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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Yet another parking one (includes cone rage!)

163 replies

EL8888 · 10/03/2023 21:07

We live in a road of terraced houses, barely anyone has a drive -maybe 1 in 25 if they are end terrace and have a slightly larger plot. It’s survival of the fittest and most people accept that. A few months ago some people moved in a few doors down with a very long wide truck. Initially l think they’re super super lucky and always get a parking spot. I then spot them ear mark a spot with a number of cones and don’t take their chances like everyone else. I’ve been giving the vehicle side eye for weeks.

I get back from somewhere late last night and it’s our turn now! It’s been parked outside our house all last night and today. Theyve gone out for the evening and left the cones to reserve “their spot”. Problem is it’s not. It’s a fairly busy road and other people want to park there. I think it’s highly entitled and rude -especially as they don’t do it outside their house.

Options as l see it see it:

  1. remove the cones

  2. remove the cones and put our car in their place

  3. suck it up. The man needs to put his big important man van somewhere, he can’t be expected to take his chances like everyone else on the road

  4. “assess” the situation for a period of time

Husband wants to do #4. Handy for him as he’s not heavily pregnant and didn’t have to walk 300 metres from the other end of the road like l did last night.

If they wants permanent parking for this large vehicle (it’s always partly in the pavement as well) he needs to live in a detached house, semi-detached house or hire a parking space / garage surely?

What are everyone’s thoughts?

OP posts:
JudgeRudy · 10/03/2023 21:21

Do you really need to ask? Number 2 everytime.
He's a CF of the highest order.

RausageSoul · 10/03/2023 21:25

moonpixel · 10/03/2023 21:20

I would put the cones in the boot of my car then park my car in the space.

I'd attach them to my roof Grin

Theunamedcat · 10/03/2023 21:27

Move cones pop them into your boot until you find official roadworks to drop them off at park your car wherever you like if he gets more cones remove the cones again

Or superglue the cones to his truck? (Don't do this its vandalism) like Madonna and her 90s cone bra?

ChickenDhansak82 · 10/03/2023 21:28

I'd keep taking the cones then hide them. If they replace them, keep doing it. Perhaps invest in a black hoodie and balaclava so they don't know its you...

When they finally give up with the cones then fill their garden with them.

GrannyAchingsShepherdsHut · 10/03/2023 21:30

Definitely move the cones. I'd want to punt them into their garden, one by one, but then they'd still have them to use again.

Are they actually your neighbour's cones OP or do they look like they've been 'aquired' from roadworks? If so I'd helpfully return them to the council.

VegetablesFightingToReclaimTheAubergieneEmoji · 10/03/2023 21:30

dh has a work van with tools etc in. We pay a premium for driveway housing. If your not happy to park anywhere you need to pay that premium.

zurala · 10/03/2023 21:30

Put the cones on his doorstep. Park in the space. Deny being the cone mover if asked. "you had cones? On the road? What for? I never saw any. Why would you do that?"

Repeat as often as necessary.

GrannyAchingsShepherdsHut · 10/03/2023 21:31

Or superglue the cones to his truck? (Don't do this its vandalism) like Madonna and her 90s cone bra?

Ooh, I like this. In a row along the top like a stegosaurus. Extra points if he then can't get into car parks with his dinosaur van.

SoThisisMe · 10/03/2023 21:32

2 definitely. Leave the cones on his doorstep.

Cheeky fucker.

ConfessionsOfAMumDramaQueen · 10/03/2023 21:34

Depending on the length of your car vs their truck ... what would happen if you just moved the cones closer together and put your car at the far end of the 'reserved space'. Would be mighty hilarious to see how perplexed they are at the cones still being there but space not big enough!

Scrapper142 · 10/03/2023 21:35

Sounds similar to my street, there is no way this hasn't been noted by numerous house. Prime spaces are monitored and cars moved when available. I thought it was ridiculous initially, but when you're parked three streets over as that was only option at time, moving it quickly makes getting out the next time so much easier. It's changed me!

Anyway... Move cones and park. Someone has to be first to do it, get the quiet respect and others will follow

Msmossy · 10/03/2023 21:35

ConfessionsOfAMumDramaQueen · 10/03/2023 21:34

Depending on the length of your car vs their truck ... what would happen if you just moved the cones closer together and put your car at the far end of the 'reserved space'. Would be mighty hilarious to see how perplexed they are at the cones still being there but space not big enough!

Pleeease do this, or else the stegosaurus idea 😂

bestbefore · 10/03/2023 21:36

Move the cones and if they say anything just say the cones weren't out when you parked, someone must have moved them earlier on. Play innocent

HouseInTheMiddle · 10/03/2023 21:37

#2

Welsh Mam here, game on.

Paq · 10/03/2023 21:39

Move the cones!

PuppyMonkey · 10/03/2023 21:42

Slag them off on Spotted. They’ll never survive.

ozymandiusking · 10/03/2023 21:42

Move the cones. Don't give them back. Log the episode with police stating he is acting illegally.

Lochroy · 10/03/2023 21:45

Marker pen on the bottom of the cones "property of Mr Wanker, Twat House, Xx Street" and then go and deposit them atop the heads of local statues.
Return home, park in space.

rioseco · 10/03/2023 21:45

Move the cones, park there and update us!

mysunandstars · 10/03/2023 21:47

Remove them and if they ask, say you saw the highways agency removing them as there was no legal reason for them to be there, play dumb as to who tipped them off. Repeat as necessary.

ZeldaWillTellYourFortune · 10/03/2023 21:47

Move those cones!

Who the hell does he think he is??

I agree, hide them in the car boot. Or list on Freecycle. 😎

ZeldaWillTellYourFortune · 10/03/2023 21:47

mysunandstars · 10/03/2023 21:47

Remove them and if they ask, say you saw the highways agency removing them as there was no legal reason for them to be there, play dumb as to who tipped them off. Repeat as necessary.

Oh, this is even better.

iwantchinese · 10/03/2023 21:49

move the cones! someone does this on my road but with their bin and so far i’ve always got a space but i’m waiting for the day there are no other spaces so i can move it and park there😂

Snazzysausage · 10/03/2023 21:52

Ha ha,I'd have those cones away in a jiffy!

Hankunamatata · 10/03/2023 21:58

Id stack the cones outside their house and park your car in the spot