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Original poster

To park on my drive out of pettiness?

227 replies

BadClown · 03/02/2023 21:51

Next door neighbour has recently started getting large amounts of parcels delivered. They have their own drive, and there’s loads of on street parking, but they’ve started parking on my drive to unload their van. I don’t usually park on my drive during the day, but it’s really bugging me that they haven’t asked, and keep parking on my drive, blocking my garage, without asking for permission. Last week I tried to pull onto the drive after the school run and they were there unloading the van. They smiled and said they’d only be a few more minutes, and then got back to work. It was obvious I wasn’t pleased, but I was blocking the road so had to drive around the block and by the time I returned they’d gone again. I’m not comfortable with confrontation, so I’ve started parking on my own drive, literally just to block them from doing it. Am I just being petty? Should I let them park there since I don’t really need to use it during the day?

OP posts:
Jellybean23 · 04/02/2023 10:41

" theres loads of street parking at the back which is easier to access (front is a one way street) and there’s so much space it doesn’t inconvenience anyone. Most of the street does it like this :)"

So the neighbours could easily park at the back to unload.

You may well have been asked where you park the car overnight when applying for car insurance and be paying more than you need - see link

www.comparethemarket.com/car-insurance/content/overnight-parking/

If you are still feeling edgy about using your own drive, say it's a condition of your insurance policy. (Not that you have ot justify yourself in any way).

LadyJ2023 · 04/02/2023 10:49

Sorry but if its your drive then they shouldn't be on it so make it clear

Crumpetdisappointment · 04/02/2023 10:51

put a bollard there

Crumpetdisappointment · 04/02/2023 10:51

or get a gate of some sort
it is very cheeky of them

Laiste · 04/02/2023 11:00

Embrace the pettiness!

I can't be the only one who would LOVE spotting them slowing down to go up my drive and then see i'm parked in it and have to USE THEIR OWN FUCKING DRIVE OR BUGGER OFF 😃

Mwah ha haaaaa!

I'd be getting a bollard as well - for times when i couldn't be arsed to be in their way.

DownNative · 04/02/2023 11:12

BadClown · 03/02/2023 22:01

Sorry I should have said, theres loads of on street parking at the back of my house, so it’s easier to park on the street and come in the back door. The front is a one way street so it’s easier to park at the back during the day and I park on my drive at night because it’s safer (and makes my insurance cheaper if I’m on the drive!)
I haven’t said anything because they’re quite difficult people and I don’t want to cause an issue when I live by myself and they can be quite aggressive. they know I’m not happy, they’ve seen me when i was trying to park there and they were on it. Im hoping that parking on my drive will make the point for me, without me having to speak to them which will inevitably cause an argument, which I don’t want

Get a bollard installed to stop them parking on your drive and you can Continue to park on the street at your convenience without a worry. 👍

PokemonPasta · 04/02/2023 11:12

If you don't use the drive cover it with big heavy planters

Maskingup · 04/02/2023 11:16

Hoedowndom · 04/02/2023 09:41

I know exactly what it's like to have aggressive neighbours, so I understand why you'd want to avoid confrontation.
I would start parking on the drive all the time, and if they mention it I'd say that I had changed insurance and the policy now says it must always be on the drive.
No doubt they'll just start blocking the road to unload their pallets, but that's not your problem.

This ☝️

JudgeJ · 04/02/2023 11:17

Alwayswonderedwhy · 03/02/2023 22:31

So they park on your drive, unload and then carry the delivery round to their own house? Why??

My neighbour used to deliver for Hermes, as it was then, a huge lorry came to drop off the parcels he had to deliver locally and they transferred them into his vehicle, maybe it's something like that.

Twospaniels · 04/02/2023 11:21

I can’t understand why you don’t park on your driveway all the time anyway! Why would you park int he road when you have your own space. Drives me nuts driving down roads clogged with parked cars and all the driveways are empty!
So no, you are not unreasonable to park on your own driveway.

