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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Anyone know about parking restrictions or AIBU?

48 replies

Greenleafer19 · 28/10/2019 12:40

Hi Mumsnetters
I recently moved to a new house in August and have a query that I can't seem to get an answer from the Council about.
I'm a wheelchair user, I can drive but no vehicle at the moment however my house has a parking space to the right (where the bins are in the picture) which is unused and the council will at some point be putting a disabled allocated space in the road soon. To the left infront of the dropped kerb was my garage which has now been converted to my front door access due to my disability. However as you can see from the photo, my neighbour is parking over the pavement so I am having to wheel myself into the road to get round the car to the other side of the pavement as that's the way to the local shops. It's becoming very frustrating and I wish she would park her blue car in her garage but never does.
Does anyone know where I stand with this please? I know a vehicle blocking a pavement for pedestrians is an offence but is it the same with a dropped kerb especially as it leads onto her property? I have not seen my neighbours properly yet however I know the previous occupiers had issues with her as my other neighbour told me and she is apparently not very approachable. I was hoping for the council to deal with this so I don't have to but not having any response. Does anyone know? I don't want to make an issue of this, and hate myself for putting this picture online but if someone can advise me before I take it further I'd be very grateful.

Many thanks
Carly x

[Post edited by MNHQ to remove image]

OP posts:
inwood · 28/10/2019 12:43

I dont know for sure but I would assume that's illegal. Why cant they back all the way up - is that a drive?

Wheelchair users, prams, small kids shouldn't have to walk into a road to get round a twat of a parked car.

I hope you get it sorted.

Seeline · 28/10/2019 12:46

Is the road an adopted public highway ie maintained by the Council? It's hard to tell from the picture.
If so, your neighbour is parking so that her vehicle blocks the whole width of the pavement, and has hte front of her vehicle on the carriageway? And if so, is she leaving like this for a length of time, or just while she pops into the house to pick up something?
Just trying to clarify the situation.

Original poster
Greenleafer19 · 28/10/2019 12:48

The brick wall up to the line that's just under her back wheels is classed as her property but it's for garage access so I would've thought she'd put the car in the garage Hmm but as I said, she never does

OP posts:
Original poster
Greenleafer19 · 28/10/2019 12:50

@Seeline I don't think so, it's a quiet cul de sac so I doubt it. Should I ask the council that? No, she leaves it there all the time, hardly ever moves it to be honest

OP posts:
Scarydinosaurs · 28/10/2019 12:53

It’s still blocking the pavement, so definitely not allowed.

Do you have traffic wardens in your area?

Original poster
Greenleafer19 · 28/10/2019 12:55

No unfortunately, it's a quiet cul de sac so no one comes down here at all.

OP posts:
maryberryslayers · 28/10/2019 12:56

It's a police matter. I had the exact same situation (only had to push my son in to the road, so no where near as bad as yours) and I called the local police, who told him to move. His excuse was he needed access to his garage so didn't want to block the door. They told me to call if he does it again.

dementedpixie · 28/10/2019 12:58

When we were blocked in our drive we called 101 and the police traced the owner and he had to come and move it

FatAndFurious7 · 28/10/2019 12:59

I may be misunderstanding the pic and/or your description but does that mean her car is parked effectively in front of your new front door? If that's true she might actually be trying to be nice, assuming you might need extra space to get in your front door with your chair, especially if she's only just started doing it (maybe she's seen you go in and out). If your space is over on the right hand side of the pic she might be thinking you'll need to get out of your car and into the door behind her.

Obviously where she's parked is not right as it blocks the entire pavement but maybe it's a slightly misguided attempt at being helpful.

Original poster
Greenleafer19 · 28/10/2019 13:00

@maryberryslayers the police... I would happily approach her about this before contacting them but I have been told some unfortunate things about her so would rather someone else deal with it. Did you do it anonymously? How has your neighbour been towards you since?

