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AIBU?

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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
Wetblanket78 · 02/02/2023 18:19

Reminds me of Nellie Boswell in Bread. But at least she was reserving parking spots for her adult kid's.😂😂😂

Idtotallybangdreamoftheendlessnotgonnalie · 02/02/2023 18:23

I'd be fucking about in the middle of the night putting cones in the tree, on her roof, on her car, on the road opposite.

But then I'm a petty bitch.

Actually I'd probably just run them over and pretend I didn't see them. They're probably under the value for small claims court.

Sennelier1 · 02/02/2023 18:25

If possible drive over the cones/flatten them. If not possible then take the cones and stash them somewhere. I wouldn't throw them out as then the neighbour might accuse you of theft. The point is you maybe could force her to buy new cones several times a week or so, and maybe that will make her stop. Or make her call the police who will make her stop.

fetchacloth · 02/02/2023 18:26

GodisaBC · 01/02/2023 17:33

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

Agreed - I would do the same and sod the consequences.😡

Rosscameasdoody · 02/02/2023 18:36

BloomingXmas · 01/02/2023 19:26

Disabled parking bays can be put on public highways, we have some here.

Remove the cones when you need the space, keep the cones!

You can’t put cones in a disabled bay on a public highway. Even if the council mark out a bay for the OP’s neighbour, anyone with a disabled badge can park in it - it won’ be exclusively for her own use.

momtoboys · 02/02/2023 18:41

BasilParsley · 01/02/2023 17:55

Why has no-one demanded a diagram which is usually compulsory when it comes to parking posts? I need one in order to form a considered and balanced view ;)

I was thinking the same thing! 😂

Rosscameasdoody · 02/02/2023 18:45

Brotherlove · 01/02/2023 18:41

You cannot get a disabled parking bay if you have a driveway or an allocated parking place.
(Why would need a space when you already have an allocated space is the rule in my council)

Show quote history

I said this from experience upthread somewhere and it was disputed, so glad to have some confirmation. The council will not mark out a disabled bay on a public highway if the disabled person has access to parking somewhere else - allocated space, own driveway. Even if they do mark out a space, it wouldn’t be for the neighbours’ exclusive use anyone with a blue badge could park in it.

catzrulz · 02/02/2023 18:47

VegetablesFightingToReclaimTheAubergieneEmoji · 01/02/2023 18:27

LOVE THIS

Show quote history

No, no, no. Kidnap (conenap?) the cones then get friends to send postcards from the cones from all over the country.

"Having a great time wish you were here."

I'm sure that would cheer her up.

Justmeandme19 · 02/02/2023 18:47

So the cones that she's dumped on public highway have a council sign on them? I would be reporting her for impersonating a council worker!
I would also park in the place she normally parks in. It would give me great satisfaction esp as she now cant park in her own parking space

ewright86 · 02/02/2023 18:53

I would steal the cones or run over them! Lol
she won’t keep buying coned forever.

Topi226 · 02/02/2023 18:54

I would stack the cones in my boot In view, if she calls the police for theft she will also tell on herself and be told she can't do it.
I'd make sure she could see them in the car. I'm that level of petty

LoisLane66 · 02/02/2023 18:55

On the right-hand side depends whether you are inside the house or outside it, looking in.

ChrisPPancake · 02/02/2023 18:59

I'd, totally accidentally like, park on the cones.

Then I'd pick one up and cradling it like an injured animal I'd go and knock on her door. Be all upset and tearful and apologise for hurting the poor thing. Tell her she needs to bring the rest of them in before they get hurt.

Pssspsss · 02/02/2023 18:59

eastafricanomad · 01/02/2023 20:31

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

This is going in classics now surely

linsey2581 · 02/02/2023 19:03

@eastafricanomad You can have a disabled parking space on a public road. I got one outside my house as I could never get a parking space (my son is disabled and we have a motability car). It really pissed of the neighbours .

WombatChocolate · 02/02/2023 19:03

Have you told her (in writing via a note out through her door) what the council has said in response to your queries about her parking?

If not, I’d write it down and list the dates you called, conversations and what council said each time. Finish by saying that they have a record of the issue and you and they will pursue it further if necessary. Say she needs to stop putting cones out. She can park on the public highway, but so can you and that no-one is entitled to park on a highway because it is outside their house.

