Yet another parking one (includes cone rage!)

[EL8888]

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?

Oh. My. God. The CHEEK!

I'd just draw a massive cartoon cock on his note in lipstick and pop it back under his windscreen wipers, but then I am utterly juvenile like that...

I'd also make it my life's mission to remove his cones, every single time they are left out.

Just put a note under his windscreen with the link to the legal need for a permit to use cones on the road.

What an entitled knob. NO ONE wishes to drive round looking for parking regardless of what time it is, but that is unfortunately the situation everyone on that road has to face.

keep the note, start taking pictures and report him every time.

I would also write him a note back just confirming your position that he is no more entitled to a space than anyone else so as you are struggling in your pregnancy if you need to move his cones to enable you to park then you will.

Absolutely move the cones if you need to park your car.

Take a picture of them. Thats all I did to stop a neighbour over tge Road parking their work van close to the junction on our small road, making it dangerous to get in or out. Tge council put yellow lines there eventually but not before there were a few crashes...

Ref the cones, collect them up so there's a small tower or 2 of cones. Job done.

Have you contacted the council?

I assume it’s not so big that it needs a licence to be parked overnight? They used to be called O licences. Worth checking.

Just checked and it’s 7.5 tonnes it seems which triggers the need for a licence and that specifies where the vehicle is parked overnight. If you look up the vehicle you can see the weight and this might help.

@N27 exactly, no one gets back from work / school pick up / supermarket and goes woo boo let’s get searching for a parking space -can’t wait!

Where he is parked today is outside a house with someone with mobility issues l think. Everyone has reasons for wanting to park outside their house -mobility issues, small children, often carrying lots of items and yeah just the convenience etc. But on terraced streets it’s first come, first served. We accepted that but he doesn’t seem to. Which is weird as l think he’s lived here longer than us

So he's admitted in writing that he's illegally marking out parking spaces with cones? Excellent. You can send that to the relevant authorities.

Try to rope in other neighbours so you aren't the only one moving the cones. He's more likely to stop it then.

I have been a councillor for years.
My recommendation is to contact the local PCSO.

They will give "words of advice" about the cones and also about parking on the pavement.

This seems like an excellent idea. I feel particularly sorry for the neighbour with mobility issues if the pavement is obstructed outside their house.

I agree with this. I've been on MN long enough to know that parking threads can really escalate.

Well done for moving the cones! Hope your ankles are ok as well.

Really appreciate the updates. Please keep us posted.

The cones are super cheeky but the note is a whole new level of twatdom. Keep moving ‘em baby!

I'd continue to park in the space if it's the only one available, but have a pre-prepared note ready to put in your own windscreen, along the lines of:

"The road is a public space and anyone is entitled to park here, as spaces are available on a first come, first served basis.

I too have worked shifts in the past and got home early in the morning, so there have been plenty of times that I have had to walk a distance from my car, but reserving of a space on the road is not allowed. At the moment, I am heavily pregnant and struggling to walk long distances. I park further away if I have to, but no-one's "need" for a space trumps anyone else's.

As with anyone, I will always park as close to my house as possible, but if you live in a property with no allocated parking or driveway, the risk of this not being possible is a downside to roads such as these.

I will not be parking further away, when a perfectly legal space is available to use, closer to home.

Please also be aware that "reserving" of a space on a public road is not allowed - see [insert government/council web link here] for more information. The use of cones on a highway also requires a permit."

I'd also add something about blocking a pavement from wheelchair or pushchair users, if he's having to block that too to allow cars to go past.

But, otherwise, I'd consider getting a dashcam that records any motion even when your car is parked, just in case, but also as PP have said, speak to your local PCSO and your local councillor.

@Leftbutcameback interesting. I am not sure it’s a 7.5 tonne, l will take a closer look at it and see if l can get info about the model or the reg number.

Does that mean it shouldn’t be parked on the road then? I would say over night but he gives the impression of returning at 5am. Then again he doesn’t work every day and it sometimes doesn’t move a few days in a row

Remove the cones and put them in a skip.

HGV operators have a licence, and that licence will have an overnight address. It won’t be on your road! Truck parking isn’t meant to be in residential areas - that’s why they have specific truck parks and depots.

I do wonder if it’s not an HGV though based on your description - depends on the specification.

This seems useful and suggests that even at a lower weight there could be restrictions (see the third section). Worth contacting your councillor or council officers on this moderngov.dover.gov.uk/documents/s18099/Background%20Paper%20A%20-%20Lorry%20Parking%20in%20Residential%20Areas%20House%20of%20Commons%20Library.pdf

Can you post a photo of the type of van it is? If it's a flatbed, then it might have a maximum load weight about 7.5 tonnes, in which case it certainly cannot be parked on the main road over night!!

As for his petty note... I'd be tempted to shove the cones up his ar*e!!

I would keep moving them every single time he left them out and putting them by his front door. You don't want to be seen getting rid of them. If he catches you doing it, then say you didn't want him to get a fine for littering!

Great, you’ve got written proof that he’s been illegally using the cones!

Exactly! Now, write a note back informing him of how street parking works and not only will you continue to move the cones, you will also report any unneighbourly behaviour to the council.