Parent from the school opposite parking on my drive

[LemonJelly76]

I'm not letting on my actual opinion on this, but I am curious to know what others think.

I live opposite a primary school. I knew the school was there when I bought the house. Most days my car is not on my drive because I am at work, but I have on a couple of occasions come home to find a car there.
I haven't approached the parent on these occasions and have just parked elsewhere until they leave

This parent regularly uses the drive (must assume I'm not in) for 10-15 mins each morning and afternoon. There is usually other parking available, but further away

Driveway is a shared drive for 4 cars, I own one of the spaces and there is a Private Parking sign up across all four spaces which was there before I moved in.

YABU - it's fine because you're not using it most of the time
YANBU - they're CFs

I’m with your dad. If it’s not causing you any issues then why not give the space for 20 minutes each day. What harm is it really causing? It could be a stressed mum with small kids and if it’s not harming you then live and let live. Why are we all so territorial and unyielding?

@Storey1964

I’m with your dad. If it’s not causing you any issues then why not give the space for 20 minutes each day. What harm is it really causing? It could be a stressed mum with small kids and if it’s not harming you then live and let live. Why are we all so territorial and unyielding?

Probably because she pays for the house and drive and the CF parent parking there doesn't. 🙄

I'd have put bollards up, the cheek of some people. I hate those dumbasses who block access to driveways too, just no need.

I'm gutted OP hasn't been back!

I’d charge, they can park there for the school run for £10 a month or move. If you go out and need to park there Wednesdays, I’d say except Wednesdays.

If your not using it and she needs too, you might as well make use of it.

Park across the botyom of ur drive go indoors and dont answer till ttime he will not do it again if he gets blocked in

Make contact, suggest that they pay a fee.

@storey1964 I'm a stressed mum with very small kids, and have my car blocked in on my drive regularly so I cannot leave. And if I was returning, if they blocked the drive it would be school rush hour so by my house there would be no spaces by raised kirbs close by, so I would then have to try and get everyone and everything out and carry it all up in one trip.

If she has small kids, parking over my drive would always mean a walk to the school so they would have planned a pram or sling to help regardless, so parking further down the road, legally, wouldn't be much more effort.
It's just lazy and selfish. They could always post notes through asking households which drive was free and if they could use it, or use a rent a space app to hire a space for a short period where it would be sure not to inconvenience anyone.

I would leave a note saying ‘You are trespassing on private property. Your reg details have been taken and will be passed to the Police’

or I would block them in and leave a note saying ‘You are trespassing and preventing me accessing my private driveway. Please knock after 8pm when I will be home’

If they knocked earlier I would not answer the door.

If I cam along and saw someone doing this, I would feign being horrified and certain they must be a plain clothed cop responding to a crime scene or medic attending an emergency. When they said they weren’t I would ask with a straight face ‘Why are you on my private property?’ And wait for for a response. I would take a photo of their reg whilst they were there and tell them that if they were seen on my property again ir blocking access, I would be contacting the Police and Council with photos and that round here, they will send a parking enforcement officer to ticket the vehicle or send it via the DVLA.

I would not be pleasant but simply very firm and cold faced about it all.

If this happened to me, unlike OP I would have no question mark in my mind about if they were doing something wrong, but be very clear if the rights and wrongs of the situation and voice them.

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@WombatChocolate Just in case you haven't noticed this thread is 5 months old so hopefully the OP has sorted it out by now.

And just a small point, the police don't have powers act in this situation. It's on private property so it's a civil matter.

Your OP said that there is other parking available but further away, so it suggests a problem of some sort. Is there a disabled badge on the car, or could it be that the occupant or the child has some sort of disability and parks there because it’s nearer ? Definitely not saying it’s right, but it could be a reason. Might be time to have a word and find out what’s going on.