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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Parking AIBU

58 replies

Boatingforthestars · 06/12/2020 22:56

So not long after moving into our house a few years ago, we had run in with a neigbour opposite us regarding parking.
Basically the lady accused me of blocking their drive, I wasnt i was near the sloped kerb stones, not causing an obstruction but they had a moan anyway and out of courtesy I reversed the car a little bit so I was well clear.
Fast forward a couple of weeks and my partner pointed out that everytime either of their neigbours went out, they would pull off their drive and save their neigbours a space. Then when the neigbour returned their would be a big shunt so they could get onto the drive and their neigbour could have their spot.

Now is probably a good time to point out that the neigbour I have an issue with is one of the very few houses on our road with a driveway, and can actually have one due to positioning of grass verges.
Parking is a bit of a pain out the front, due to a couple of disabled bays opposite each other and the general road layout.
All houses have an open area at the back like a car park but not, so could park there but is inconvenient.

So one of the neigbours they like to save a space for has given up driving so simplifies the situation slightly. There is now only the one person they like to save a space for now.

This person deliberately parks almost a whole car length away from their dropped kerb so you cant quite fit in, my guess is they like this as they seem very protective of the road outside their home, even have a no parking sign (twats) the a few houses down also decide to park directly outside their house, usually meaning that 2 cars can park outside about 6 house and everyone else has to park round the back as the road is narrow and can only park one side of the road.

So after getting fed up of constantly parking down the road or round the back because said neigbours who have a drive anyway have taken it upon themselves to police the parking on our street ove decided to go against the flow and park outside my neigbours house (he doesnt drive) but on our side of the road, it cause a chicane which in my opinion is a good thing as it slows everyone down, but also makes it slightly more difficult but not impossible for the people with the drive to get in and out.

They have now taken to pulling off their drive everytime I go our and pulling over it to stop me from parking on my side of the road, and only putting their car away before they go to bed.
Theyve literally just put their car away after blocking me whilst I was at work, and withington minutes I had moved my car into the spot I like to park in. Petty I know but feel I can only win this with a battle of wills.

So for background we have 2 cars but I am firmly of the opinion it's a free for all on the street, not something you save spaces for your mates. We have young kids which can be a nuisance walking up the road as ones still in a car seat and the other likes to do his own thing as hes 3.

Confronting them isn't really an option as I am alot younger than them and a large man so feel like I am threatening/intimidating am older couple, I tried calling them out on it before and it just left me feeling bad due to the age gap.

So the answers for the poll

YABU stop being difficult and let them play their games park round the back even though it is a huge inconvenience and slightly tricky due to kids and wet wooden steps

YANBU carry on with the battle of wills and park where you like it's a free country.

Please go easy on me, this is a first post on here

OP posts:
Santaisironingwrappingpaper · 06/12/2020 23:02

Hire a skip for a time you know they won't be in.. Park it where they play their stupid game.

cabingirl · 06/12/2020 23:09

You are going to get roasted for not providing a diagram!

But I don't think you're being unreasonable re the parking issue. Why shouldn't you be allowed to park on your street if there's room and a legal spot.

Boatingforthestars · 06/12/2020 23:11

I nearly added a diagram but due to the layout of our street it would be quite outing as it's fairly unique

OP posts:
davekim · 06/12/2020 23:11

Diagram or it didn't happen.

BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz · 06/12/2020 23:15

Your street is unique?

GabriellaMontez · 06/12/2020 23:16

I second the skip. Or as a nearby house has done, a trailer. With a wheel clamp.

Boatingforthestars · 06/12/2020 23:18

@BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz

Your street is unique?
The layout yes, the street maybe not
OP posts:
Whatwouldyoydo · 06/12/2020 23:19

I bet your street is not as unique as you think it is.

Def need a diagram.

Scandicc · 06/12/2020 23:19

Now I really want a diagram just to see the uniqueness

ILoveYourLittleHat · 06/12/2020 23:21

are you in Manchester OP? Grin

Nat6999 · 06/12/2020 23:22

Buy a wreck of a caravan & get it delivered during the night, then sit & watch the chaos. A skip is too easy because they only have to ring the skip company to find out who has ordered it.

