To lock the jackass in (parking thread)

[BlueEyesWhiteDragon]

I live in a rural location which is very popular with walkers / bikers / horse riders etc. It's heaving today for some unknown reason as the weather is rubbish!

We have 2 driveways. One which was with the original cottage then a small bit of garden then a second which leads to the additional land we have. The second driveway the forestry commission have a ROW over as the track continues up into the forest. Next to that driveway is a footpath. Both driveways have gates at either end and both say private property/dogs running loose. (Diagram attached - not to scale!)

I have just had a straw delivery and so opened the second driveway gates to let the farmer in and trundled round the back to show him where to put them. He's unloaded and driven off and I've gone to lock the gates back up. Literally as he's driven off and I'm walking down a guy has pulled in the gates and parked up and 3 kids have jumped out and he started unloading their bikes.

I politely ask him to move as he's on private land and he says there are no signs he thought it was a parking spot. I say they are on the gate and it's clearly an enclosed piece of land that is not a parking space and he says he couldn't see them as the gates were open but he'll only be a few minutes. No problem, I say, I'll pop back and shut the gates in 5. Off I toddle.

I have returned and his car is still there and he has gone. He has left a note on the windscreen which says "had to park here no other spaces". I mean WTF?!

WIBU to shut the gates, padlock the fucker in, block the gates with my truck AND then disappear for at least 48 hours?

@Blinky21 - as @FrippEnos said - if the OP left her gates unlocked, it would invalidate her insurance.

Can you explain why she should risk losing expensive farm machinery, and having to replace it out of her own pocket - especially when the OP has said there were available car park spaces in the car park directly opposite her gates?

He was told he was on private property - there is no excuse for his CF behaviour.

Good thread . Absolutely right to lock the gate through. I live and work in the countryside, we and our neighbours have been turned over a number of times. Awful. Definitely always lock rural private gates. The owner of the CFer-Mobile was warned, to be fair.

It’s on private property but it’s also blocking a right of access for emergency services.

There must be something that could be done

Crazy. I wonder if he's cycled home!

Or is it possible he's in the Carvery??

Now I want roast potatoes. Damn

I have a strong suspicion that he's lurking and watching hoping the gates magically open and he can nip in and drive away without losing face.

Shamless placemark. I have read through the full thread and given my husband a breakdown. Thoroughly entertained. Go about your business OP, the guy is a complete CF. Don't give into him. Jealous of the carvery

Is it not raining where you are OP? It’s been raining on and off all day here.

You need to rethink your signage. I spotted this one recently which seemed pretty effective.

@frazzledasarock - the CF car is on the OP’s drive, so it isn’t blocking access for the emergency vehicles. Her landy might be, but as they emergency services don’t have the keys to the Forestry Commission road, they always have to knock at the OP’s door to get her to unlock the gates as she does have the key - so she can move her vehicle if necessary.

I am so invested in this thread!

YABU for eating a Sunday roast on a Saturday

It is illegal to block some's access to the highway even if they are on your drive

That’s only if you do it with a car though. If you’ve locked your gate to your private residence, not illegal. For instance you can’t go to Homebase’s car park at closing time, park up and expect them not to close and lock their gates just because you’ve parked in there, outwith their terms and conditions for vehicles parking on their premises.

The light is starting to go. Perhaps they’ve set up camp in the woods.

Keep the gate locked for a couple of weeks and claim ownership?
www.ehow.co.uk/how_4900041_claim-ownership-abandoned-vehicle.html

@SDTGisAnEvilWolefGenius can the car being there and OP being unable to move it (as it’s not hers), in a potential emergency, be used as a reason to get the police to move the car? Would that be a good enough reason?

🍿

@TatianaBis

The light is starting to go. Perhaps they’ve set up camp in the woods.

Not here it isn’t. There’s a good couple of hours of daylight left.

DentonsFringeArnottsWaistcoat

Sorry, you are correct, I was replying in response to the link to the other thread.

And as I posted earlier leaving the gates open would invalidate the OP's insurance so she has a valid reason to lock the gate.

Perhaps he's now decided to get a lift home and inconvenience you by leaving his car blocking your drive. Perhaps it's time to get it towed.

@Rowgtfc72 is that a cube of stuffing?
A cube?
Of stuffing?

Wrong on so many levels.

@EKGEMS nah not his wife and not excusing his behaviour but don't see the point in escalating things and causing someone else stress. Two wrongs don't make a right...but I guess they make interesting thread, which is probably the point

What the fudge!!

He has to have gone home hasn't he.

Also the mentions of him calling the police, to say what? I parked in someone's private property?

I can’t believe the nerve of some people. But what I find bizarre is that on every MN parking thread, there’s always someone who pipes up in defence of CF parking and I always think: I bet you yourself are a right self-entitled CF when it comes to parking.

Blinky21

What has the OP done wrong?
She has to keep her gates locked for her insurance.

All the CF has to do is knock on her door.