Parking - WWYD?

[Whyhaveidonethis]

It's a hard set up to explain but my house used to be a pub so although the front opens onto what looks like is pavement we actually own the ground in front of the house for about a metre and then there is about a metre of pavement in front of this. For about 3 weeks now a bloody great black van has parked right up to or over the boundary of our house, across the part that is marked off as pavement and literally in front of my front door. I can't actually easily manoeuvre anything large into my house and getting out my driveway is totally blind as there is a huge van in the way blocking all visibility.

I actually need to get a bed frame out of the house but can't as this van is always there. It never seems to move, we'll it does but not when I'm home. It's also forcing people to walk across the bit of land which belongs to me and next door. We have no idea who owns the van, it's taxed and only a year old. I feel a bit silly putting a note on it but it's really pissing me off. WWYD?

Obligatory diagram attached. Sorry it's a bit shit!! As you can see from the pic it isn't on my boundary today but pretty close.

I agree, think he is confused by the line and believes he can park up to it. The private land is in the most annoying place, possible as people will always walk across it (even if the van wasn’t there, blocking it off with plant pots would mean some wouldn’t be able to get past). Agree with note and contacting council.

Ok. Is it legal for him to park on the pavement in your area? Eg. It isn’t legal in London unless it is marked bays.

If so, and they are legally parked, all you can do is put a note on to ask if they’d let you have the space to get your furniture out. You might get lucky. I would also put some big planters along your boundary as suggested. It might prompt them to move on.

If not, call the parking enforcement. They are then certainly causing obstruction for wheelchairs and people with walking frames.

He probably is confused by the lines but it is pretty obnoxious to park right in front of someone's front door. But if you need to park somewhere and you think someone else will do it if you don't... they could argue why did you buy a house that opens straight onto the pavement?

Don't get me wrong, I sympathise hugely. We have a neighbour who parks on the grass verge outside of our house (instead of outside theirs or on the road) and it's so annoying!

According to the Highway Code the van mustn’t park blocking the entrance to you property, which is what they’re doing. I would measure the distance from the external threshold of your front door to the van and call 101 for advice. Idk if they will contact the owner. But you can inform them of your reg number.

Take photographs, put a note on the van, every time explaining nicely your problem, and explain he's blocking your exit also

Escalate to the council and non emergency police number for help if necessary

I’d put a note on the van asking him to knock on your door for a chat but to be honest, I don’t think it’s clear that your boundary isn’t just part of the pavement so they may not think they’re doing anything wrong. If you put some planters on your space at the front, that might make them think twice about parking like that in future as it’d force pedestrians into the road but may annoy the pedestrians.

Take the bed frame out the house anyway? 🤷‍♀️ Guess you could put a sheet over it to try and protect his paintwork as best you can.

And a big planter is a great idea, he wouldn’t be able to open his car door and get out the car then so it would put him off parking there.

Put a polite note on the van at first, dated and save a copy. At least give them time to rectify it. I'd still put my bins out as usual though

If the white line is your land you need to fence it off.

I would fence you area off somehow some thin metal stakes and single chain fence would be enough, though unattractive!!

Planters. Big planters.

Penguin Bollards?

Do NOT google penguin bollards!!!

Is he technically doing anything wrong though??

To try to deter him, you could get some planters? Or some wooden posts with a metal chain?

I mean he can’t be unaware he’s Parking across your front door!
I would leave a polite note, and say that it’s blocking your door and you need to actually move something large out and don’t want to scratch it

I have a friend who lives in what was a pub and has a similar issue. He filled big plastic tubs with concrete and a fake plant, and placed them strategically. Nobody can park there and it’s still safe for pedestrians.

Yes he is technically doing something wrong he is parking in such a way he is fully blocking the pavement...

The fact there is a private strip of land there doesn't make it ok or legal to block the pavement!!

I think you should leave a note explaining the situation. The markings and set up are unusual and they probably don't actually realise they are doing anything wrong or causing inconvenience.

I think it needs a white line with bars on the road, like you get across driveways, to show that no one can park there. Talk to the council.

He must realise that's he's blocking it off though, surely no one is that thick that they can't see the fact that there is a huge white line in the way where he parks.

Sadly I don't think that any pots or fences would survive around where I live. If I put my bins out and the van is there people move them and put them so they block my drive.

I didn’t think it was legal to park on the pavement? Call the council and report him as blocking pedestrian access?

Just put a note on it. Ask them to stop parking on your land/the pavement as they are blocking your access. If they don't comply, call the council/police for advice.

If the set-up is causing confusion, you could ask the council to paint some white pedestrian figures on the pavement. I appreciate it probably wouldn’t be on top of anybody’s to-do list, but if you don’t ask, you don’t get.