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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

Parking nightmare

11 replies

tartanlass1 · 20/07/2019 09:26

I'm a single mum who has lived in a cul-de-sac for a few years. It is a nightmare for parking. A lot of the neighbour's houses have drives which enables them to park but for the rest of us who can't afford a drive we use the spaces in between the drives on the road. I've been lucky enough over the years to squeeze into a space out the front of my house, especially handy as I am a single mum to a small child.

Anyway, about a year and a half ago a couple moved into a bought house (I'm council) 2 doors down which has a large drive. They own 2 cars, a work van and a motorbike, all of which fit into their drive. However the husband since day one has regularly parked his work van in the space I normally use purely so they don't have to manoeuvre their vehicles in and out their drive. This means I have to park away outside our street, often struggling with child/shopping etc. I have tried to speak to them but have been met with abuse and they refuse to budge the van along a bit, which would enable me to squeeze my own car in. Every day I get glared at, swear words muttered under their breath etc. I have never done a thing wrong. They have started shouting their kids away from my gate when they try to talk to my young child. So so rude and anti social. I have been in tears over it.

I can't afford a drive and tbh think they would be the type to park across an empty drive while I was at work even if I did scrimp for one.

Looking for someone who knows if there is anything that can be done. I know there are so many loopholes in the law regarding this. I've reported it to housing officer etc but am really at a loss.

AIBU to expect them to use their drive when all their vehicles fit in it easily?

Sorry if posted in the wrong place. I'm new on this site

OP posts:

Shoxfordian · 20/07/2019 09:29

If there aren't any road markings then they can park anywhere they want. Just accept they aren't nice or reasonable people and don't expect anything from them.

ZoeWashburne · 20/07/2019 09:31

Sorry, but you don’t own the road. You aren’t entitled to park where you want. There is no law that they have to use their drive.

Original poster

tartanlass1 · 20/07/2019 09:33

That is kind of where I'm at. Just hate living like this as I'm not the confrontational type. I'm a happy, easy going person and don't understand why they seem to have it in for me.

OP posts:

GabriellaMontez · 20/07/2019 09:34

Of course the pp are correct they can park where they want. But they sound like anti social bullies. So inconsiderate.

Original poster

tartanlass1 · 20/07/2019 09:35

I understand they can technically park there and don't claim to own the road.

I suppose you can't expect common courtesy from everyone. Sad really.

OP posts:

Original poster

tartanlass1 · 20/07/2019 09:37

Gabriellamontez thanks yeah just inconsiderate. Sorry I don't know how to reply individually to specific comments as not used the site much 🙈

OP posts:

Chocolatemouse84 · 20/07/2019 09:37

Unfortunately, I highly doubt there is anything you can do. They have as much right as you do to park on the road,as inconvenient as it is for you, I don't think they are doing anything wrong so I think you are being a bit unreasonable.

Obviously the way they are treating you now is unreasonable so continue to report any abuse you get for them and other thay that, I would ignore them and park elsewhere if there is no space on your road.

Collaborate · 20/07/2019 10:07

Play them by their own rules.

There seems to be much confusion about what the rules actually say. I have seen (online) reference to the following:

It's only an offence to block someone in to their drive, so if the drive is empty you can park over their drive.
You could be ticketed for parking over a dropped kerb, whether or not someone is parked on the drive.
You would only be classed as blocking the drive if you block more than 50% of the entrance (thank Essex Parking Partnership for that advice www1.parkingpartnership.org/north/uploads/policies/2015-07-dropped-kerb-enforcement-policy.pdf
Nothing in the Highway code is mandatory (only says you shouldn't rather than must not) so is unenforceable.

Personally, if I were you i'd find out how my LA enforces these things (it's not a police matter) and if you think you can get away with it you could park over their drive. It's simply the case that they are exercising their legal rights, no matter that they're behaving like arses. Find out what you can do legally and if it pisses them off, they can hardly complain.

TidyDancer · 20/07/2019 10:16

Appreciate you're coming from a good place @Collaborate but that is terrible advice when the neighbour has already been abusive and OP is on her own with a child. The last thing you want to do is inflame the situation.

Collaborate · 20/07/2019 10:22

@TidyDancer OP was looking for options. I can understand if she doesn't want the hassle, but surely that's for her to choose? Perhaps though I should have started my post with "I'd play them by their own rules".

ILE35 · 20/07/2019 10:53

Thanks for the further replies. They tend to always leave one car in their drive so yeah it would be me that would get into bother if I parked in front of their drive. There was an occasion recently where the guy was at his work, I was off mine so had a couple family members round. It was a nice sunny day and i had paddling pool out for the kids. As his van was away I had my car in front of my house and my sister fitted hers in too (as stated before if he even budged up I'd get mine in too but he refuses). Anyway, my sister's car was nearest the start of his drive but still room for them to get in and out, he came up the cul-de-sac expecting to pop his van where he normally does and seen my sister's car and mine taking the space so he had to use his drive. He got out his van and shouted, cursed and swore over the kids heads at us. My sister who is a bit ballsier than me confronted him then told me to report him which I did. He then came over apologising but was up to his same old trick next day.

I do mostly ignore them and when he does go away with his van in the morning I could easily run to street behind where I need to park and move my car to the front of my house but I dont as I don't want to be that petty. I know I pretty much just have to suck it up but it really is crap. I just want a peaceful life and for folk to treat me as I would them. Never mind.

To those saying he is doing nothing wrong, no he isn't breaking any laws but he and his wife are a pair of giant assholes!

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