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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
Summerfun54321 · 01/02/2023 21:49

Write a fake letter from the council saying she is being taken to court for impersonating council traffic management systems and obstructing fair and proper use of the highway. Make it look official and make sure no one can trace it back to you.

pam290358 · 01/02/2023 21:50

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

I thought this too. I think she would have to give up the allocated parking spot at the back of the house to do it though, as the council will only mark a dedicated disabled spot if there is no other alternative. If the one at the back is inconvenient, she might want to do this if the OP suggests it. The only thing I would say, is that once the disabled spot has been marked out on the highway, she won’t have exclusive rights to it - anyone with a valid blue badge would be able to park there. Could be fun !!

Fixyourself · 01/02/2023 21:51

I would buy a 3rd car to park outside her house indefinitely.

ShandaLear · 01/02/2023 21:55

eastafricanomad · 01/02/2023 20:31

@Puckthemagicdragon OK, after popular demand. Here is my diagram!

Oh my word. That is breathtaking. Stunning diagram. That is a work of art AND science.

Wonnle · 01/02/2023 21:57

I still don't understand how your council charges you to speak to them about this

rwalker · 01/02/2023 22:01

Fuck it just drive over them

prh47bridge · 01/02/2023 22:01

Wonnle · 01/02/2023 21:57

I still don't understand how your council charges you to speak to them about this

Something is wrong somewhere. As I said earlier (with typo fixed!)..

Some numbers beginning 084 or 087 are chargeable. However, if the number begins with 0800 or 0808, EE cannot charge you for calling it nor can they collect a charge on behalf of the council. If they are doing so, they are in breach of their license. If you are being charged, insist on a full refund. If they refuse, make a formal complaint. If that is rejected, refer the matter to Ofcom.

The reality, of course, may be that whoever OP spoke to at EE gave him the wrong information and the charges are nothing to do with calling the council.

WeeM · 01/02/2023 22:01

ApocalypseNowt · 01/02/2023 21:28

Can't you put the cones in different places or in different patterns each night? Sort of like 'Elf on a shelf' ?

Oh yes! Cone on the Rone maybe 🤔

CrazyLadie · 01/02/2023 22:03

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.

What kind of cones? If council or police ones they should come take them away, if not come home in the dark and drive right over them, oops I didn't see them sorry 😇🤣 can the police not have a word as yer not allowed to do that I don't think

oioimatey · 01/02/2023 22:05

I would just run her cones over 🤷‍♀️ I had two neighbours on my tiny street that would put cones outside their house. I'd move them when I walked past. Totally ridiculous.

CrazyLadie · 01/02/2023 22:09

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.

Eh what? How does that work? If I was you I would contact citizens advice for help and support, I would also bring up the council charging you as they provide a public service and I don't think they can do that mind boggling!!!

LakieLady · 01/02/2023 22:10

LlynTegid · 01/02/2023 20:23

If the neighbour has no blue badge in her car, report to the DVLA for the alleged failure to tell them of a medical condition.

Oh and move the cones.

Alleged medical condition? OP's neighbour is clearly suffering from batshit crazyitis!

CrazyLadie · 01/02/2023 22:15

eastafricanomad · 01/02/2023 18:03

@LampLamp Yup, they have a dedicated highways contact number and it is an 0800 number unfortunately.

0800 numbers are free do you mean a 0900 number?

MzHz · 01/02/2023 22:21

The cunt next door to us told us:
to park removals van at bottom of drive and hand ball entire house contents up to house when moving in

had signs up saying no vans and regularly shouted at/attacked/took keys from delivery drivers

placed cones and obstacles
got their own cleaner to park outside my office window to block the drive

OH removed the signs and lost them, also lost the obstacles. That’s when we learned to return them and not destroy them…

took 4 years, litigation and mediation - which we won- but still the neighbours are trying it on

its hard to go nuclear as a first reaction, because it’s natural to want to give everyone the benefit of the doubt, but all we’ve achieved is ONLY through nuclear reactions so fuck it, don’t pussy foot around these bullies, fuck them over good and proper and make sure you’ll make them your new fucking hobby if they so much as look at anyone coming to your house

people do this shit when they’re allowed to get away with this aggressive behaviour, so go larger every time.

PixieLaLa · 01/02/2023 22:29

Definitely dress the cones up and add them to the tree centrepiece!

BitOutOfPractice · 01/02/2023 22:34

@Neverplayleapfrogwithmrpipes is it wrong that I really want one? And that I am enchanted by the idea that you can buy them on the high street in a choice of two colours. Because, I mean, who wants their 6 ton press to clash with their colour scheme?

JoeBlogger · 01/02/2023 22:35

Take the cones away, throw them in a bin in another street and keep doing it until she can no longer afford more cones.

Alternatively tell her that you will be parking in front of her house because you have a right to do so and you fully intend to move her cones and take them into your house for safekeeping when you do so (being a kind neighbour you wouldn't want them stolen), she will have to come to you every time she wants the cones back. If she doesn't like it she can go and move in the the Amish and put up with horse sh*t instead.

viques · 01/02/2023 22:37

Quitelikeacatslife · 01/02/2023 17:45

Park in her allocated spot that she's not using

Or use her allocated parking space as a Cone Home. You know of course that cones often wander off and get lost, so either filling them with concrete or chaining them together is advised.

JudgeJ · 01/02/2023 22:40

Ohdearnotagain76 · 01/02/2023 17:36

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

I wonder where she's getting cones from? Maybe the council is missing some cones and would like to know where they are. Advertise a parking space for someone going on holiday if you're handy for the airport or station, preferably a very long holiday.

Justmeandthedog1 · 01/02/2023 22:42

Look up your local Councillor or Councillors online. Email them.State the problem. State who you have contacted State action taken ( nothing)
Do include your neighbour’s verbal abuse to drivers.
State what you want your Councillor to do.
If no action go to your MP next.
Write to the Council Chairman ( person) saying you are now involving your MP as they have failed in their duty.
Never phone, email so you have a record of their responses , or not as the case maybe.
I’m a bitch when it comes to things like this. Could tell you about my ex neighbour (CF) and the joyous outcome of that dispute.

Confusednewmum1 · 01/02/2023 22:43

The cones are effectively litter out them in the bin and that’s that. She will get tired buying new ones

somuchtolearnabout · 01/02/2023 22:44

Play her at her own game. She’s created fake council stickers for her poxy little cones, go one further - create a fake letter from the local council telling her what she’s doing is illegal and to “cease and desist” messing around with THOSE FCKING CONES

typopro · 01/02/2023 22:45

This thread is gold. It's got everything- 1.parking nightmare neighbour,

  1. Potential disability benefit fraud
  2. The price of Hillary's Blinds
  3. 0800 number being used by local council
  4. Green Party councillor too soft
QuietOne121 · 01/02/2023 22:48

Set alarm for 3am, steal cones, drive to the sea, throw cones in the sea, drive home, bed, the perfect crime.

Redbushteaforme · 01/02/2023 22:52

Move the cones so they don't block the parking space (don't take them away as I think that might be seen as theft). Park your car in the space if you need to. And repeat as necessary.

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