DianeChambers · 06/12/2020 23:23

Was also going to say it is a sin to start a parking thread with no diagram. And also yes skip.

MrsEricBana · 06/12/2020 23:25

They sound bloody petty and irritating. I do think park where you like in this scenario BUT as soon as you get into any tricky situations with your neighbours it can really ruin your enjoyment of your home so only do this if the alternative is untenable.

SBTLove · 06/12/2020 23:25

It might be unique enough that you will find local MN supporters.
Get the diagram done big lad.

rosegoldivy · 06/12/2020 23:25

You must now provide the most unique parking diagram Mumsnet has ever seen.

NameChangeAgain2 · 06/12/2020 23:27

It sounds like YANBU but we need a diagram.

WhenSheWasBad · 06/12/2020 23:27

@Nat6999

Buy a wreck of a caravan & get it delivered during the night, then sit & watch the chaos. A skip is too easy because they only have to ring the skip company to find out who has ordered it.
Do this. One of our neighbours plonked a hideous old caravan on our street. I was irrationally annoyed by the damned thing for months.
MaggieFS · 06/12/2020 23:32

Diagram please Grin

Piratedoor · 06/12/2020 23:35

Get a cheap old banger and park it in the most awkward (but legal) place and just enjoy watching them lose their minds

KarlKennedysDurianFruit · 06/12/2020 23:38

Just here for the diagram ...

theemmadilemma · 06/12/2020 23:40

I'd be having that battle.

fuckrightoff · 06/12/2020 23:40

Also waiting just for the diagram (and hopefully a pic of a rotting caravan being delivered 🙏🏼)

ClaireP20 · 06/12/2020 23:45

I don't think you're being unreasonable, it may be a narrow road but you are entited to park outside your own house. The parking on one side of the road thing is great..for those on that side of the road. But if your opposite neighbour doesn't drive anymore then there isn't a problem. So they have to drive in a chicane (in and out a bit) well, so what. The issue is how difficult it is for them to get out of their drive - honestly? Is it hard for them to manoeuvre or is it straightforward? If it's fairlu easy, then they are being utterly ridiculous and have too much time on their hands. With children especially, you should not be made to park elsewhere just because they dictate it. I'd actually leave the car there - outside your house - for as long as you can. Any holidays from work coming up where you could leave it unmoved for a week or 2?

Boatingforthestars · 06/12/2020 23:55

@ClaireP20

I don't think you're being unreasonable, it may be a narrow road but you are entited to park outside your own house. The parking on one side of the road thing is great..for those on that side of the road. But if your opposite neighbour doesn't drive anymore then there isn't a problem. So they have to drive in a chicane (in and out a bit) well, so what. The issue is how difficult it is for them to get out of their drive - honestly? Is it hard for them to manoeuvre or is it straightforward? If it's fairlu easy, then they are being utterly ridiculous and have too much time on their hands. With children especially, you should not be made to park elsewhere just because they dictate it. I'd actually leave the car there - outside your house - for as long as you can. Any holidays from work coming up where you could leave it unmoved for a week or 2?
It's difficult for them in the aspect that they may have to position themselves slightly differently to reverse on the drive, literally take a different angle of approach, that's it! They do dictate who can park where and that's the issue, this whole thing has come about because they wont allow you ta park where you like. These people have lived here a long time, approximately 50 years and since the houses were built so I think these issues could be long running. In short they think they own the road, every road has them unfortunately it's just dealing with them.

I'm sat here feeling genuinly guilty because I have just parked knowingly that it will aggravate them although it's not doing anyone any harm. Yet they will look me in the eye whilst knowingly blocking me out. Guess they have bigger balls! I wont back down though as its ridiculous

OP posts:
HitthatroadJack · 06/12/2020 23:59

due to the layout of our street it would be quite outing as it's fairly unique

priceless Grin

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