AIBU who's the CF? Another parking thread!!!

[crazymicrowave123]

My neighbour opposite my house wrote a letter and put it in my windshield this morning basically a very scary drafted letter explaining that I am not to park outside their house as it is a spot reserved for them by the council to charge their car in their house as they are elderly.

They write that they have a bin that they put out with a note explaining this so that people do not park there and that they own the spot. I parked there yesterday morning and haven't moved my car until today when I saw the note. I have lived at my house for over 6 years and never had an issue parking there before as have others parked there with seemingly no issues.

There was no bin reserving the spot on the road when I parked there (there was a bin on the pavement however) and I didn't think to check their bin for a note explaining not to park there on that day. They say in the letter they will take me to court if I park there again and that they are battling the same issue with others, however I have spoken to my Dad who thinks they are just CF's trying to scare people into letting them have that space.

There are plenty of elderly people on our road who don't request for a space to be reserved nor did I think the council even allowed this. AIBU to keep parking here? I only park here if there is no where else to park but would happily move if they put a bin there with a note politely asking if they can have the spot for the day or something.

It's a cul de sac and I have a child so I can't walk too far due to health issues. And can they really take me to court or can I find out whether the council really have reserved them this spot? I apologise for my terrible handwriting and drawling skills.

If it isnt marked as a disabled bay or an "electric car only" bay then it's open for all.
I do believe in being courteous to neighbours and not inconveniencing an elderly couple if you could just park down the hill a bit or whatever, but after that note, I would just park outside their house.

They can't just reserve a space on their say so. If the council has reserved a space it would be marked out on the road like a disabled space would be. Their nastiness would encourage me to keep parking there tbh

Personally I reckon they are talking shite... Ring the Council on Monday. Write down the name of the person who confirms this.

If they had asked nicely for the car to be moved then I would be more amenable. Now they are just being CFs

If it’s completely unmarked then they’re chancing their arm.
Mind you, even when the council paint a disabled bay in for someone, they’re unenforceable.

Crack on and park where you like but I suppose you might want to take neighbourly relations into consideration.

They are being complete twats, of course the council havent allocated them a section of the road. I would ask them for proof. Unfortunatly ive come to realise that there are many old people who are rude, arrogent and entitled.

@Fiddliestofsticks No reserved parking, no disabled bay nothing no notices put up by the council. As far as I am aware it has been a free for all since I have lived here. The road is very long and narrow and hard to secure a spot so you could be walking for a long time back up to your house if you have to park down the bottom of the road. I wouldn't mind if they had politely left a note on their bin putting it in the road asking that that no one parks there so they can charge their car as they are elderly, its more the scary letter and demands when I didn't even know they wanted this spot to begin with. I would have happily not parked there in the first place.

How can they 'own' part of the public highway?

Of course they don’t own that space. Plus, their charging cable presumably will lie over the pavement, from the house to the car. Maybe write them a note saying that you plan to sue them if you trip on it?

I think I would actually really want to write a note back saying, cuntil the council come and mark the pay as disabled/electric car only/permit or they can show you the deeds of the purchase of that land from the council then I will consider it as public highway, just like the rest of the street. Had they just come and spoken to you politely, you would of course have understood their issues, but the threatening note with what seems to be lies has ruined any polite relationship we may have had. I won't park in the space needlessly, but if it is available and is the closest space to my home then I will park in it as it is entirely legal".

There are so many errors in my post but you get it!

They don’t own part of the road. Unless the road had a dropped kerb or double yellow lines or marked out disabled bays - installed by the council, then park as you want.
They are just trying to intimidate you. You’ve clearly tried to be considerate when a choice has been had in where to park. , but this time had no choice. Ignore them.
For peace of mind call the council to clarify your own road parking restrictions (if any).

It's a public highway and unless the council have marked out a space with proper signs up saying parking is restricted there, then they are CFs

There are charging spaces and ports they can use around town, in garages . They shouldn't be using a cable from their house over public pavement onto main road!!

I'd be inclined to scan it, talk to local council and email them the scanned letter. Bet they local council will put the cf neighbours straight!

cuntil the council come Freudian slip @Fiddliestofsticks?! 😉

They don't own that spot, its a public road.
Park there and tell them to do one.

With electric cars becoming more popular, this will be a reoccur theme.

Its really simple, want your own parking, buy a house with parking.

Give the council a ring for your own peace of mind. They might have an application for a space put in I guess but they can't reserve spaces with wheelie bins. If they'd been polite I'd have tried to keep it free but as they aren't..

I’d tell them you’re thinking of buying an electric vehicle and interested to see what paperwork they had to complete to achieve this. Particularly as the council haven’t used the usual methods to inform everyone else (road markings) and are relying on a handwritten sign on a wheelie bin to get the message across. With appropriate head tilt.

Ring the council. They would need a disabled bay marking. Otherwise anyone can park.

Ask them if they have insurance in place for when or if someone trips over the cable - or get a shock from it.
Totally missing the point - but this is why pushing electric vehicles is a wrong without also considering how a lot of people are to charge the things. Proper infrastructure first to encourage take up would be much better.

Yeah they sound very entitled some people actually believe they own the road outside their house. Unless they have a disabled space I’d say it’s rubbish . Xx

Their tone would p*ss me off but to avoid confrontation I would try not to park there, or if you desperately needed to park there could you knock on and let them know? Especially if they were able to park close

Our next door neighbour is elderly and a f*cking pain thinking he owns the road - complains when you have any kind of work/maintenance done and he’s made his own rule that no one can park opposite his house! So in your diagram it would be you not letting anyone park outside your opposite neighbours house! He claims it’s because hes unable to reverse off his drive if anyone is parked opposite, even though everyone else manages it! Can’t believe the neighbour opposite him puts up with it to be honest
Hes a grump git who we just ignore now

Some markings, no formal bay it’s a free for all, anyone can park there

Either phone your local council Find out who your district/borough councillor is and contact them and ask them to find out if this is actually the case and if so why, electric car charging will affect everyone

I'd say, "sorry, I wasn't aware of this, bit I'll contact the council first thing on Monday to confirm"

@Dazedandconfused170

Their tone would p*ss me off but to avoid confrontation I would try not to park there, or if you desperately needed to park there could you knock on and let them know? Especially if they were able to park close

Our next door neighbour is elderly and a f*cking pain thinking he owns the road - complains when you have any kind of work/maintenance done and he’s made his own rule that no one can park opposite his house! So in your diagram it would be you not letting anyone park outside your opposite neighbours house! He claims it’s because hes unable to reverse off his drive if anyone is parked opposite, even though everyone else manages it! Can’t believe the neighbour opposite him puts up with it to be honest
Hes a grump git who we just ignore now

He should reverse onto his drive.

I think your Dad is right. They're trying it on. As if they're taking multiple people to court because they parked on the road outside their house 🤣 what would they even be claiming for?