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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Weird parking / driveway thread

27 replies

LoobyLou1976 · 16/02/2020 11:04

We just moved to a new build estate about 10 weeks ago. The roads are all mono-blocked and kind of 'lead' into everyone's driveway (there are no kerbs as such and it is all on the same level, the road just branches off for each persons driveway, which is in front of their garages). The street is pretty wide for a new build estate.
Our house is the first one on the corner. It is very clear that each person has a private driveway. However, I have been noticing some odd and pretty CF behaviour. Firstly, the Royal Mail guy PARKS his car in my driveway every morning, gets out, delivers my mail, then goes off and delivers the rest of the streets mail, leaving his van in my drive! He also walks across our lawn instead of going back up the drive and around the street. Granted, he is usually only there for about 5 minutes as the street is still being developed and there are only about 10 houses, but isn't this really cheeky? By this time DH is at work so the driveway is empty.

Also, people are using our drive to turn their cars. It seems we get a lot of people coming up to look at the estate, maybe prospective house buyers, who knows, but they drive past, then reverse back up and into our driveway to turn around (not just a little bit but right up to the house). There really is no need for this because the road is actually quite wide and there is plenty of room to turn. This might seem petty to get irritated about, but this morning I have gone out to see the bottom of my front lawn has also been driven over and the grass is ruined with extremely deep tyre depressions. The lawns are also level with the street and there are no shrubs or trees etc to block them off.

Not really sure how to stop this to be honest, just pissed off.

OP posts:
earlydoors42 · 16/02/2020 11:12

Can you put big rocks around your grass?

CuriousaboutSamphire · 16/02/2020 11:15

At the end if every cul de sac there is one space that is easiest to turn in. Your drive sounds like it performs the same purpose in your road.

Annoying but what can you do if there is no effective boundary? You could be one of the people who place large stones or plant pots in ridiculous places...

WinterCat · 16/02/2020 11:17

Yanbu. I agree with big rocks on the edge of your grass.

Take a picture of the RM van and email their complaints and ask for them to ask their drivers to stop parking there.

You could always put some big flower pots at the end of your drive for when you aren’t using it if you want to block people from using it to turn around in although I’m sure that will stop soon once people move into the other houses.

Gabrielknight · 16/02/2020 11:20

It's not something I would get annoyed at. Especially if it isn't inconveniencing you really. Sounds like a bad design....like most new build estates unfortunately

earlydoors42 · 16/02/2020 11:23

Is there anywhere else for the postman to park though? Are there any guest parking spaces? He has to park somewhere...

Jojo19834 · 16/02/2020 11:25

Could there be any mistaking occupancy? Could RM think it’s still any empty property? Cheeky if not.

ivykaty44 · 16/02/2020 11:25

Can you put big rocks around your grass?

Agree, get a rockery

Ifonly86 · 16/02/2020 11:25

Penguin bollards, open them when you leave and no one will be able to get on your drive

PenguinsOnParade · 16/02/2020 11:27

Big rocks on the grass and penguin bollard for the driveway.

thetemptationofchocolate · 16/02/2020 11:28

Or those creepy child-shaped bollards...

cricketmum84 · 16/02/2020 11:28

We are also the corner house on a new build estate where lawns are at road level. We got so sick of people cutting the corner and driving over the grass that we have edged it all with huge rocks.

PureAlchemy · 16/02/2020 11:29

We have neighbours who’ve put big rocks around the edge of their lawn, something like that should stop people driving onto your lawn.

Maybe planting some shrubbery around the edges as a longer term plan?

Re. people using your drive - asking the postie or complaining to the Royal Mail ought to help with that one, but you’ll probably need some sort of physical barrier to stop other people using your drive to turn around in.

duvetaddict · 16/02/2020 11:31

Definitely need a diagram!

Bawbags · 16/02/2020 11:33

Another voice here saying big lawn rocks to stop people driving on your grass. Speak to the postie and ask them not to cut across your lawn any more. If they continue then put a complaint into RM. they're pretty good when complaints like that have been made. Same goes for parking on your drive. Even if empty it's rude to park up there when their are spaces on the public highway just outside it. If your driveway is getting a lot of cars using it then it will need repairing much, much quicker than all the other drives on the cul de sac. Yeah it may mean 10 years down the line instead of 20 but still, you may want to look into having some sort of fencing, even if it's not a real barrier, just something visual to indicate it's private. Some driveways in large open areas indicate this by having a coupe of rows or different coloured bricked laid at the entrance. Yeah it won't stop them all but it would likely reduce how many are doing it.

Elieza · 16/02/2020 11:38

Defo big rocks. No wonder you are pissed off with tyre marks on your grass. Cheeky blighters.

I’d just have a quick word with the Royal Mail man. I’m presuming it’s the same guy daily? Do you have a car? You could wait till he parks up your drive and then say scuse me I need out in my car so he has to move. I doubt he’ll forget that as it will be annoying for him so he’ll park elsewhere?

Bawbags · 16/02/2020 11:40

Something like these or something simpler, depending on budget. You can also get simple boundary fencing that's just knee high and not very obvious. A single plank on fence posts. Or as others have said, a small shrubbery which clearly marks your land without looking like you're fencing it off and making it stand out against the rest of the cul de sac's open gardens.

Weird parking / driveway thread
Weird parking / driveway thread
ivykaty44 · 16/02/2020 11:43

Put your bins in the drive to stop people turning, doubt they’d get out and move the bins

DearTeddyRobinson · 16/02/2020 11:56

That is infuriating. How about a few large plant pots, they will show clearly where the boundary and protect your lawn. And definitely a complaint to Royal Mail!

Cacaca · 16/02/2020 12:00

If the areas still being developed speak to the sales team if they’re still on site. I’ve seen them put sleeper blocks in front gardens advising that the house is occupied and also no parking blocks.

TheSandman · 16/02/2020 12:11

Take a picture of the RM van and email their complaints and ask for them to ask their drivers to stop parking there.

Or, better still, before you do that talk to the postie. Don't escalate it from day one into a management issue. Make friends with them. You're new to the area. Being on first name terms with your postie is always a good idea. Especially when it comes to those moments when s/he has a 'should I just put this through their letter box even though I'm supposed to get a signature on it? Or do I fill out a 'I tried to deliver but you weren't in and you'll have to come down to the depot somewhere the other side of town to collect it' cards.

I know which I would do if I was annoyed with the houseowner for getting me talked to by Management.

Just a thought.

ivykaty44 · 16/02/2020 13:42

Or just stick your wheely bin on the drive & stop the postie parking there

No need to get him into trouble

longtompot · 16/02/2020 16:32

YABU for not following the rules. Parking issues require a diagram By Law Wink

SoupDragon · 16/02/2020 16:49

I suppose part of the problem is that the driveways are not visually different to the road. Just have a chat to the postie or make a "private driveway - no parking" sign.

You'd definitely need to speak to him about the grass though.

Reginabambina · 16/02/2020 16:52

Are you allowed to put up a fence? If so I would do that.

Letthemysterybe · 16/02/2020 16:55

If the road just continues into your driveway, then it doesn’t sound obvious that it IS your driveway and I can understand the postie parking there temporarily or people using it to turn around, and it really wouldn’t bother me. I’d be pissed off with people driving over my grass though.