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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

A parking one...

404 replies

mrsflanders23 · 24/02/2023 17:22

So I live in a street of mainly terraces. I'm one of few houses that has a drive (I'm an end terrace). There is green space across the road though with no houses so there is generally enough parking for everyone iykwim.

I don't use the drive a lot recently, I have quite a big car and the drive is narrow so I find it more effort to park up there sometimes (a bit of laziness on my part). If I can park on the road I will. I used to have a smaller car and used the drive a lot more.

I guess people on the street have noticed that I'm not using the drive as much and I've had a spate of people parking across my drive... I've not said anything so far as I don't want to fall out with anyone but there have been occasions where I haven't been able to get a parking space near my house and then haven't been able to park up my drive as it's been parked over. I've then had to park further up the street... but hey ho.

Issue is- I'm heavily pregnant, baby due in a matter of weeks. The people parking over my drive thing has started to annoy me a little recently as I'm thinking with a baby I will more than likely want to use my drive if I can park at the front of my house.

I've had various complications and this week I've been at hospital nearly every day. Feeling a bit flustered and stressed. Approached my house in car to see neighbour park 3/4 of way over my drive. No drama, space at front of my house I suppose.

As I got out of my car said neighbour approached me, and told me, didn't ask, but told me, that they now have two cars and would be parking "like this from now on" (gesturing to the way his car was parked over my drive). And that "you know where we are if you want us to move".

I was in such a stress and fluster that I just said "okay" and hurried into my house.

Thing is, I don't want to have to go and knock on doors and ask people to move when I have a newborn baby. I want to be able to use my drive, or not use my drive, or do whatever I like with my drive, which is one of the reasons I bought the house.

If I choose, or choose not to use it, surely that is my choice?

AIBU?

Would I be unreasonable to go speak to neighbour and tell them no?

Oh and I've never parked at the front of this neighbours house or anything like that so it's no kind of weird retaliation from them. I either park in front of my house if available, or across the road where there are no houses.

OP posts:

Hopingforno2in2023 · 24/02/2023 17:23

You just need to go round to your neighbour’s house and say that going forward you will need your drive to be available at all times and they are not to park in front of it. It is your drive!

BitOutOfPractice · 24/02/2023 17:25

I can imagine it’s beyond irritating for people who are struggling to find a spot to see you parked on the road when you have a drive. I’d be irritated by that (though not enough to park across your drive). Just park on your drive from now on.

VegetablesFightingToReclaimTheAubergieneEmoji · 24/02/2023 17:25

Why aren’t you parking over your drive?
I think I’d tell them once baby is here you will be using your drive again so they unfortunately need to leave it clear.
or just start using your drive again

Wait2see2 · 24/02/2023 17:26

You need to start using your drive its not fair to take a space from others. Tell them you need to use your drive now the baby is coming. I'm sure they will be fine about that. But don't then start parking on the road.

BitOutOfPractice · 24/02/2023 17:27

In fact what you’re saying is, you need three spaces. Your drive, the space across your empty drive, and the space you’re parked in on the street.

just park on your drive ffs!

Woahtherehoney · 24/02/2023 17:28

Have to admit I’d be irritated by someone parking on the street when they have a drive. Fair enough if you have two cars and one is on the drive, but you just are doing what’s convenient for you but by doing that you’re taking up a space for someone else. Not that it makes it right for people to block your drive though!

I think you’ll need to start parking on your drive from now and tell your neighbour that you will need access to the drive so they can’t park there. So no you wouldn’t be unreasonable to ask them to move, but just to make it fair for everyone you should park on the drive.

Neededanewuserhandle · 24/02/2023 17:29

Does your drive have a dropped kerb?
And where's the diagram?

BollocksToThem · 24/02/2023 17:29

I think you are just going to have to learn to park on your drive.it will be much safer for your baby too

DontMakeMe · 24/02/2023 17:29

I would imagine it's very annoying when neighbours can't park near their house because your car is taking up a parking spot on the road and your drive is empty!

PurBal · 24/02/2023 17:30

Neededanewuserhandle · 24/02/2023 17:29

Does your drive have a dropped kerb?
And where's the diagram?

All of this.

Gooseysgirl · 24/02/2023 17:30

Park on your drive

Cherrysoup · 24/02/2023 17:31

Go round asap and tell him it’s unacceptable, you didn’t really hear what he said, he is NOT to park over YOUR fucking drive! Who does this asshole think he is?!

Original poster

mrsflanders23 · 24/02/2023 17:33

I knew someone would say that I'm taking space from others.

That's why I put in the fact that there is actually ample parking here most of the time. We are a row of terraces with green space and no houses across the road so it's not completely inundated.

The previous owners had 5 children and a massive people carrier and never used the drive as it is narrow. It is very, very narrow.

As in wing mirror in job in my new car, with maybe a centimetre to spare on either side going in between the two houses (next door had a drive as well at some point but extended their terrace right to the boundary, does that mean they've taken a space from someone?!).

It takes a slow manoeuvre to get up. I needed a bigger car (I have 3 children already). It can be done but just takes more time and stress getting in and out.

There is very rarely a complete lack of parking, just people not being able to park as close as they want to their house I suppose.

OP posts:

StopFeckingFaffing · 24/02/2023 17:33

Yes you need to tell your neighbour that actually no you're not happy for them to park across your drive as you need access to your drive at all times

If I was you I would start parking on your drive the majority of the time, at least for the next few months to get the message across that you do need access to it

If you havent been using it at all then it's not hard to see why your neighbours have made the assumption that it's OK to park across your drive

Crumpleton · 24/02/2023 17:33

Start parking in your driveway...
And hope they don't feel it's acceptable to block you in as you've ok'd them parking across the entrance.

Original poster

mrsflanders23 · 24/02/2023 17:34

Yes it is a proper drive with a dropped curb, it goes right up the side of my house between my terrace and my next door neighbours terrace and then opens into a space at the back of my house.

Mine and neighbours terraces are long and thin so the narrow space before drive opens out is quite significant.

OP posts:

Original poster

mrsflanders23 · 24/02/2023 17:35

I am happy to do a diagram in Mumsnetty fashion! Let me just work out how to do it on my phone.

OP posts:

ApolloandDaphne · 24/02/2023 17:37

Is there any scope to widen the access to your drive?

TheFlis12345 · 24/02/2023 17:37

One of our neighbours can easily park both their cars on their drive side by side but only ever parks one on it. Everyone on the street moans about them, even when there isn’t a lack of spaces.

missmollygreen · 24/02/2023 17:38

Do you park in front of your driveway on the road?

BlueHeelers · 24/02/2023 17:40

I think you’re being a bit selfish to have a drive and not use it, if other residents have to scramble for parking spots on the street. You’re in effect using two parking spots and taking one of the public spots when you don’t need to.

it’s a bit dog in the manger-ish.

So YABU. and although your neighbour shouldn’t park across your driveway I can kind of see why he has. You’re not using it and you’re taking up a street space you don’t actually need.

Headabovetheparakeet · 24/02/2023 17:42

When you started parking on the road, did you park across your drive or someone else?

BingleBongleBoo · 24/02/2023 17:43

It's quite entitled to have a drive but take a space from someone else on the street, then moan about it.

Learn how to park your car or make your drive bigger.

Original poster

mrsflanders23 · 24/02/2023 17:46

Diagram

OP posts:

Original poster

mrsflanders23 · 24/02/2023 17:47

There is no scope to widen. We are terraces that come right up the street. The drive runs between my terrace and next doors terrace.

They originally had space at the side and a drive but did a side extension right up to the boundary.

OP posts:

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