A parking one...

[mrsflanders23]

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.

@purpledalmation if you did A level law then you will know the definition of illegal isn't "getting the police involved"

The first reply to your op told you everything you need.

Don't argue anymore with people who cant/won't read the thread properly.

Clearly your neighbour shouldn't be parking across your drive. I suspect if you did have a partner, the neighbour wouldn't even have said this to you.

I didn't say that. You are the one saying it is illegal.
Illegal (as in police involvement) a non starter
Illegal as in local government legislation (your only option, but you need to find out the details of these bylaws as they vary throughout the country).

This is have stated quite clearly.

It's inconsiderate to park across a dropped kerb. That's enough of a reason not to do it.

@mrsflanders23 · Today 10:44

purpledalmation if you did A level law then you will know the definition of illegal isn't "getting the police involved"

What with purple's spelling errors, lack of punctuation and mangled grammar & syntax, it seems unlikely that they actually passed A-Level Law.

Exactly and I like to lead by example. I don't want to encourage people parking over dropped kerbs.

There is ample on street parking and no need to do it.

@purpledalmation I understand the difference between MUST NOT v DO NOT in the Highway Code.
"Do not" doesn't mean you AREN'T committing an offence, and it can still be used against you in criminal court.

It also depends on whether your local area/council is a "special enforcement area" under the traffic management act 2004. If it is then the following applies-

(1)
In a special enforcement area a vehicle must not be parked on the carriageway adjacent to a footway, cycle track or verge where—
(a)
the footway, cycle track or verge has been lowered to meet the level of the carriageway for the purpose of—
(i)
assisting pedestrians crossing the carriageway,
(ii)
assisting cyclists entering or leaving the carriageway, or
(iii)
assisting vehicles entering or leaving the carriageway across the footway, cycle track or verge

Where kerbs have been lowered to facilitate a vehicle entering or leaving the highway via a vehicle access crossing (VAC))_, or to create a crossing point to assist pedestrians, cyclists or wheelchair users to cross the road, then under the Traffic Management Act 2004, it is illegal to park a vehicle adjacent to these dropped kerbs. Civil enforcement officers (CEO) will issue.
My drive also has an "access protection marking" AKA white line.

It's Mumsnet, with the added complication of autocorrect, not a dissertation 🤣🤣🤣🤣

I'm not even sure why this has turned into some sort of debate over me being unreasonable for not parking across my own drive.

I've never said I am going to try and "enforce" anything against my neighbours for parking there, in fact I've said a few times I'm not.

I just wanted to speak to them nicely and ask them not to block my access.

@mrsflanders23

My drive also has an "access protection marking" AKA white line

So why didn't you put this initially? Drip feeding is against the rules 😂

Contact your council, they can enforce via a Penalty Notice. They will ask you if you've discussed this with your neighbour first though, so that is you first option.

For the umpteenth time, this is not a criminal offence so won't end up in a 'criminal court'. The only time that happens is if legislation is broken, such as the situation deteriorating to the point there are threats etc. no one (to the best of my knowledge) has ever been prosecuted for parking across a driveway.

Which is exactly what everyone has said (including me) from the outset.

If your asking are they unreasonable to park across your drive, of course they are 🤷🏻‍♀️

I said earlier on that it has a white line.

Do all the driveways on your road have the white H-bar to emphasise that there is a vehicular access which should be left clear?

You hadn’t mentioned that before. It’s even more odd that your neighbour is parking across your driveway when there is one, and very odd if he isn’t the only one to do this, especially when you say there is usually plenty of on-street parking available.

Is something funny going or or have people fallen out with you? It seems so odd for neighbours to have the option to park on the road easily, yet they choose instead to park across your driveway which also has a H bar marking to indicate it is there.

This might sound obvious, but can’t you just tell them that although you haven’t needed the drive recently this will change when the baby arrives so you’ll need access from x date?

@WombatChocolate I haven't fallen out with anyone, I keep myself to myself!

Recently there were roadworks on a nearby street and there were some parking issues down here as people from that road were parking here and walking through, rather than navigating the roadworks or waiting. This isn't a common occurrence! This was the period where I had various neighbours parking over my drive. They must have noticed my lack of using it lately and just taken it upon themselves.

I believe next door neighbour just wants to park over my drive to be as close to his house as possible as he recently had a car accident. He parks his other car in front of his house so wants to use "my drive" as his extra space; is the impression I've got!

I think you should start with the explanation that you will be using the drive going forward as will have the baby.
If that doesn't work. Knock for him to move every single time he's there. When you come home hopefully he won't be rude enough to park over your drive if you're actually on it

Sorry and picture of part of the drive attached below- it's more than double this length.

Just measured and it's 2.12m wide, my car is 2.08m, so I wasn't wrong in saying it is narrow and I have a couple of cm on either side.

There is clearly no way for me to open doors, especially being pregnant!

