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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:
godmum56 · 17/07/2021 13:35

yeah, rude liars.

QueenBee52 · 17/07/2021 13:37

@30degreesandmeltinghere

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

yip ... check before responding to anything 🌸

Simbacatisback · 17/07/2021 13:39

@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 🙄.
Not here you cant- must be regional
QueenBee52 · 17/07/2021 13:39

I also believe they are lying..

mentioning the council was a means to use authority to scare you.. Ive never heard of the council installing a car charger point at a residence ...

so I get confirmation from the council first... get the name too.. and then park where you like 🌸

girlmom21 · 17/07/2021 13:39

If the council had reserved the space there'd be painted lines or an official sign.

I'd avoid parking there if I could for an easy life but if it's a necessity it's a necessity. They don't own the road.

ihtwsf · 17/07/2021 13:43

Perhaps they have applied for this space to be reserved for them but it hasn't been marked by the council yet.
If it's not marked then you can park there.
I'd ring the council and ask.

vivainsomnia · 17/07/2021 13:43

Do they have an electric car then? A neighbour of ours got one. The Council is supposed to come to mark it as such (or something like that, didn't really pay attention to the conversation), but they are still waiting despite having had the authorisation. It's not really an issue for them as the space is usually always empty, people tend to park in front of their own house.

Could it be that your neighbour also had authorisation but the Council haven't got to come and mark it yet? If so, I would respond to them in a non defensive way but say that in light of the circumstances, you would appreciate seeing the letter confirming his statement.

Hoppinggreen · 17/07/2021 13:43

Wishful thinking on their part.

starfishmummy · 17/07/2021 13:44

@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
Even then in most areas disabled bays are open to anyone with a blue badge and not just for the lerson who asked for it. I checked this when we were looking into getting one. Some areas do reserve them for one oerson in which case there will be signage giving the relevant number plate. Eg reserved for AB10CDE
BruceAndNosh · 17/07/2021 13:46

I assume the houses have no front gardens and the front door opens straight into the pavement?

Dazedandconfused170 · 17/07/2021 13:46

He can barely drive as is so think reverse parking would be a stretch to far for him lol
When he parks on his drive, he shuffles over to the passenger seat to get out instead of straightening up so hes got enough room to get out of his side lol

Dazedandconfused170 · 17/07/2021 13:47

@Dazedandconfused170

He can barely drive as is so think reverse parking would be a stretch to far for him lol When he parks on his drive, he shuffles over to the passenger seat to get out instead of straightening up so hes got enough room to get out of his side lol
Sorry this was in relation to the ‘he should reverse park’ to my comment (I can never get the replies/quotes right! :/)
NoProblem123 · 17/07/2021 13:50

@30degreesandmeltinghere

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

THIS ⬆️⬆️⬆️

No way would the council allow cables training across the footpath 😁

ApolloandDaphne · 17/07/2021 13:52

I think he is at it. CF indeed.

NoProblem123 · 17/07/2021 13:52

And top diagram - well done 👏

Howdidigetsoold · 17/07/2021 13:55

If you have trouble walking with your daughter get an official parking space for you to use. Then everyone can point to your space saying why is it not marked like that one when they (the CF) tell anyone else it’s an official space

viques · 17/07/2021 13:59

I don’t know about charging spaces but I think if a disabled parking space is marked it is legally available to anyone with a blue badge, not just the people whose house it is outside.

As others have said surely laying a charging cable across the pavement would make it very awkward for people in wheelchairs, prampushers and even pedestrians a bit wonky on their pins to pass safely.

QueenBee52 · 17/07/2021 13:59

No way would the council allow cables training across the footpath

very true 🤣

MintMatchmaker · 17/07/2021 14:00

Dear Neighbour

I am a bit put out with the Council. How do they expect us to know this if they have not put a sign up to indicate it is a privately owned part of the highway and that nobody apart from you is allowed to park there? I wasn't even aware you could reserve a parking space on a public road. Due to medical issues I am now looking into doing the same and have made contact with the Highways department to find out the process.

Could I ask if you also had to apply for special permission to have a cable running across the footpath as I made the assumption this would not be allowed for health and safety reasons?

Hopefully I'll be joining you soon with an electric car and reserved parking!

Thank you for bringing this to my attention.

Kind regards
Neighbour

QueenBee52 · 17/07/2021 14:00

I think if a disabled parking space is marked it is legally available to anyone with a blue badge, not just the people whose house it is outside.

correct 🌸

Original poster
crazymicrowave123 · 17/07/2021 14:01

@BruceAndNosh correct. The keep clear bit is the cul de sac part and the rest of the road goes way longer down than I had paper for, so if you don't get a spot near your house you have to walk up for ages. No front lawns just house that leads straight out into the pavement, and many people are WFH now where I live which means no one has any intentions of moving their cars.

I am a single mum who drives to work every day so I try to be accommodating but sometimes it's very difficult if the only spot that happens to be left is outside CF house. People even park on the keep clear as they are so desperate for a spot sometimes.

OP posts:
FoofOfTheWalkingDead · 17/07/2021 14:05

In Canada, people with only road parking have to plug in their cars overnight to power a block heater that keeps the oil pan from freezing. Will we see loads of these contraptions around when electric vehicles become more prevalent?

Also, your neighbours are the CFs.

AIBU who's the CF? Another parking thread!!!
AnUnoriginalUsername · 17/07/2021 14:07

If it was reserved then a bay would be painted on the road and a sign up saying reserved/disabled/badgeholder parking. PILs got one put in outside their flats.

Of they'd been polite I'd leave it free where I could but they've been rude and aggressive so I would park there whenever, don't reward that kind of behaviour.

MarianneUnfaithful · 17/07/2021 14:10

@Howdidigetsoold

If you have trouble walking with your daughter get an official parking space for you to use. Then everyone can point to your space saying why is it not marked like that one when they (the CF) tell anyone else it’s an official space
You can’t just get bays marked out at will. The OP does not say she is a Blue Badge holder, and the threshold for getting a badge is really high.
thefirstmrsrochester · 17/07/2021 14:12

Cheeky bastard.

If it’s to be an electric car charging point, then anyone can use it to charge their electric car.

If it’s to be a disabled bay, then anyone with a blue badge can use it.

Given his attitude, threat of legal action, and what certainly appears to be downright lying, I’d park there whenever it damn well suited me to park there.