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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Petty neighbour - parking related

241 replies

Snufkins · 08/02/2021 16:15

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.

OP posts:
Joinedjustforthispost · 08/02/2021 22:02

Lazy ignorant car users that decide to block pavements boil me I’m fed up of having to wheel my disabled daughter in her heavy manual wheelchair off the path on to a road because I can’t get through! Stop it now Yabu but I’m sure you already have justified it in your head Angry

Whattodo1610 · 08/02/2021 22:08

all Clymene Mon 08-Feb-21 18:10:59

Seriously you don’t see any cars with 2 wheels parked on pavements?? Every single street on my estate parks like this .. and all streets nearby outside of my estate, and streets near schools, and streets near town centre ... I rarely see cars actually parked fully on the road.

The OP has already said there's not enough room for pedestrians to walk two abreast ergo there is insufficient room for a wheelchair or mobility scooter. which is why I said If you’re definitely not stopping pushchairs/wheelchairs, as clearly, OP is deluded about how wide pushchairs and wheelchairs are.

Outlier · 08/02/2021 22:29

A pushchair may be able to go past. A wheelchair might not be able to. You have to be able cater for a wheelchair.

SmellsLikeAHamsterCage · 08/02/2021 22:32

I think if there is enough room for a wheelchair or double buggy to get past safely and comfortably on the pavement, then it is fine that your car is parked there. If there is technically enough room but it is very tight, then you're being unreasonable.

It is very strange that if everyone else is parking partially on the pavement, that yours is the only car being damaged.

Is your car parked further on the pavement than others... If so, then possibly, YABU.

If everyone parks like it, you're not blocking double buggies or wheelchairs, and it is not a busy road, then I'd say they are just being petty, so YANBU.

We need a diagram. It's the rules for parking threads. Bonus points for photos.

lyralalala · 08/02/2021 22:35

@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 Hmm
Park further away from your house then.

Blocking the pavement isn't an acceptable solution.

Laalaa78 · 08/02/2021 22:52

I’d like to know why 10k is needed and it won’t even get you a driveway

paintfairy · 08/02/2021 23:07

Wow. I'd love to know where most of these posters live. Somewhere with enough money for massive driveways or roads wide enough to see for miles. How i wish I was part of that perfect world. 🙄

I'm not however. Interestingly enough cars park on the pavement all the time all over from what I've seen. So it's not quite as obscure as it is made out to be. My road isn't that wide and you can't park just on the road, or nothing would get past? Its a dead end road but there are old people at the top and ambulances frequently.

People should not be damaging cars for any reason. So yes you can report them.

That being said- it really depends how much of an obstruction you are causing. To traffic or people. You don't have a right to park on the road outside your house. So, if its not suitable then you shouldn't be parking there? We have old people in those scooter things come down our road, so if we park on the road then we do make sure they can fit through (luckily the pavement is reasonably wide). However not everyone does and I've seen them angrily take photos of the offending vehicles.

SmellsLikeAHamsterCage · 08/02/2021 23:34

For all the posters that are outraged at pavement parking, sometimes it's a necessity, when you live in a busy road! It is also allowed in some boroughs in London, as it makes sense, and actually allows for space for pedestrians and cars.

Just an example in London borough of Hounslow, in the photo.

Petty neighbour - parking related
evenBetter · 09/02/2021 00:25

The ‘property’ gets damaged as a natural consequence of your husbands choice to obstruct a path that’s for pedestrians. Wouldn’t get damaged if it was parked considerately. People choose to obstruct the footpath in my street (as their driveways sit empty..) and I do not alter my step to accommodate them.

Joiningthegossip · 09/02/2021 00:57

Yes cars parked on pavements are annoying but I don't see why they need to damage your car, I would too be annoyed.
That's the problem with new builds, they just don't allow for enough cars, ending up with petty arguments.

Could he put the wing mirrors in each time? Get a camera, catch them in the act?

Hope you get your new drive sorted soon!

Put something sticky on your wing mirror, that might teach them.

paintfairy · 09/02/2021 08:41

I think it's more worrying that people think it's OK to damage your car because they disagree with your actions. Probably says more about society these days.

Graciebobcat · 09/02/2021 08:47

I'd wait for them and go out and have a word.

RainingBatsAndFrogs · 09/02/2021 08:57

What is the problem with parking legally in the road in front of someone else’s house?

If you keep seeing them do it, nip out and ask them, politely, what their problem is with your (illegally) parked car and not the others.

They shouldn’t be interfering with your car.

Your DH shouldn’t be parking in the pavement.

Clymene · 09/02/2021 08:58

@paintfairy

I think it's more worrying that people think it's OK to damage your car because they disagree with your actions. Probably says more about society these days.
Has anyone said it's okay? Confused
MustardMitt · 09/02/2021 09:11

@MrsGradyOldLady

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.
Yeah, I’m with you. They shouldn’t be damaging his car out of spite.

I would nip out and ask them wtf they think they’re doing when you see them. Get their objections, and then DP can park elsewhere. It’s quite normal to park on the street even if people have drives to back out of.

Marzipan12 · 09/02/2021 10:28

I had to use a disability buggy for one of my kids plus keep hold 9ff another child next to me, this takes up more room than 2 adults walking side by side you say there's not enough room for 2 people tof walk side by side this means there's not enough room for wheelchair users, people pushing disability buggies and people on disabiltype scooters to get past your car. Many times I accidently scrapped a car with the buggy or wondering hands of my disabled child or walked in a garden because there was no way in hell I was going to put my kids in danger by taking them into a road due to quite frankly inconsiderate a holes who carnt see past their own car.

DynamoKev · 09/02/2021 11:06

accidently scrapped a car with the buggy
That is quite a feat! Wink

LovelyIssues · 09/02/2021 17:34

They sound very petty OP! I would never dream of damaging someone else's property and other Mumsnetters that are ok with this are a*holes

LovelyIssues · 09/02/2021 17:35

I would also try and catch them in the act and say you have evidence you are taking to the police

sallyfox · 09/02/2021 17:37

Narrowing part of the FOOTpath with your car is selfish

Yogalola · 09/02/2021 17:39

I think cars are meant to go on roads and people on pavements! You need to consider people with proms, mobility vehicles and elderly with zimmers, so if you haven’t room to park off road then maybe you can find somewhere down the road to park. I don’t agree with people damaging your car even so. Sounds like a good idea to create more off road parking, it will be worth the expense for peace of mind.

Lucyk1 · 09/02/2021 17:44

I'd have done the same 😂😂😂
Nothing annoys me more than people who think it's OK to park on the pavement. No consideration for people in wheelchairs or with prams.

roxanne119 · 09/02/2021 17:48

If they walk through you garden to get round why can’t your husband park his car there admit we needed a diagram . Don’t think it’s right to damage your car but stop parking like an arse .

Rachel1874 · 09/02/2021 18:00

Well I'm not sure who is being unreasonable but is there enough room on the pavement for a buggy, double buggy or wheelchair? A pavement is for people not cars, why should they have to cross the road to walk? Sorry cars parking on the pavement grinds my gears because it is so unthoughtful.

sunshinemode · 09/02/2021 18:05

[quote Snufkins]@lyralalala I didn’t think wheelchairs were twice the width of an average person.[/quote]
That really is a thoughtless statement. A wheel chair user will need to use twice as much space due to the extra width of the chair and they come in a variety of sizes but also there has to be space so the chair user doesn't feel they will injure their hands while wheeling.