OP posts:
Swimtobreathe · 28/10/2019 13:01

Regardless of the dropped curb, if that's the pavement then it's not allowed. Drivers can drive onto the pavement to access a property but aren't allowed to park on it. In practice, people don't take action on drivers parking cars partly on the pavement IF there is enough room for pedestrians (London is different, and ideally it wouldn't be the case but in practice there are too many cars for zero parking to be enforced)

I'd suggest as the previous poster has & check if there's any traffic wardens locally, if not speak to the council. As much as anything it's a really weird way to park, not many people would think that parking at right angles to and across a pavement is ok!

Majorcollywobble · 28/10/2019 13:04

Even though it’s a cul de sac and there’s a dropped keen she can’t block the pavement . You should know if the Road is a private road maintained by residents or the responsibility of the local council .
Might be worth sending an online message to Highways Dept ?
If all else fails I’d suggest contacting your local councilor as they should liaise on your behalf . You certainly shouldn’t run any risk of accident or injury by having to swing into the road in your chair x

Apolloanddaphne · 28/10/2019 13:05

That is such a weird way to park. I would call 101 and ask for advice on it?

Original poster
Greenleafer19 · 28/10/2019 13:07

@FatAndFurious7 hi, sorry to not be clear.. Have attached a pic for clarity. My land is in purple, hers is in blue. When I come out of my house and turn left I can't access the pavement. My daughter has to push my grandsons buggy into the road Aswell and we can't use the pavement. On the left of her car is pavement with more dropped kerbs but no other neighbours park across them.

[Image removed but MNHQ at poster's request]

OP posts:
NurseButtercup · 28/10/2019 13:21

Yanbu she's blocking the entire pavement and partly on the road, so you would have to walk quite far into the road to get around her vehicle. Honestly people do some strange things.

I personally would speak to her first and if no luck then contact the council or 101.
Good luck

Itsallpetetong · 28/10/2019 13:26

www.askthe.police.uk/content/Q387.htm

It will depend on the circumstances as to who you should report problems with pavement parking to. Your local council will usually deal with vehicles in breach of parking restrictions e.g. yellow lines and areas where there is a specific ban on pavement parking, whereas your local police will usually deal with vehicles driving on the pavement or causing an obstruction.

bigbluebus · 28/10/2019 13:30

Ring 101 and see if they will send a PCSO out to speak to her.

SantaIsReal · 28/10/2019 13:33

Who parks like this?!
I'd call 101 and even say you have spoke to the council who have been little help. She is completely blocking the pavement. Surely the pavement isn't on title deeds therefore not actually her land!

LannisterLion1 · 28/10/2019 13:35

She shouldn't park like that. Why can't she just back right up? If the spot on the right with bins is a parking spot of yours then surely there is room for her to back up into her spot too so people can use the pavement?

LannisterLion1 · 28/10/2019 13:38

Xpost, right so hers isn't a parking spot as it is the different orientation. So presumably not enough room to park properly. You need to talk to her or call 101.

Apolloanddaphne · 28/10/2019 13:42

It looks like she has plenty of room to park properly, she just needs to reverse back further.

Original poster
Greenleafer19 · 28/10/2019 13:45

@LannisterLion1 she has a garden where her bins are whereas I just have a paved over space, that's why she parks over the dropped kerb

OP posts:
Original poster
Greenleafer19 · 28/10/2019 13:46

@Apolloanddaphne to be honest, even if she reversed, her car would still be blocking the pavement, she would need a smart car to fit that small area of land

OP posts:
ChicCauldron · 28/10/2019 13:48

Firstly I'd clarify whether that is a pavement in front of the parking areas, because it is not really clear. It is in dreadful condition if it is a pavement!

Secondly, she parks like that because if she backed down her drive no-one would be able to reach her front door - the car would completely block pedestrian access unless there is another way out of shot.

yellowallpaper · 28/10/2019 13:50

The dropped kerb is for access. It is illegal to park on a pavement and obstruct pedestrians. She doesn’t own the herb or the pavement