23:24

Was dumbstruck by the initial lack of a diagram, but my goodness OP, you have redeemed yourself in spades!
Beautiful diagram.
That's all I have to say!