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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To complain about neighbours bad parking

40 replies

TravellingSpoon · 02/07/2022 12:45

I live on a short single track street (hill). There are houses on one side until you get about half way up and then houses on both sides. The road is slightly wider at the top, but very narrow at the bottom. The houses at the bottom dont have drives, and are terraced so the dont have front gardens, so the cars there parh outside of their houses.

New guy moves in and he isnt great at parking, so often leaves a gap between his house and the car, but that means he is blocking the street and its so difficult to get my car up. I have to drive a bigger car as my DS has a wheelchair and a trike which wont fit in a smaller car. Yesterday I couldnt get up the road at all as he had parked so wide. I tried knocking on his door to get him to move but no answer. We ended up having to go to my Mums for a couple of hours and came back later when he was out.

We have had letters from our local council because our bins are not collected and people complin. They are not collected at the top because the bin lorry cannot get up, so lord knows what an ambulance or fire brigade would do if they needed to get passed.

AIBU to complain to the council?

OP posts:
snowgirl1 · 02/07/2022 12:51

Why don't you just go round there one day and politely explain what happened to you recently and ask if he could try to park a bit closer to the kerb. To go straight to the council without asking him first seems harsh.

Flowerymess · 02/07/2022 12:53

Talk to him or write him a note. It seems like he's no aware of the bother he is causing.

Maybe go round with some chocolates or something to make it easier.

Lou98 · 02/07/2022 12:55

AIBU to complain to the council?

Have you tried talking to him first? Or have reason to think he's unapproachable? If not then YABU to go straight to complaining to the council instead of having a conversation with a neighbour.

If you've already tried talking to him or have an actual reason to feel that you can't, then YANBU but if it's been a problem for council's bin lorries they've likely already had complaints if bins aren't emptied and doesn't sound like they're doing much

Alphabet1spaghetti2 · 02/07/2022 12:57

Yep talk to him. I suspect the ambulance would park up and walk? They do for inaccessible by vehicle incidents such as someone on the canals suffering a heart attack for instance.
As for fire brigade - they will
literally just ram their way through. No idea who would end up paying for the damage.

KosherDill · 02/07/2022 12:58

Don't get involved with a stranger. Go straight to council. Take photos to illustrate the issue.

The bin aspect would really piss me off.

NoSquirrels · 02/07/2022 12:59

AIBU to complain to the council?

About the uncollected bins, or about the parking?

You need to go round and have a word with the neighbour who doesn’t park tight in. He might not realise. Some people are really oblivious.

bellabasset · 02/07/2022 13:06

Drive your car as far as you can and take photos. Then go and tell him he cannot park when he is blocking your access to and from your home.

The issue here is that if you are at home and need to get out to take your ds to school or a hospital appointment you're prevented from doing so.If after you've spoken to him he continues to do it send a picture to the council who can issue him with a fine.

ivykaty44 · 02/07/2022 13:07

this is what I love about mn

talk to them in person first before going to council

don't talk to a stranger go straight to the council

I suggest knocking on his door and if you don't get an answer then leave a note to say you've tried knocking a few time but just want to chat about the parking, as he might not be aware there is a problem and you can't can't to your home.

leave your name and invite for a brew?

I don't think neighbours count as strangers

Flowerymess · 02/07/2022 13:09

KosherDill · 02/07/2022 12:58

Don't get involved with a stranger. Go straight to council. Take photos to illustrate the issue.

The bin aspect would really piss me off.

Rediculous advice. First port of call should be to talk to them or write a note.

dcadmamagain · 02/07/2022 13:10

I would try knocking again and politely explain mentioning the wheelchair issue so he realises it’s not a case of parking further down the road and walking to your house. I’m sure he just hasn’t thought about it.

Onlyforcake · 02/07/2022 13:10

Of course he KNOWS he's blocking access, how ridiculous to suggest he won't know!

mummyh2016 · 02/07/2022 13:13

Just to clarify, is the reason the bin lorries can't get up the road due to how your neighbour parks, or is a combination of things? If it is solely due to your neighbour is he still parking like a twat despite having a letter off the council already?

Beautiful3 · 02/07/2022 13:13

Id keep knocking on his door to tell him. If he never answers, write a polite note. If he still does it, then call the council.

Blinkingheckythump · 02/07/2022 13:17

I'd just go round and speak to him or if no answer drop a note through

Iamnotamermaid · 02/07/2022 13:17

Try speaking to him, he may not be aware of the issue(s) and his part in them. But be prepared for him to be a complete idiot & report him.

Blinkingheckythump · 02/07/2022 13:18

Fwiw I'm not a great parker, if I was in his shoes I'd feel awful I hadn't realised the difficulties I was causing, but if you went to the council to complain instead of just talking to me I'd be annoyed

Vallmo47 · 02/07/2022 13:18

I’d write him a polite note explaining what you have here and if no improvement I’d then contact the council. Give him a chance.

MolkosTeenageAngst · 02/07/2022 13:24

I’d probably have left an anonymous note on his car, and not a particularly polite one.

Man repeatedly parks like an inconsiderate dick blocking access to the road and people are actually suggesting going around with chocolates to politely ask him to move!? Wtf? I wouldn’t be knocking at the door of a man who clearly doesn’t think about anybody but himself. There’s a good chance he won’t listen or care to change his behaviour and you’ll have to complain to the council anyway and all you’ll have done is make a target for yourself by identifying yourself as the complainant.

I would definitely complain to the council considering this is not just a one off, and I would do it anonymously to be sure if he’s angry at being reported he doesn’t try and make trouble for you specifically.

ILikeHotWaterBottles · 02/07/2022 13:30

Blinkingheckythump · 02/07/2022 13:18

Fwiw I'm not a great parker, if I was in his shoes I'd feel awful I hadn't realised the difficulties I was causing, but if you went to the council to complain instead of just talking to me I'd be annoyed

Why not just be embarrassed that you've failed in parking your car right and blocked access for services including emergencies? Although if you block a fire engine, they'll just damage your car to get through, would you be angry at them too?

I'd go round once to tell him Incase he is a dumbass. If he continues, he gets reported to the council and his car towed. Everytime. Until he gets the message.

Original poster
TravellingSpoon · 02/07/2022 13:47

mummyh2016 · 02/07/2022 13:13

Just to clarify, is the reason the bin lorries can't get up the road due to how your neighbour parks, or is a combination of things? If it is solely due to your neighbour is he still parking like a twat despite having a letter off the council already?

Its him, we never had a problem before, but now the lorries cannot get up the road they dont collect the bins.

I will leave him a note. I just cant understand how you can park and look at the gap you have left and not realise people wont be able to get through.

OP posts:
Original poster
TravellingSpoon · 02/07/2022 13:47

I am definitely not taking chocolates round though!

OP posts:
LampLighter414 · 02/07/2022 14:08

Does he live alone? Elderly?

Mummyoflittledragon · 02/07/2022 14:10

Surely MR IMPORTANT noticed the bins. A polite notice posted through his door if he is not there again about not getting through, ambulance and wheelchair access. If his car is there and repeatedly not answering, he’s more likely at home, no?

TheCrowening · 02/07/2022 14:15

TravellingSpoon · 02/07/2022 13:47

I am definitely not taking chocolates round though!

Yes this was an odd suggestion! A note or a polite chat would be fine.

bluebeck · 02/07/2022 14:22

I would contact local Fire Service. They would need to be able to access the road in an emergency, it's incredibly selfish of him to park like that.

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