Getting to the wider part of the drive where I can open doors involves opening the big gate. I have SPD and I find it difficult right now and it causes me pain. I can't leave it open permanently as then the kids can't play outside as they are at risk of going on the road.

mrsflanders23 · Today 11:35

Sorry and picture of part of the drive attached below- it's more than double this length.

It does look narrow and with 2cm clearance on either side, impractical.

Love the paint job!

😃

Well, it sounds like the issue is just with this one particular individual.

This should be easily resolvable by speaking to him.

In the end, with the further info you’ve provided through the thread, it doesn’t seem complex. There is plenty of on street parking now the road works have finished. Others might have parked across your drive during the roadworks but won’t now there is plenty of parking as usual. It’s only this individual who has had some kind of car anxiety who is doing it.

Surely you feel confident to go and speak to him and simply tell him that he shouldn’t be parking across your driveway and you do t want him to do it anymore. Point out there are plenty of other spaces. If he raises you not parking on the driveway, tell him that’s not the point and that you will be using it sometimes now and often once you have your baby. Tell him it’s your driveway and you need to have access to it at all times and not to have to need to ask him to move. In your job, don’t you have to have conversations with people all the time?

So then the issue will be dealt with. End of.

Carry on parking where you like.

To be honest, one of the reasons why this thread has gone on and on is partly because of drip feeding. As you say OP, you weren’t entirely clear at the start. The issues about this particular neighbour being the problem, rather than it being an ongoing lots of people problem has become clearer, as has the abundance of parking available on the street, your white line and the neighbours anxiety after an accident.

Simply speak to him. The problem can be so easily resolved.

When are you goi g to do it?

I really don't understand posters on this thread! The OP can park where she likes, it's no-ones business. She does not (and in my opinion should not) justify or explain to her neighbour.

The neighbour is doing something that they should not be doing. Frankly I think by doing this they are harassing the OP who is pregnant.

I understand OP that you want to keep things civil however it would seem that your neighbour isn't bothered about that. I would ask them once if they continue I would politely explain that if they do it again you will involve the police and council.

Suggesting the OP tells them she will start using the driveway after the baby is ridiculous. It's obvious that she won't be able to get baby and children in and out. Besides ITS NONE OF THEIR BUSINESS!

Yes @WombatChocolate I speak to people every day and have no issue with communication.

I made it clear that they caught me at a very bad time, I've been in an out of hospital all week and I've been feeling very stressed and flustered.

I came here for opinion before I go and speak to them as I don't want to cause a falling out.

I did make it clear in my OP that there is green space across the road with no houses and only occasional issues with parking. So I'm not sure how I've drip fed, just because I haven't gone into full blown details about recent roadworks or my neighbours car accident.

@cosmiccosmos thank you.

I can use the driveway more easily after baby, it does open out right at the end so I can get doors open. I will also be able to open the gates when I'm hopefully recovered and back in better health.

But if I was making 10 trips out a day then going up and down there multiple times it is going to be quite a hassle.

But if I want to use it 10 times a day or once every 10 days, surely that's my decision?

@WombatChocolate I've said below. I am going to go and speak to them and tell them that I'm having the baby imminently and will need more frequent access to the drive, and that I would rather them not get into the habit of parking there as I don't want to have to bother them and ask them to move.
I also said that my Dad is coming from abroad when I have the baby and I will get him to look at the gates, and also put a sign up for me that says 24hr access required or something to that effect.

Okay. Well you’ve had plenty of opinions now, so hopefully it’s helped you clarify your thoughts so you can go and sort it out with your neighbour today.

You are very prickly OP. You have constantly sought to justify yourself and seemed to want to keep disagreement and the thread going. I’d have thought that the answer to your issue became clear pretty early in the thread. Yes, you are not unreasonable to park on the road or to expect your driveway access to be left clear. And speaking to neighbour is the answer. That’s the end of it really. But instead of saying ‘thanks for all the comments. I’m off to speak to the neighbour this morning and will update later’ you’ve seemed to want to keep the engagement going with comments about why what some people have said is wrong.

Lots of people haven’t read the whole thread and repeated things which dint apply over and over again. You can ignore that stuff. You know the answer now of what to do. Your parking issue is pretty straightforward and not one that’s pretty impossible to solve. Great! Hope your conversation goes well and you have no more problems. Look forward to an update. Nothing more for me to say.

If you're planning to start parking in your drive then start doing that.

If you're not planning to use your drive then I don't see the problem as you've said that parking spaces are not an issue.

@WombatChocolate is "a bit prickly" the new mumsnet "u ok hun?"

Because I've been called selfish countless times on here, and even a dick.

I'm a heavily pregnant woman on my own have a man TELL me what he was doing, as he's clearly made an assessment about my life and decided that his needs trump mine.

I suppose at the end of the day I just simply wouldn't park over someone else's drive, regardless of what I thought in regards to their use of it or not.

At my old house, there was an elderly woman across the road with a drive that she didn't use as she had no car. I wouldn't take it upon myself to park on it across her drive.