To block the road I live on so people can't park there?

[namechangedpurelyforthis]

As the thread name suggests... I live on a private road. It's near a school. Parents park there all the time, sometimes on double yellows. They block our driveways and limit our access. Where would I legally stand if myself and other residents block the end of the road one day to block the cars in to send them the message that we won't put up with it any more?

Some people near my son's house had this problem, with access to their houses and garages being blocked by people driving in to their entrance road which was private. It was due to inconsiderate parents dropping their children off at the local private school. The school helped by stationing a man on the pavement outside during pick-up and drop-off times for a few weeks.

Start a "crap parking in (name of town)" facebook page and upload photos of the offending cars?

Our local primary school is in a residential side street. Parents daily start parking by 8.20 to get the prime slots then sit there for half an hour for the school gates to open. They get there before some kids arrive for breakfast club! They are then back again for another long stay at the end of the day. Residents have access issues for about 4 hours on a normal day and obviously far worse if the school has an event on.

As a temporary deterrent you could use cones and someone in hi-viz to control access. Get people out of the habit and they'll go elsewhere. Probably permanently as who wants to risk not being able to drop off.

My Mum had a similar problem. Now they have no parking on the road between certain times, which even residents have to adhere to. Most have driveways so it’s ok. They also live near a railway stion as well as a school, so had people parking all day and not just at school busy times. Traffic wardens always patrol in the restricted times and it’s worked a treat. The only issues are when a resident is having work done on their house and can’t get all the vans on the drive. In which case other residents tend to let vans park on their drives during the restricted times. Good luck!

If theyre on double yellow lines call the council and tell them and they will have a warden there every single day. If some get a ticket them hopefully it would deter them. Councils love cash cows like this. Also get a chain on 2 posts you can all move to get in. And notices saying unauthorised vehicles will be clamped with fines. And do clamp them! Nothing against the law here. Make sure the signs are very high up and not visible like any dodgy parking place 😅

Do it

As a school run parent I feel so sorry for people that live near schools. I generally drive in the mornings and walk in the afternoons because of time constraints. It's a half hour walk to my kids school from ours. However I am always completely horrified by the number of parents parking on double yellows, blocking driveways and reversing all over the place. One even parked one a residents front lawn last week! It's disgusting and selfish behaviour. If there's a space close to the school then fine park there if there isn't space you check the next road over and then the one after that etc. It's not rocket science.

A private road near me uses a traffic cone for this. It seems to work as people really are that lazy.

Having exactly the same problem at the moment although not on a private road. Just parents dumping cars. The school was here before we moved here accepted, most of the time I ignore the carnage. I work from home so plan my diary outside of school drop off and pick up times.
Last week I had a family emergency and had to leave the house at 8.40.car parked right across the drive blocking me in with woman sitting in the drivers seat, girl in the passenger. Didn't move as didn't even see me initially to the side of her. Beeped horn, still, didn't move, beeped horn continuously, after a few minutes she woke up and shuffled car forward a couple of feet. still blocking me in, hand on the horn, eventually she moved and blocked neighbours drive instead. Posted on FB reminding parents lovely large car park behind the school with a little walkway down to school. Also reported to local council under highways - nuisance parking, and to 101. PCSO and traffic warden been doing random checks this week, a road a lot quieter. today, coming home at 3.25, thought I was safe. A car parked over dropped kerb as in the diagram. awkward angle to get in the drive, had to shuffle back and to a few times, holding up traffic behind me to get into drive. As we have had PCSO and traffic warden up and down the road this past week after last weeks incident of being blocked in and meeting with council tomorrow, I took a picture. Cue angry rant from a woman coming back to the car about how she wasn't blocking me - she was clearly over the dropped kerb and was causing an obstruction. she drove off. PCSO was walking down the road and I said hello. chatting about meeting tomorrow. The woman came back and jumped out of the car, ranted at both me and the pcso for ages, demanding I delete the photograph. no, I can take pictures. Saying she didn't want it on FB, then why block my drive? showed them both the picture of her car clearly parked across dropped kerb and blocking access. still ranting, eventually flounced off. the green block is my car attempting to show how hard it was to get into drive.

Private road. Only people who can make you move are other residents or the owner(s).

YABU you don’t own the road. Other people have just as much right as you to park there. If people are parking on double yellows then that isn’t right - I don’t know who manages it in your area police or council but I’d take photos of the offending cars on double yellow and send it to them. Our school often has Community Police Officers outside the school addressing any dangerous parking.

Why do people get so territorial over roads? I totally get that parking over driveways etc is completely unacceptable, but some people I know genuinely seem to be outraged if an unknown car parks in front of their house ffs - you don't own the road!

If you live on a private road that is unadopted by the local authorities then you can do what you like as long as all residents agree. These cars have no right to use your private road, in fact you could prosecute them for trespassing if they aren’t invited or have no business in your road

Get together with your neighbours and get a sign showing private road with no parking or turning

@pomblewomble But in this instance if it’s a private road then the homeowners do own the road. If the road needs repairs or new tarmac, etc then the residents must pay for those repairs, unauthorised vehicles using it could cause damage and therefore the OP has every cause for concern

YABU you don’t own the road

You aren't very good at reading, are you? She absolutely DOES own the road, along with her neighbours, as it's a PRIVATE ROAD. Jeezo.

I'm not getting territorial over my street. I know it's public. I know I have no "right" to stop people parking there. I do however have the right to get annoyed when people park both directly up to my drive and immediately opposite, making it impossible to swing the car out into the road or onto the drive. Why should I be stuck in the house, or have to park up the road and walk back to the house just because some lazy fuckers have to get as close as possible to school despite ample parking in a carpark 3 minutes' walk away?

The government website will tell you it is illegal to block access to an un adopted road . Just google search “can I legally block an unadopted road “

I think it depends who actually owns the road.

Do it OP! Selfish parents parkers are just pondscum- along with the chevron parks, the zebra crossing ignorers and engine running waiting morons

The government website will tell you it is illegal to block access to an un adopted road

"The government" aren't always right - even (or especially) on their own website.

Some people have the idea a 'private road' is somehow 'entitled' and a sign of snobbery! They don't realise the residents pay to maintain and repair it via an annual charge - so yes, you gave the right to be seriously pissed off. They are never going to pay for repair or resurfacing - you will.

The government website will be referring to ‘other’ people not blocking a private road. As long as all the owners / residents agree, you can do what the hell you like. Our constitution stipulates that we have to lock our gates and block off access one day each year to retain our private status.

I'm sure i read the other day that in the uk if someone parks across your driveway blocking your entry there's actually nothing you can legally do to move them !! You can force them to move & (would get support from the police ) if they weren't to busy with real issues of course, if they've blocked you in your driveway ! Unbelievable

Speak to your local council

I feel for you but if you blocked the road and an ambulance/fire engine couldn't get through imagine how awful you'd feel if someone was affected by it.

Agree about getting a gate - ask your council for advice

I will re phrase , it is illegal to block any road including un adopted roads . My last post was more of a precautionary note to the OP. Getting irate with arseholes who piss you off by blocking them in is a small victory but could be short lived IF suddenly you’re the only one breaking the law and are forced to unblock the road . I think your best move is to take photos of the cars parked on double yellows and contact local council highways . A few fines each day will give you a break from them parking . Or even a full term , until the next load of year 1’s start the new term