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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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
ScroogeMcDuckling · 01/02/2023 20:29

TheFireflies · 01/02/2023 20:19

You think an elderly disabled man making use of his right to a disabled parking bay is making it “all about him”? Crikey.

where did I say it infuriates me? “crikey”

to qualify for those particular almshouses, you have to be over 70 and meet other criteria too.

eastafricanomad · 01/02/2023 20:31

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

10 YEAR PARKING DISPUTE WITH NEIGHBOUR.
OP posts:
Mummyoflittledragon · 01/02/2023 20:32

Put the cones on her allocated parking space at the back of her house. You’re then not depriving her of her property.

eurochick · 01/02/2023 20:32

Put the cones behind or on top of her car every single time she does this.

twoandcooplease · 01/02/2023 20:37

eastafricanomad · 01/02/2023 20:31

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

NOooooo that's worse than I imagined she's bananas!!

Ps great diagram. I have a 'the witch' neighbour too

Parmavi0lets · 01/02/2023 20:38

I'm sorry to all the people who drew painstakingly accurate diagrams on scraps of paper in parking threads gone by, but that is a thing of beauty, OP. You have truly raised the bar here.

Good luck with your neighbour.

TinySaltLick · 01/02/2023 20:38

Glue the cones to the top of her car

Tilllly · 01/02/2023 20:41

Laiste · 01/02/2023 17:51

Can you somehow fashion the squashed cones into a blind? ...

😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

eastafricanomad · 01/02/2023 20:41

@Parmavi0lets Ahahah! I needed to accurately communicate my frustration, glad my diagram works!

OP posts:
Gordonsgrin · 01/02/2023 20:45

A bit late to this party but I would, move the cones to the path, park and write a note thanking her for saving a space for you!

MalbecMakesMeHappy · 01/02/2023 20:46

Stellar diagram!

BadNomad · 01/02/2023 20:47

How do you know she has a motability car? Does she need extra space around her car to get in and out? The council wouldn't refuse a disabled parking bay based on someone already having a reserved parking spot if that spot is difficult for the person to access. The only reason really would be if the only place the bay could go is in the turning area of the cul de sac. But from what you've said this isn't the case here.

LadyLapsang · 01/02/2023 20:49

How’s her driving? Maybe she worries about getting out of the parking spot.

theescapeladder · 01/02/2023 20:49

eastafricanomad · 01/02/2023 20:31

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

That is the diagram to end all diagrams, OP!
Wow!

changeme4this · 01/02/2023 20:50

The thing is when something is allowed to go on for so long, regardless of the rights and wrongs, the other party just feels it’s their right to continue on.

council need to step up (did I read earlier they are charging you to speak with them?). Surely it’s their job to start some sort of enforcement action, esp if she is parking on a major road. Doesn’t that make her car a greater risk, esp. of a night time/poor weather?

id be inclined to surround her car with the cones or assist them disappearing altogether. Having said that, she probably has a dash cam or something set up for movement recording…

ArrrMeHearties · 01/02/2023 20:50

Bravo to the diagram absolute 5 star effort

Happyjoyjoy · 01/02/2023 20:51

Laiste · 01/02/2023 17:51

Can you somehow fashion the squashed cones into a blind? ...

Love this.ha ha.

BadNomad · 01/02/2023 20:53

Why does she not just park in the middle so no cars can park beside her?

BasilParsley · 01/02/2023 20:54

Excellent diagram OP. Thank you! My initial observation is why are you not parking slap-bang in the square delineated by the yellow dots to the right of your designated spot and to the left of where the witch parks? Just because you can?

eastafricanomad · 01/02/2023 20:54

@BadNomad Because there is a centre piece. The centre piece is a tree. Bang in the middle!

OP posts:
MargaritaRita · 01/02/2023 20:54

nopuppiesallowed · 01/02/2023 18:12

In the dead of night, nip out and add 2 long, material legs and arms to each cone. Pop on a bobble hat and draw smiley faces on. Then sit them in the middle of the garden with a note on saying " I'm home, mummy."

😂😂😂

eastafricanomad · 01/02/2023 20:55

@BasilParsley I wish I could, and I would do it everyday for free! Unfortunately, to further complicate the situation, there is a centre piece. A tree! Which creates a perfect divide for two vehicles to be able to park parallel.

OP posts:
Tilllly · 01/02/2023 20:56

eastafricanomad · 01/02/2023 20:54

@BadNomad Because there is a centre piece. The centre piece is a tree. Bang in the middle!

And why is this not on the diagram?

Shame on you!

BadNomad · 01/02/2023 20:57

eastafricanomad · 01/02/2023 20:54

@BadNomad Because there is a centre piece. The centre piece is a tree. Bang in the middle!

Who the heck planted a tree on a public highway? You need to fix your diagram.

eastafricanomad · 01/02/2023 20:57

@Tilllly LOL! I'm fighting for my life here

OP posts: