To not let people park across the drive that I don’t use?

[Blanketyblanket]

My house has a drive that runs next to the side of the house. For some reason the previous owners of the house built a conservatory across half the drive so it is almost impossible to actually get a car onto the drive. I’ve applied for planning permission to widen the driveway as it would involve knocking down part of the garden wall which is over 6foot. Massive backlog with PP at the moment in the area due to CV so not sure when it will actually happen.

The town I live in is very touristy. Parking is a nightmare every summer but this year has been particularly bad due to fewer people going abroad. As a result I’ve often not been able to find anywhere to parks I for the past few weeks I’ve been parking in front of the gap for my driveway. There’s no pavement or dropped kerb, it’s just an opening in the wall. My house is the only one on my side of the street. On the other side are about 6 houses, all with drives, so everyone parks on the side of the street that my house is on.

I come out today to find I can’t actually physically leave my house via my door as there is a car completely across the entrance to my drive. I hadn’t parked there as I only park there when I can’t find anywhere else. I can leave my house via the side door but it’s 20 steps down to the gate at the bottom of the garden, it’s a pain in the arse and very narrow and very often that gate is blocked by a car too. That’s not normally an issue as I don’t normally leave that way.

I put a note on the car parked across the drive saying ‘please don’t park here, access required’. Came back this afternoon to find the car still there and a neighbour from down the road came out to shout at me that I had upset his guests, where did I expect them to park, I was being really selfish in thinking that I had my own personal parking space when it’s a public highway. Luckily another neighbour came out and told angry neighbour that it was just temporary etc as angry neighbour wouldn’t let me get a word in.

So AIBU? I know it’s a public road but I’d never park across someone’s drive. The drives on my road generally only for one car so a lot of houses then park their other car across the dropped kerb. Bit different in my case I guess as I have no dropped kerb and no car on the actual drive. I very occasionally park my car on the drive but I never would at this time of year as if someone even slightly overhangs my drive I’ve got no chance of getting out again.

If you don’t have a dropped kerb then you don’t have a drive, and you can’t stop anyone parking there.

I really can't picture it. You couldn't get out of front door because the car was there? Please can we have a diagram 😁

Sorry about the rubbish diagram, I can’t find different coloured pens. I don’t know how my drive isn’t a drive just because it’s not got a dropped kerb? There’s no kerb to drop, it’s a brick drive with a garage at the end of it. It just has a random conservatory cutting about 6 foot off it for some reason. As I said I can just about get my car on it, it’s just if anyone overhangs it by even an inch I can’t get out again.

@WiddlinDiddlin

Are folk struggling with reading comprehension?

There’s no pavement or dropped kerb, it’s just an opening in the wall

If there is no pavement, there can be no dropped kerb, and the absence of something that cannot possibly exist (the dropped kerb, in a non existant pavement) can't mean the access to the property does not exist as it clearly does!

Seems like you might be yes. The OP states there is no “dropped kerb” if there was no kerb at all, why not say that. Of course you can have a kerb with no pavement.

And yes, cars park right up against the wall as it’s a very narrow road. The garden gate at the bottom is a squeeze even when there aren’t any cars. I don’t know how wide it is but I’m pretty slim and still have to turn sideways to get out. So absolutely impossible if I have any shopping and the postman would never come in through that entrance.

There’s no kerb to drop,
Then there is the confusion. You stated there was no dropped kerb, however what you actually meant was there was no kerb.

It looks like you need a white line across the drive and across the bottom of the steps-talk to the council.

Ok, there is no kerb, dropped or otherwise. There is no pavement. There are no white lines and can be no white lines due to it being a conservation area. Most of the other neighbours further down the hill have put plant pots marking the edges of their drives/ gates. Due to the steepness of the hill where I am I can’t do that.

If you can physically get your car into your drive I’d probably start doing that but leave it poking out a little bit so no one can overhang your drive and block you in.

Could we have a non-identifying photo? It sounds quite an unusual set up.

Thanks for the diagram OP, that makes things much clearer.

They should not be parking there as it blocks your access to your property. Unless that access to your property is illegal, created without planning, you are in the right. I can't see how your access could be illegal as you are accessing directly from your property to the public highway and not crossing a footpath/pedestrian right of way/pavement.

See if the council will mark it and whilst you are at it point out all the people parking over dropped kerbs who are definitely parking illegally each time they do this.

Would the council provide some kind of "access required at all times" sign? I don't know if that would be allowed in a conservation area.

Does the land belong to you on the deeds?

If it's not a drive, just a walkway then it's not clear to people that they cannot park - signs you put up have no legal standing. Annoying but it's no different to them parking outside anyone else's house

As an aside, I had no idea it was illegal to park over your own dropped kerb. It does make sense though.

People always park over our (very obvious, drop-kerbed) driveway. Some people are just inconsiderate.

@minnieok

If it's not a drive, just a walkway then it's not clear to people that they cannot park - signs you put up have no legal standing. Annoying but it's no different to them parking outside anyone else's house

Even if there's a garage at the end of it, though? Surely it should be kept clear for access?

@Jane567

If you can physically get your car into your drive I’d probably start doing that but leave it poking out a little bit so no one can overhang your drive and block you in.

Just what I was about to suggest, can you reverse onto your drive but leave your nose sticking out slightly, seeing as there's no pavement to obstruct?

A diagram would help op?😁

Ah sorry just seen it,apologies

I would love any of the "not a driveway" bunch to draw me a picture of a road with no pavement and a wall running along it with a gap big enough for a car but also with a kerb and tell me where you've seen anything like that

Ahh, I voted based on what I thought the situation was. Having seen the diagram & understanding more about there being no kerb at all then I change my view.

YANBU. Nobody should be parking over your driveway.

Our houses is like that our drive is down the side and virtually no space between road and front door. Luckily original owners must have bought slightly larger plot and put railings along the front of the house so we have space even if someone parks right up against them.

YANBU can you put low chain up around the boundary of your property, so people can’t park right against your house?

Right now I’ve seen the diagram YANBU , looks like a bloody nightmare place to live though .

I voted YANBU and understood there was no pavement or kerb from your OP!

I think if you could put some more official looking “access required at all times” signs on the wall either side of your drive that might help. I know they have no legal standing (although the fact it’s a drive does!) but it might help a bit.

If you can’t physically leave your house I’d call the police. They’ve blocked your access and it’s dangerous. You need to speak to the council about getting permission for lockable bollards or lines at the end of your drive.

OP, when angry ranting neighbour yelled at you that it was not your private space and it was a public highway, did you not shout back that it is your driveway? Go park your car across his driveway