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.

Still curious as to how there space for people in “just single file” but apparently room for wheelchairs and prams

@lyralalala I didn’t think wheelchairs were twice the width of an average person.

Have you considered smearing something unpleasant (real or fake( on your wing mirror?

If it’s a new development I assume it’s full of kids and parents with prams. And parents holding one child’s hand while pushing a pram.

To be honest you sound a bit selfish.

They shouldn’t damage your car, but you should be more neighbourly.

We don’t park elsewhere as it would inconvenience other homeowners backing out of their drives, and if we parked 4 wheels in the road it may inconvenience larger vehicles but we are not in the middle of the T junction exactly. Parking further up is not a possibility as other cars are on the pavement

For clarity there is room for a wheelchair or pram which the couple don’t use

If you can only walk single file in the space there is not enough room for a wheelchair.

not in London do not illegal?!

Not sure what London has to do with it.

Anyway, sounds like very poor planning on the part of the developers.

@Cadent it’s illegal to park on the pavement in London but not elsewhere

YABU stop parking on the pavement - that way your car won't get damaged so you will save money on repairs

I'm a bit shocked at some of these replies. I voted YANBU as regardless of where you park they should not be causing damage to your car. If you can extend your drive though I would as it will add value to your house having additional parking plus stop the hassle.

@Snufkins

It’s not a fancy car at all.

Maybe his car is a bit too far on the pavement then others - but another thing that annoys me is that DP has seen the people walking on the opposite side of the road but will then cross over to my house and do it!! That to me is petty even if I am being precious.

You're making stuff up now.

@lyralalala I didn’t think wheelchairs were twice the width of an average person.

What about double buggies or mobility scooters?

[quote Snufkins]@lyralalala I didn’t think wheelchairs were twice the width of an average person.[/quote]
Wheelchairs are wider than the average person and you yourself admitted they had to walk single file meaning it would be a squeeze for a wheelchair. Plus wheelchairs aren’t always super manoeuvrable.

You are beginning to sound overly defensive and inconsiderate

@Snufkins

We don’t park elsewhere as it would inconvenience other homeowners backing out of their drives, and if we parked 4 wheels in the road it may inconvenience larger vehicles but we are not in the middle of the T junction exactly. Parking further up is not a possibility as other cars are on the pavement

But you are at the T junction. Your dh should know very well parking on or near a junction isn’t allowed. Are you parking far enough away from it?

You say
"The road is quiet, they could easily cross the road but there is room to walk on the pavement just in single file."

So you think they should cross the road rather than walk on the pavement! Single file walking means not enough room for prams or wheelchairs - should they also cross the road so that your partner can park?

I’m not buying it at all that there’s nowhere else in walking distance where you can park properly. What are you going to do when lockdown is over and you have people visiting you in cars?

[quote Snufkins]@lyralalala I didn’t think wheelchairs were twice the width of an average person.[/quote]
What about mobility scooters? And a wheelchair needs the width of 2 people. What happens if it veers off slightly to one side? It will crash into your car.

I don't think anyone's called you a cunt @Snufkins. I said that I didn't think people pointing out that blocking the pavement was behaving like an arsehole were cunts. Subtle difference.

No you shouldn’t park on the pavement but likewise they shouldn’t touch your car.
Even if you were on yellow lines no one has the right to damage your car.
I would get a car camera that works even when stationary.

I just keep picturing someone pushing a pushchair or pram when it's snowy or icy and it bashing into your car.
If you obstruct the pavement, then people will do what they have to do to get past.
Out of principle I refuse to walk on the road when a car is on the path, I will walk through their garden or squeeze past the car.

YABU. Stop parking on the pavement. The pavement is for pedestrians not cars.

Pavements are for people

People shouldn’t park their cars on pavements. Also people shouldn’t vandalise cars. Sounds like there’s way too many cars in your housing development. Can your DP trade up for a bike and share your car? Instant solution to parking problem!

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.

I've cut out the irrelevant parts of your post here. Basically your DP parks on the pavement because you don't have enough room on your drive (assuming you are a 2 car family?) and you resent the people walking past pushing his wing mirror in. And you think they should put up with your DP's car on the pavement because you don't live in London and it's ok because they can get by in single file?

@islockdownoveryet

Oh op you should know on mumsnet that you are not allowed to park on pavements. Back in the real world where not everyone has drives -should see my street mumsnet would be horrified. Anyway you do have a drive do slightly unreasonable . They shouldn’t be damaging your car though they are arseholes . Can you not put your mirrors in ? Also do you definitely know it’s them ? Have you seen them . If so yeah confront them and tell them you have cctv .

No in my real world- where I live no one has drives or garages (unless they live in new build flats but they have separate parking) - there is only on street parking. Sometimes it gets full up and people have to park somewhere else and walk - sometimes a considerable distance away.

(I live near some sports stadiums - pre Covid could be very problematic if there was a game on but still didn't see cars parked on the pavement)

There clearly isn't enough room for a wheelchair - or even people with full mobility - if they have to walk in your "bog" of a garden to get past the car.