Finish by saying you hope you do t need to take it further and neighbourly relations can be resumed.

Then, keep a record of every day she continues (she might stop hopefully)
Email rhe council weekly with the list of dates it’s happened and tell them that you’ve passed onto her their comments they’ve made previously about the issue. Each time, ask them what action they will take to help you, given the on-going nature of the problem. If no response after several messages, ask how you can escalate the issue or make a complaint about lack if support.

If you are serious about this, you’re in the for the long haul. You will need to be persistent with the council and you will have to communicate with her. Bullies rely on the fact you won’t want to have a confrontation or won’t be bothered to persist with dealing with the council. It’s up to you if you are willing to do these things.

talknomore · 02/02/2023 19:04

Every time you move those cones off, stick to them a note "free to a good home".

Rosscameasdoody · 02/02/2023 19:06

pigwood · 01/02/2023 19:12

Well it sounds like she is committing benefit fraud for starters - To qualify for a Motability vehicle you are supposed to be severely disabled ( on higher rate mobility ) We have one as our daughter is permanently wheelchair bound so has one in her own name which we drive her about in. Even those on middle rate mobility are not supposed to be able to walk unaided, and they don't qualify for a vehicle .
Put up cameras, move the cones onto her property, park the vehicle. Grab the popcorn!
Next blinds are great OP 😂

Just because you can’t see a disability or health condition, doesn’t mean it’s not there. The higher rate PIP qualifies you to join motability - to qualify for higher rate you have to be unable stand and walk more than twenty metres, either aided or unaided, and pain and other discomfort are always taken into account. It can also be for a variety of reasons. Incontinence from things like crohns or IBS, or an unstable stoma, as well as mental health conditions can all qualify for PIP mobility component at the higher rate. The middle rate mobility component is for those who can only walk between 20 and 50 metres - either aided or unaided. You can also get PIP mobility awarded for a combination of physical and mental health conditions. Anyone thinking of reporting suspected fraud needs to bear this in mind and also that DWP now prosecute malicious reporting.

LoisLane66 · 02/02/2023 19:07

I'd be asking from where she obtained the cones. They're not lightweight. She can't report them as being stolen if you were to remove them some distance away, unless she wants a visit from the council to ask where they came from.
I'd contact the council (with a photo of cones in situ plus her car) to ask if they will send her a formal letter outlining the facts about parking on a public highway and coning off putative parking areas. Also ask the police if they would, on their rounds, 🙄😂 pop in and tell her it's not allowed. Good luck.
BTW, I've not read any replies so it might be resolved by now, if so...great.

MrJollyLivesNextDoor · 02/02/2023 19:09

10/10 for diagram

Don't put the cones in her garden, she'll just use them the next day.

Best to keep removing them to a safe place instead. Ie the bin

Beenheresomanytimesbefore · 02/02/2023 19:10

Steal cones, shred with large machete, make blinds out of them. Win-win-win

LoisLane66 · 02/02/2023 19:10

No idea where you are but in the UK all 08 numbers are free from mobiles. No idea about landline charges.

Rosscameasdoody · 02/02/2023 19:11

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.

Don’t be ridiculous. Firstly the DVLA doesn’t issue the blue badge, the local authority does, so that means nothing. Secondly, not all health conditions need to be reported to the DVLA - only something that could potentially affect your driving ability or render you a danger on the road. And thirdly, disabled drivers are not required to display the badge when it’s not required - in fact they are actively discouraged from doing so. So if she isn’t parked somewhere that requires a blue badge to be on display (like a disabled bay) she has no obligation to display it. And fourthly, that’s just nasty !!

HappinessDragon · 02/02/2023 19:11

Have you asked the police if it's classed as an obstruction? They may consider it so and then they can come out and warn her.
I'm assuming they are hollow. Wait until she is out, fill them with wet builders sand and block the bottoms up. Cement would be better but it takes a while to harden.
She'll enjoy lugging them about.

linsey2581 · 02/02/2023 19:17

@Rosscameasdoody My son (20yr old) has the higher rate of mobility on PIP and we have a mobility car. He is very able bodied and can stand and walk more than 20meters. The reason he qualifies is that because of his autism and epilepsy. It’s not always about actually being mobile.