Petty neighbour - parking related

[Snufkins]

Not sure why I’m posting on here or whether it’s me being unreasonable or the ‘neighbour’

I live in a new build development, it’s not a cul de sac as such but there are other houses at the back and bottom and fields at the top. So technically anyone can pass through on walks.

My house is opposite a long road which makes a T junction, a sharp left takes you to the rest of the houses and a right to the few others. DP parks on pavement as at the moment we have a single driveway, cars can get very tight round the bend especially if icy so it’s all we’re able to do at the moment (we’re not in London so not illegal?).

A couple on their daily walk (I don’t know whether they live on the same block) have taken to slamming DP’s wing mirror when walking past. It’s showing some damage. I think I have seen them walk through my front garden during summer several times too to get past. The road is quiet, they could easily cross the road but there is room to walk on the pavement just in single file. There are cars and a van parked nearby on pavement and they don’t do the same to them.
We’re forking out over £10k to sort out our bog of a garden which has taken a while to save and DP now says we need to extend the driveway at the same time to stop this happening, can’t really afford both!

I instead want to confront these people but are we being unreasonable or them? I want to say we have CCTV (we don’t) to put them off but I am frustrated they are picking on us, especially walking on my property.

@mygrandchildrenrock

It’s against the Highway Code wherever you live.

It certainly isn’t!!! However, you are required to park considerably.

CCTV is so cheap, you could put a camera up for less than £300 (we have 6 installed that cost £675) put some up and they’ll soon stop

I loathe people who park their cars on the pavement. When I go out I use a mobility scooter and sometimes there are two options, drive alongside the car, scraping off their paintwork or backing and turning to find a dropped kerb and drive in the road to go round it. So far I have done the latter but one day I will lose my temper and you better hope it's not your car if I do the former. The same goes for those who park over dropped kerbs for crossing roads.

As for not being able to park outside your house - so what? park elsewhere in your road.

I now leave a post it note on windscreens that they have caused me and any other scooter/wheelchair users time and effort by their thoughtlessness. If I see their car blocking the pavement/dropped kerb again, I will affix the second note with superglue. I wouldn't but they don't know that.

Yeah, fucking mumsnetters, caring about disabled people's rights to use pavements. The utter cunts.

Why is parking on all new estates always so dire?
In theory we have strict planning rules.
In practice, as soon as real actual people with jobs and lives move in, cars and vans are littered everywhere due to the totally inadequate provision.

@TheJerkStore

Stop parking on the fucking pavement.

This!!!

Absolutely that.

Parking partially on the pavement (unless you are in London) is not Illegal at the moment. Discussions are ongoing about this issue. People should park considerately, of course, but in some areas it is essential, otherwise emergency vehicles would not get through. I am sure people who have moaned about having to manoeuvre around parked cars would be moaning even more if their house was on fire and the fire engine couldn’t get through.

I don't think how much you're paying for your drive is in anyway relevant. Don't park on pavements, cars go on the road.

When I was a baby, my dad was a Special Constable - we lived in a small country town, with narrow roads, and lorry drivers used to park on the pavement, making it impossible for people with proms or wheelchairs to get past, forcing them onto the road.

Dad was in the station, one day, when a very irate lorry driver came in to complain about a woman who had told him off for obstructing the pavement - as he was ranting, he pointed out off the window - “there’s the old bag now” - “That’s my wife” said the Sergeant. Exit lorry driver, embarrassed. It made dad laugh - and mum, when he told her.

The highway code differentiates between must not and should not.
Explicit vs implicit, one is legislatively backed and may receive a fine, the other is advisory.
Drivers "MUST NOT park partially or wholly on the pavement in London and should not do so elsewhere unless signs permit it."
The conflict arises with the highway code stating "You MUST NOT leave your vehicle or trailer in a dangerous position or where it causes any unnecessary obstruction of the road."

They’re being petty bastards. We have two cars and a double drive so this isn’t me protecting my own interests, either. Plenty of people up my way park on the pavement and plenty of people have prams. No one damages other peoples’ property as we aren’t shitty people.

@Alwaysandforeverhere

YABU to part on the pavement. It’s not for cars and causing damage over time as well as well as making in impossible at times for those in wheelchairs or with prams to get by.

No police officer is going to do anything about your wing mirror being pushed in as pedestrians get by. They might do you for parking on the path though.

Also if you decide to go the camera route make sure you have signage and expect they may well and legally can ask for all footage that contains them in it. It will also need to be correctly dated and time stamped.

The Police won’t do anything about 2 wheels on the pavement as long as a pram/wheelchair could get passed it.

It’s a common problem this, we have it on our road. If cars park four wheels on the road you wouldn’t be able to get an ambulance for eg. passed.

OP none of us have the right to park outside our own house, so if you can park safely on the road, without obstructing the pavement, but not outside your own house, then surely that would be a better option than causing an obstruction as you’re doing at the mo.

@Snufkins

For clarity there is room for a wheelchair or pram which the couple don’t use. The car is only partially on the pavement and if we were to park it elsewhere it’d be in front of someone’s house rather than my own. From my own window i can see 4 other cars parked on the pavement so I’m not the only one. But they don’t do the same to them, we’ve seen!

How is there room for a wheelchair or pram when you said you have to pass it in single file?

They should not damage your car but pushing in the mirror gently is understandable. It is obstructing the path.

You mention that a wheelchair or pram can still go passed. I am curious but have you actually tried passing with a wheelchair or a pram. Somehow I doubt the path is that wide and regardless is not made for parking on so damage is probably being done to it.

You think there is room. If it is a standard size pavement, there isn’t. DD struggles when cars are parked on pavements as I can’t walk beside her. I keep telling her not to worry, just keep going and if she scratches it by accident we’ll just leave a note and let the insurance sort it out.

Just park on the road, that’s what it is there for. That other people do it is irrelevant, they are selfish pricks.

Unless I've missed this, you say you have a drive way but are parking on the street? Why don't you use the driveway?

It’s a common problem this, we have it on our road. If cars park four wheels on the road you wouldn’t be able to get an ambulance for eg. passed

If an ambulance can’t pass a parked car on the road, the road is too narrow and is therefore unsuitable for parking.

Quite honestly if you are parking like inconsiderate twats I think any damage caused to your car by people trying to get past is your own choice.

To get upset that people walked on your garden as an alternative route when your car was BLOCKING THE PAVEMENT is ridiculously petty.

The highway code exists and applies to everyone. Might also be worth reading the covenants for your house. I bet they say you aren't allowed to park on the pavement too.

The conflict arises with the highway code stating "You MUST NOT leave your vehicle or trailer in a dangerous position or where it causes any unnecessary obstruction of the road."

That’s not a conflict. You just don’t park on that road.

Parking on the pavement is selfish no matter your perceived justification. However, if you wish to continue being so self-centred and arrogant that you must park there, do pavement users (the ones that SHOULD be on the pavement, ie pedestrians) the courtesy of pushing your mirror in.

Nice that I’m being called a twat and a cunt, it’s not even my car mines on the drive!!

All 4 wheels on the road means larger wheels can’t get passed. 2 are partially on the pavement, hardly unusual and and not legally enforceable.

There is no excuse ever to park on the pavement. End of story.

@Snufkins

Nice that I’m being called a twat and a cunt, it’s not even my car mines on the drive!!

All 4 wheels on the road means larger wheels can’t get passed. 2 are partially on the pavement, hardly unusual and and not legally enforceable.

If you, or he, can’t park on that bit of road without blocking pavement then you can’t park there.

The fact you (collective you) don’t want to park elsewhere is your own problem. Pavements are for people

As well as obstructing the pavement it also sounds like you're causing issues with the junction. Are you parking directly at the top of the T? It sounds like you're causing a narrowing of the junction for other car users too. You've clearly just picked the most convenient place for you to park and ignoring the issues you're causing for pedestrians and other drivers.