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.

YABU no other words

Wasn’t sure how to vote as you’re all being unreasonable!

He shouldn’t park on the pavement AND they shouldn’t damage his car.

Wheelchairs are pretty wide I think. And what about double buggies?

A quick google of pavement parking problems will show you why you are being unreasonable, particularly to the blind or visually impaired.

www.rnib.org.uk/campaigning-campaign-resources-my-street/cars-pavement

Don’t park on the pavement

As a mother of twins I can't abide inconsiderate people who park on pavements. I would have to take my double pushchair onto the road, sometimes on blind bends, to get by.

It’s illegal to park on the pavement, even if partial. We had similar situation on our avenue, where the roads were narrow, and everyone with a second car was parking with two wheels on the pavement. We all got letters through so there must have been a complaint, threatening us with fines.

@Livelovebehappy

It’s illegal to park on the pavement, even if partial. We had similar situation on our avenue, where the roads were narrow, and everyone with a second car was parking with two wheels on the pavement. We all got letters through so there must have been a complaint, threatening us with fines.

No, it really isn’t!

It might be said that cars parked on the pavement deserve anything that happens to them when people have to dodge round them.

However it is not right to cause damage.

Park somewhere else less aggravating to others then.

People with more cars than their own parking spaces are a nuisance.

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

Except that they are parking on public land. So they then need to register with the ICO, put up notices, have a policy blah blah blah. And anyone can request to see all footage of themselves (and have a copy) and a right to have footage of themselves destroyed. Honestly, you can put up CCTV at home (I have at my home) but it shouldn't cover public land.

The answer is to get your drive sorted asap, and park on it. In the meantime, don't block the pavement. No, they shouldn't be damaging your car, but you are blocking a public right of way.

Just to add... this is from Ask The Police:
"If not specifically prohibited, parking a vehicle on the pavement could lead to an offence of obstruction being committed – this could result in a fixed penalty notice being issued to offending vehicle/s. This is because parking on the pavement can obstruct pedestrians and wheelchair users, forcing them to use the road to pass a parked vehicle/s."

So if you want to start an argument with them (and, to be fair in your responses, it doesn't look like you do - although some posters do seem to be wanting you to stand your ground unwisely) then they could report you, keep reporting you, and eventually you could get a ticket. Not worth the aggro imho.

Mind you, if you're in a new build the road (and pavement) might still be owned by the developer and not the local authority - but again, not worth the stress. To de-escalate it, put the mirrors in when you park (better still, park somewhere else) until the drive is sorted.

Everyone parks on pavements near me. This is one of the roads. You can see there isn't enough room to have 4 wheels on the road. And no, they can't park anywhere else because the road at the top is the same, and opposite a school so all marked off, and the next road is also the same as part of the estate
Badly planned new builds, houses with more than one car. I have one parking space (mine) and so the only place visitors can park is on the road. They sold the visitors car park off so that's now gone

It’s parking opposite the junction (and not just on the pavement) that makes your DH’s parking dangerous. You said it’s a sharp turn. Which would make it dangerous for people having to walk/use their wheelchair in the road because you’ve obstructed the pavement.

Yes you should widen your drive if that’s your solution and until that’s done, your DH should park elsewhere.

The couple shouldn’t be deliberately forceful with your properly - if that’s what they’re actually doing - but you don’t have the legal or moral high ground here. Change how the car is parked and then see if they continue to barge into it.

Some very odd responses on here. Angry people advocating criminal damage. Weird mumsnetish behaviour. So much rage. Must have dull lives, I guess.

@QueenPawPaws

Everyone parks on pavements near me. This is one of the roads. You can see there isn't enough room to have 4 wheels on the road. And no, they can't park anywhere else because the road at the top is the same, and opposite a school so all marked off, and the next road is also the same as part of the estate Badly planned new builds, houses with more than one car. I have one parking space (mine) and so the only place visitors can park is on the road. They sold the visitors car park off so that's now gone

Here’s hoping no-one in a wheelchair needs down that street

There should be parking, on the road, on one side only on that street. Not making paths both sides unusuable

Also if you do park on the pavement surely it’s only basic manners to fold in your mirror? Why wouldn’t you?

@lyralalala definitely. Not agreeing it's right but on the left past the blue car is houses so can't park there
On the right there's a road after the sky van
That's all the "spare" parking for about 40 houses, a lot of which only have one space
Pic was taken on a weekday as well when everyone is mostly out
The pavements also don't have a (what's it called..) dropped bit at the bottom end so you would have to bump a wheelchair up as well

Are you parking opposite a t junction? They may be targeting your car and not others just for that.

How nice for all the people here who can afford more than a terraced house on a narrow street.

Go out or send your dp and ask them to stop.

YABVU, get off the pavement

Just because you live on a narrow street or with inadequate private parking does not mean it's ok to park inconsiderately or dangerously. The op is parked either opposite a junction or very close to it which she admits causes problems when there's ice (and probably other times too). To add to this the car is also parked in such a way as to also obstruct the path. It also sounds as though it's possible she could park in a slightly less convenient location but cause problems with neither.

Fwiw I also live in a place with limited parking, all old houses where it is difficult to build a driveway (the houses are set down from the road level) and the vast majority of drivers manage to park in a way that neither obstructs the road or the pavement or those few houses with a driveway.

Cars parked on the pavement are quite frankly a pain in the arse. Why should pedestrians have to step out in to the road because you've parked on the footpath? It doesn't give them the right to damage your car but I can see why they are pissd off enough to do it!

*pissed!

Are passed and past homophones for some people? Or are you being autocorrected?

I've noticed twice (at least) the writer using "can't get passed" when they mean "can't get past"

It's not a homophone in my accent but I might add it to the list for DDs lessons on homophones.

We say a harder T (if that makes any sense at all)

Also one word is longer than the other. (Guess who's been saying passed and past repeatedly)