Crumpetdisappointment · 04/02/2023 11:27

@Twospaniels because the road in front is one way. so limiting

Wiluli · 04/02/2023 11:31

The easy solution here is get a fence and gates that you close when home ? Or some of those retractable pillars that prevent cars from parking .

WickedSerious · 04/02/2023 11:32

Twospaniels · 04/02/2023 11:21

I can’t understand why you don’t park on your driveway all the time anyway! Why would you park int he road when you have your own space. Drives me nuts driving down roads clogged with parked cars and all the driveways are empty!
So no, you are not unreasonable to park on your own driveway.

We have a neighbour who never uses his drive(room for two cars)or garage.He won't park in front of his drive either and he loses his shit if anyone else does.

Mummyoflittledragon · 04/02/2023 11:32

If there’s so much space at the back of the houses, cf neighbour can park their car permanently there and leave their driveway clear for the van. Problem solved.

StillWantingADog · 04/02/2023 11:45

Twospaniels · 04/02/2023 11:21

I can’t understand why you don’t park on your driveway all the time anyway! Why would you park int he road when you have your own space. Drives me nuts driving down roads clogged with parked cars and all the driveways are empty!
So no, you are not unreasonable to park on your own driveway.

She doesn’t the OP explained that there is also ample parking round the back of the house

Dilbertian · 04/02/2023 11:47

Penguin bollards.

Velvetween · 04/02/2023 12:13

Your neighbours dont live inside your head and they have no idea why you might choose to park on YOUR OWN drive. If they had the audacity to challenge you on this, you just look at them confused and ask why you are having to explain parking on your own driveway.

Fairyliz · 04/02/2023 12:16

Aquamarine1029 · 03/02/2023 22:39

I’m not comfortable with confrontation

Yet you're comfortable with being a complete and utter doormat? FFS, stand up for yourself!

This is a bit harsh.
I would say I am a fairly confident person, but there are some people I wouldn’t want to speak to however reasonable and polite I was being.
Some of my previous neighbours would have at the least keyed my car and probably hit me if I put in a polite request.

shreddednips · 04/02/2023 12:17

Laiste · 04/02/2023 11:00

Embrace the pettiness!

I can't be the only one who would LOVE spotting them slowing down to go up my drive and then see i'm parked in it and have to USE THEIR OWN FUCKING DRIVE OR BUGGER OFF 😃

Mwah ha haaaaa!

I'd be getting a bollard as well - for times when i couldn't be arsed to be in their way.

Yes I'd feel the same! It would give me tremendous enjoyment.

OP, it doesn't matter if you're just parking there to stop them from using it- THEY don't know that! And really, you don't want them to get the idea that your driveway is constantly up for grabs, because I think it will escalate from being just a few minutes every now and then to them telling guests to park on it for extended visits etc.

skippymcflippy · 04/02/2023 12:18

Just park on your own drive, all the time. That's what it is there for.

ItsNotReallyChaos · 04/02/2023 12:25

If you've told your insurance your car is on a driveway when at home you should always park on your driveway.

The neighbours could always park their car around the back to leave their driveway clear for the van.

MummyJ36 · 04/02/2023 12:38

100% start parking on your own drive. That’s what I do. If they comment just look confused and ask why they’re querying why you’re parking on your own drive? No need to confront them, just starting parking!

Dragonfly3 · 04/02/2023 12:45

I wouldn’t mind my neighbours parking on my drive during the day if I’m not there but would speak to them to say that they can’t use it at certain times, ie evenings etc

MorelloKisses · 04/02/2023 12:55

Is the red van ‘them’ or is is a parcel delivery firm?

what are these parcels?

[ misses point of thread]

ivykaty44 · 04/02/2023 12:57

theres loads of street parking at the back which is easier to access (front is a one way street) and there’s so much space it doesn’t inconvenience anyone. Most of the street does it like this :)

then why don't they park their van there to unload rather than your drive?

to be honest Id buy some planters and put them across the drive with bricks in the bottom and plants in the top - you'd need about 3, if you start parking on your own drive they can block you in and that would be a row you don't seem to want

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