Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

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

147 replies

crazymicrowave123 · 17/07/2021 12:35

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.

AIBU who's the CF? Another parking thread!!!
OP posts:
30degreesandmeltinghere · 17/07/2021 13:01

Ask to see their official Road Ownership Papers.... Poker faced of course...

cutebutscary · 17/07/2021 13:03

I'd write a letter back thanking them for informing you of this new law , and say if you will kindly provide me with a copy of the confirmation of this from the council I will gladly abide by it . That will do the trick , the cheeky bastards

CheeseCakeSunflowers · 17/07/2021 13:03

I doubt the council would approve having an electric cable trailing across a public pavement, it looks like there is another house beyond theirs so it's a tripping hazard and could result in an injury claim. Like others have said, if they had made a polite request I would have done my best to comply but making up a story like this would annoy me.

EmmaGrundyForPM · 17/07/2021 13:04

I don't believe any council would agree to provide an on-street space when the intention is for the user to run a cable to charge their car. That is really dangerous.

I think they have the Cheeky Fuckery gene....

3cats4poniesandababy · 17/07/2021 13:07

Why are some people just so entitled. Personally I would now be making a point of regularly parking there. If they had asked politely I would have been more accommodating.

Surely even if the council did paint an eletric cars only bay then any eletric car could use it? Same as if it is a painted road disabled bay.

CallmeHendricks · 17/07/2021 13:07

@Imnothereforthedrama

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
Actually, I'm not even sure that you own a disabled space outside your house. I'm sure I read on here that anyone with a disabled disc can park there?? Happy to be corrected on this if I'm wrong.
Fiddliestofsticks · 17/07/2021 13:08

@EmmaGrundyForPM

There are actually lamp post charging points now being trialled in some areas. The plan is obviously to role that out at some point. So it means charging cables going from lamp posts to cars, across the pavement.

I've no idea how that works with wheelchair users and buggies, or people with walking sticks or blind people or even just people walking because of the trip hazars but that's happening, so the cable going across the pavement may not be something the council care about.

But... he still doesn't own the road!!!

Fiddliestofsticks · 17/07/2021 13:09

That's right. You can apply for a space outside your home if you need it, but anyone with a blue badge can use it. So you can end up finding another neighbour just uses yours instead of applying for one of their own

amylou8 · 17/07/2021 13:09

Dear CF neighbour, As parking is limited in our street I'm afraid it's not possible to 'reserve' a place outside your house. Parking in this street works on a first come first served basis for all road users. Any spaces reserved for a specific reason would be marked as such, and official sineage clearly displayed. Kind regards

woodhill · 17/07/2021 13:10

[quote Fiddliestofsticks]@EmmaGrundyForPM

There are actually lamp post charging points now being trialled in some areas. The plan is obviously to role that out at some point. So it means charging cables going from lamp posts to cars, across the pavement.

I've no idea how that works with wheelchair users and buggies, or people with walking sticks or blind people or even just people walking because of the trip hazars but that's happening, so the cable going across the pavement may not be something the council care about.

But... he still doesn't own the road!!![/quote]
That's quite worrying. Like you say an accident waiting to happen.

Terhou · 17/07/2021 13:12

Send a note back to say if this was designated as their space the council would have marked it accordingly, and everyone has a right to park there.

Bargebill19 · 17/07/2021 13:15

Lamp post tend to be located in the road side edge of the pavement- not always but usually. So if these ones were being used as charging points, then they would only be crossing a couple of inches of kerb to the car.
Presumably councils won’t be using the lamp post which are set in the property side of the pavement, thus risking a trip hazard claim. Or the council will relocate the lamp post to a kerbside position.

ahoyshipmates · 17/07/2021 13:17

Ask them in writing (in the politest terms you can manage) for a copy of the documents from the council confirming that it is their space and that other vehicles are not permitted to park there. Say that once you are in receipt of said documents, then you will gladly abide by them.

SchadenfreudePersonified · 17/07/2021 13:19

@30degreesandmeltinghere

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

Park where you like.

If they are having similar disputes with other neighbours, you should all take turns to park outside their home - perhaps draw up a rota.

they are being rseholes, so I would be an rsehole back.

donquixotedelamancha · 17/07/2021 13:21

If they'd asked politely I would certainly have avoided that spot but a threatening note is likely to make me park there every time I can.

Fiddliestofsticks · 17/07/2021 13:22

@Bargebill19

That may be true in some areas but I live in South Lanarkshire, I've lived in 3 towns here and obvipaily drive through many towns around here. The lampposts are all up against the inside of the pavements, going along infront of gardens. The road side of the pavement doesnt have any lampposts, not that I've ever seen anyway.

Sundancerintherain · 17/07/2021 13:23

You CAN have a disabled baby that is only for the use of one blue badge ( my ndn had one, it has the badge number on it), funnily enough the council marked the bay & contacted the other residents to inform them via letter. Not a note on a wheelie bin 🙄.

WeatherwaxOn · 17/07/2021 13:24

@30degreesandmeltinghere

Personally I reckon they are talking shite... Ring the Council on Monday. Write down the name of the person who confirms this.
Yes this. I would phone and voice a concern that the road outside the house hasn't been marked to accommodate this, and then it puts you in a position of being helpful. Obviously if they are older and less mobile, then it would be courteous and neighbourly to not park outside their house unless there is nowhere else, but equally they're not taking the best approach in hoping to 'win people over'.
Maharajah20 · 17/07/2021 13:30

Ask them to show you the letter, email , whatever from the council confirming this . Tell them until such a time you will park wherever is most convenient for you.

Bet they can’t! 🙄

ShellieEllie · 17/07/2021 13:31

They are being CFs. Even if there were a disabled bay, if there was no car parked in it, you would still be able to park there I believe. It's not something I would do personally but those are the rules apparently.

AwaAnBileYerHeid · 17/07/2021 13:31

They are liars. If the space was reserved, then it would be marked. If they were nice and politely requested that you tried not to park there if possible to help them out them I might try and facilitate that however with this CFuckery, I'd be parking there whenever I felt like it.

MarianneUnfaithful · 17/07/2021 13:31

As a first response I would knock on their door and say “I was very surprised and a bit sad to get this note from you! Just to say that I understand that you want to park outside your house and I always try and park outside my own. But in the end I have a small child and a health condition so we all need to take on board that the road is a public highway and we all have equal rights to park unless there is a specifically marked bay. If you have problems in future, just come and knock, and if I can help I will”

If they shut the door in you or shout or something I would send them a letter “Dear neighbour,
I was upset to receive a note from you which contained threats.
Whilst we can all try and be considerate with our parking please note that everyone has equal rights to park in the public highway unless there is a special marking and kerbside notice installed by the council.

Yours, neighbour.

godmum56 · 17/07/2021 13:33

@Sundancerintherain

You CAN have a disabled baby that is only for the use of one blue badge ( my ndn had one, it has the badge number on it), funnily enough the council marked the bay & contacted the other residents to inform them via letter. Not a note on a wheelie bin 🙄.
poor baby :)
Still1nLove · 17/07/2021 13:34

Cheeky feckers

Bargebill19 · 17/07/2021 13:35

[quote Fiddliestofsticks]@Bargebill19

That may be true in some areas but I live in South Lanarkshire, I've lived in 3 towns here and obvipaily drive through many towns around here. The lampposts are all up against the inside of the pavements, going along infront of gardens. The road side of the pavement doesnt have any lampposts, not that I've ever seen anyway.[/quote]
As I said, then either you won’t get charging from lamp posts or the council will have to move them. Or put in separate stand alone boxes.