another parking one!

[wink1970]

GGrr, I need to vent, and hope for some advice.

We have a new neighbour, who runs his own building firm, apparently from home (he has claimed his Google+ page from that address and it's also the registered address). Nothing wrong with that, except he has at least big work 4 vans plus his own car and they are now all parked on our street, causing havoc. Often they are parked on the path, or directly on a corner, this has created a 'blind' corner which is dangerous.

Many of the neighbours are on a Facebook group and have been making passive-aggressive comments, but won't actually say anything or name him specifically - his wife is in the group and is suspiciously silent when the topic of the recent parking problems comes up. I suggested we all went over to speak to them nicely and was then told I was 'being judgemental' and 'pointing a finger'!! I left the group.

I had put this to the back of my mind, as it only affects me when I drive down the road; I'm not the one needing to go onto the road with prams or children, like the complaining neighbours. However, today, one of his vans was double parked and I couldn't get down the road. His workman refused to move so I sat on my horn until he came out and moved his own car (he never uses his own drive!).

The road is still owned by the original builders, who I have a good relationship with, it was never adopted by the council and they have offered to intervene if I make a formal complaint. There's not much they can do, but they can write to him laying out the problem. They won't put down yellow lines or enforce parking as they are trying to get the council to adopt the road. I also see he's converting his garage, without planning permission (which is required on this street).

My AIBU is this: Do I engage the owners and planning people? or should I just take a deep breath and remind myself I'm not directly affected?

No, absolutely speak to the road owners. I'm surprised there isn't a covenant on there about works vehicles if its a reasonably new build.

Planning dept for the garage, though might come under permitted development. Also worth mentioning to them he's running a business from his home.

You have three options really.
Ignore it and seethe/be disrupted forever more
Move (and I laugh when people suggest this here, like it's THAT simple)
Fight.

I would - otherwise where does the piss taking stop? People like that are not bothered about the impact on others unless they're actually forced to, but I would definitely ask for your name not to be revealed in case he turns nasty.

You have options here, I would use them now while you can.

My DH has asked me not to intervene, as it doesn't directly affect us every day. His concern is also more selfish, the guy might start parking outside our house instead, we are half a street away (see diagram, the neighbours who complain but won't say anything are marked)

Beautiful diagram

Very clear diagram!

It’s an offence to park so close to a junction, but I can’t be arsed to look up the legislation, but yes that’s dangerous!

Lovely pic.
I agree with your husband. Say nothing. It's not directly affecting you but it wouldn't take much for it to IYSWIM. Pick your battles.
Maybe an anonymous heads up to the planning department regarding the garage work of that makes you feel better.
Your other neighbours are cowards BTW.

Hmm, now I've seen the image I've changed my mind. Thats someone else's battle, you're far enough out of it from the looks of the diagram.
At best I might anonymously tip the builder off about the parking.

The builder won't do anything unless one of submits a formal complaint; apparently the best he can do is write & quote the Highway Code .

The houses are 19 years old now, so I would imagine the covenant is spent, but I will check if that doesn't apply if it's still owned by them.

Perhaps I should just chill. I am the only person who has been here since new, so I take it all a bit personally!

Yanbu purely for the diagram.

Seriously though, the blind corner parking would be enough for me to complain. But i think you need to get a couple of other neighbours onside too.

The diagram is very good. Top marks, it's so neat!

Might be worth reporting to the council about the business, instead. If the area isn't zoned for business, that might be a way to stop his parking without it getting back on you.

Personally I wouldnt get involved if it didnt cause me any issue. You could pass on any useful contaxysvto those who are more involved.

Love your diagram and labelled him "TWAT" lol. So true. I have no advice but yes his a massive "TWAT" and that would be a inconvenience. If anything, how can emergency services get through that??

It's dangerous parking on the corner. Our estate have covenants about works vans - I'd check yours out.

Could you maybe come on and do the diagrams every time there's a parking thread?

Thanks for the diagram love, it helped me calm down! .

We've got some twats who cause a blind corner on a hill. They have an old decrepit caravan on their drive but also wont park over their drive. It's a pain but once you know it's there you can be prepared.

Tbh I voted YANBU before I saw the diagram. It's far away from you so I would leave them to it. Do you have to leave that way?

well, he is being pretty antisocial, and that isn't going to get less.

I would report to the council about the business and the planning violation.

But I probably wouldn't be the one to put in a formal complaint as it doesn't directly effect you. I might pass that information on to the people he is inconveniencing though

I’d probably leave it until it affected me personally OR until one of the neighbours it does affect asked me to. I don’t think complaining on someone else’s behalf is a great idea.

If it's a new development check your covenants- ours explicitly bans work vehicles (unless undertaking work) and caravans

I wouldn't talk to the Twat I'd contact the council building dept about the garage and the original builders about the pariking anf make a formal complaint so they do something. Make sure they aren't going to tell twat what neighbour has complained first.

Thanks for the advice so far. I am veering between contacting the planning department just for 'revenge' and not doing so as the main impact on me so far is only inconvenience/worrying about the blind corner each time and a stare off with his worker this morning. I agree with many of you that maybe I shouldn't be the street policeman given my lack of immediate proximity if nobody else will step up. I'm just torn.

I think I'll have a chat with neighbour E, he is one of the most riled (he has young kids & was pissed off at the on-path parking from day 1) but also has the most to lose if it just pushes the parking down the road to us.

Thankfully our covenant does address things like this so we have an easy legal recourse. I would pursue all options available to force him to stop operating this business in a residential area. It’s not the same as a sole proprietor bringing his work truck home at the end of the day, this owner is trying to avoid business expenses by imposing on community space.