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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

10 YEAR PARKING DISPUTE WITH NEIGHBOUR.

419 replies

eastafricanomad · 01/02/2023 17:23

Hi all,

I need some serious advice. I'm probably writing this in the heat of the moment so please ignore any theatrics. Let me break it down...

We've lived in this property for about 17 years. Our charming neighbour moved in on our tenth year. She is our attached neighbour on the right hand side. We all have allocated parking - what is the problem you ask?

See the thing is, we live in a cul-de-sac. Every house has an allocated parking spot and we have several visitor spots (families with multiple cars use these visitor spots as permanent parking spots and it doesn't appear to be an issue with anyone including me). My neighbour, has an allocated parking spot at the back of her house, but due to her mobility issues - she parks in front of her house on a public highway - again, no issues with this.

There is still space for another vehicle to be able to park directly parallel to her with no issues of blocking her car or her house. Yet she has proceeded to block off this empty potential parking space because she doesn't want anyone 'parking in front of her house' - bear in mind, this is a public highway. No one can reserve rights to a public highway.

Living in a cul-de-sac, naturally parking is tight despite the allocated spots we have. Households do sometimes have more than one vehicle and everyone else on the street is incredibly understanding.

However, this woman, has proceeded to put CONES! In an empty slot on the public highway, not reserving it for any reason as she has one car. No daily visitors - her sole reason is 'I don't want anyone parking in front of my house' (???) ITS A PUBLIC HIGHwaaaaay. Anyway.

Now that we are adding a vehicle to our household, this has only really started to irritate me now. We've ignored her a long time, DESPITE her harassing anyone that parks there. She has harassed my family, construction workers, delivery drivers - you name it! I'm at my wits ends. The straw that broke the camels back was this week, when we had a lovely gentleman come out from Hillary's to do measurements for my blinds. She left a note on his car and yelled at him when he left my property.

I've spoken to the local council, they have confirmed - no one can reserve rights to a public highway. I've spoken to the police, they have confirmed - this is illegal. I've sought legal advice, again - confirmed my perspective.

What on earth do I do with these cones? We work 7 days a week in my household, and coming home after a long shift, moving cones to park my car is proving tiresome! It's not even the inconvenience, its the AUDACITY!

Am I being unreasonable? What would you suggest? What would you do with these cones? I want to put them in my boot and dump them 500 miles from my house. Any advice on this issue would be helpful.

OP posts:
Thread gallery
5
Ludo19 · 01/02/2023 17:27

You could stick the cones up your neighbours arse? Save petrol 😉

In all seriousness can you have a legal letter sent to her? I'm sure there will be much more helpful advice about the legal route etc. Good luck.

billy1966 · 01/02/2023 17:30

Remove them and dump them.

Keep reporting her.

She's a bully and you have allowed her away with it.

I'm not for a second suggesting you flatten her tires, but a lot of people might do that in the face of such persistent aggravation.

PissedUpLightweightEmptyHeadedNooNoo · 01/02/2023 17:30

Just take them away. Every single time.

Then sell your giant cone mountain to the council Grin

ScroogeMcDuckling · 01/02/2023 17:32

I would park your lovely new car in her allocated space 🤣🤣

I would be talking to her about her disability issues and say to her, what you are doing at present is illegal and you are making yourself look like a loonie tune! If you are genuinely disabled, get a disability spot, otherwise park where your allocated space is, and belt up

GodisaBC · 01/02/2023 17:33

Throw the cones in her garden every time. Do not enable her behaviour.

ScroogeMcDuckling · 01/02/2023 17:34

I wouldn’t be as blunt as I’ve stated in my first answer, but I would be questioning her actions and why is there no disability parking for her.

bigbluebus · 01/02/2023 17:35

Can't the police send a PCSO around to have a word with her especially if she is harassing people who park legally.

romdowa · 01/02/2023 17:36

Nick the cones in the middle of the night .

Ohdearnotagain76 · 01/02/2023 17:36

Tell the council she's fly tipping by leaving the cones out

HollywoodOrange · 01/02/2023 17:36

I’d take a cone away each evening until there’s none left!

Laiste · 01/02/2023 17:37

Are they 'proper' traffic cones? The big heavy ones? If so i bet they're nicked - the ones you can buy are really light and pathetic.

Anyway - honestly - i'd be removing the cones at night not in the daylight when she could see and hiding them in my garage.

How much was your blind quote btw? I've heard they're painfully expensive.

Whammyyammy · 01/02/2023 17:38

Take the cones to the tip, park there. Dint see an issue?

breatheinskipthegym · 01/02/2023 17:38

Remove the cones - not just when you want to use the space, but any time you see them. Consider it a public service, you’re clearing up after someone fly-tipped them.

Pinkdelight3 · 01/02/2023 17:38

YANBU and I'd be hardline on pushing back every time. But as an aside, if she came in your 10th year and you've been there 17 years, it's a 7 dispute, so far. Hope you get it sorted before it hits 10!

Original poster
eastafricanomad · 01/02/2023 17:39

@Laiste They are small, pathetic, flimsy yellow cones with a FALSE local council stickers on them. I've called the council to confirm if they have issued these or if they are currently obstructing this area of the highway lawfully, they have no idea where these cones came from and have nothing to do with them.

P.S blinds were quoted £1700 for 2 windows. Vomit! They are cute though...

OP posts:
Slowingdownagain · 01/02/2023 17:40

Remove the cones and complain to the council. every time. Maybe she'll eventually get a talking to as they will be so fed up with hearing from you.

neverknowinglyunreasonable · 01/02/2023 17:41

If you've lived there for 17 years and your neighbour moved in on your tenth year isn't this only a seven year dispute?

Not really the point of your post but I wanted to clarify.

Original poster
eastafricanomad · 01/02/2023 17:41

@Slowingdownagain I've reported it 4 times. I'm wary because my council charges me to speak to them... I've calculated roughly £82 on calls to them regarding this issue.

OP posts:
BingleBongleBoo · 01/02/2023 17:41

Take the cones away and keep them. Don't give in. People like this are such pains in the arse.

Laiste · 01/02/2023 17:42

P.S blinds were quoted £1700 for 2 windows. Vomit! They are cute though...

Whooooooa!! Whole other thread right there 😂

Yeah, i'd just keep nicking her cones. Petty and vindictive and not constructive i know. But i'd love doing it!

Original poster
eastafricanomad · 01/02/2023 17:42

@neverknowinglyunreasonable Hey sorry! That was my mistake. She moved in on the 7th year. Definitely 10 years of this hell. I have been counting!

OP posts:
ShakespearesBlister · 01/02/2023 17:43

Have you actually asked any of the authorities you've spoken to to speak to her?

TrashyPanda · 01/02/2023 17:43

Remove the cones and hide them until you can take them to the dump.

keep repeating.

ShakespearesBlister · 01/02/2023 17:44

Wait. Your council charges you to speak to them? What??

Laiste · 01/02/2023 17:44

eastafricanomad · 01/02/2023 17:41

@Slowingdownagain I've reported it 4 times. I'm wary because my council charges me to speak to them... I've calculated roughly £82 on calls to them regarding this issue.

Be careful re: neighbourly dispute thing.

If you want to sell up you have to declare disputes now.

Although - if you do spend nearly 2k on 2 mtm blinds i guess you'd never leave?

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