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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to block in school mums parking on my driveway?

895 replies

Applepiesmum · 23/03/2023 10:49

i live down the road from a school and during the school rush parents park everywhere it normally worse in the afternoon at 3pm

I work from home and usually park in the visitor pay outside my house so my partner can park on the driveway he gets home 3.30-4pm

however recently people have been parking on my driveway last week I caught someone pulling in knocked on their window and they argued with me saying they need to pick up their child eventually they did move but moved to where they were just half way blocking my drive way and halfway blocking my neighbor so no one could access it!

I didn’t bother confront them again but in future I’m just thinking to block them in… is that too petty

I have reported it to the school but all they’ve said is they’ve already asked parents not to block residents in so I’m not sure what else to do.

(if I did block anyone in it would only be for 30 minutes to cause a bit of stress and a lesson learned)

OP posts:
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6
Overthiscrap · 23/03/2023 15:07

I feel like all the people moaning about the visitor space and sticking up for cf are the people who actually do this in real life.

Absolutely no excuse ever to park on someones drive with out permission! Is it vandalism to let someones tyres down?

KnottyKnitting · 23/03/2023 15:08

People say the police are not interested but my dad had a problem with someone parking on his drive ( at the back of his house where there is an access road so he didn't actually see who it was.) They parked so close to his garage that he couldn't open the door. He left messages on the windscreen and put signs up saying no parking/24 hour access needed. But he found the signs screwed up or torn down.

He is 85 and it was really getting him down. He took the reg and went into the local police station. They attended the next day, worked out who owned the car and went round to tell the owner to stop parking there or his car would be towed. Hasn't happened since.

ItsRainingPens · 23/03/2023 15:08

Yep, do it then go out for a walk/shopping/tea

TrashyPanda · 23/03/2023 15:10

vickylou78 · 23/03/2023 14:46

What's a visitor bay op? Do you mean a parking suave outside your house that's on the public road? Or do you live on a private road?

A visitors bay is an area separate from the public highway (ie a road that has been taken on by and is maintained by the local authority) that is set aside for visitors to the street to park in. There is often a pavement with a dropped kerb in front of them.

in my experience, visitors bays in housing estates are owned by the residents of the estate and are not technically public parking.

Itsneverwhatitseems · 23/03/2023 15:10

Gosh
Wish I lived near your dad
Our police don’t even come out for a robbery!!

QuertyGirl · 23/03/2023 15:13

Overthiscrap · 23/03/2023 15:07

I feel like all the people moaning about the visitor space and sticking up for cf are the people who actually do this in real life.

Absolutely no excuse ever to park on someones drive with out permission! Is it vandalism to let someones tyres down?

Lentils

QuertyGirl · 23/03/2023 15:15

@Itsneverwhatitseems

That's it, isn't it? Full time employment with a long commute, we should not be encouraging it. Locally employed where possible and fewer working hours.

Agree about terraces, dam good design.

Timetochangetheoil · 23/03/2023 15:20

QuertyGirl · 23/03/2023 15:13

Lentils

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I’m intrigued about the lentils QuertyGirl?

Allthingsbrightandbeautifulx · 23/03/2023 15:21

Do you live on a newish estate OP where they have a drive and then a parking area marked V then house number? My friends new build has this. Drive can fit 2 cars then there’s a 2 marked bays outside her house which have V22 on them. So Visitor bays for her house. Some neighbours only have 1 outside their house but there’s a small car park at the entrance to their estate which has V numbered bays for their additional visitors.
Either way, block the CF’s in!!

Butchyrestingface · 23/03/2023 15:26

@Applepiesmum Can you get remote controlled retractable spikes for your driveway? (is this a thing?)

Richhandcream · 23/03/2023 15:31

It doesn't matter where Op chooses to park her car. It's her bloody driveway on her land and there is nothing that justifies someone deciding to use it as a parking space.

It also doesn't matter how the people who actually live in that road choose to amicably use the visitor parking spaces. Nothing about that gives someone the right to basically drive in to Op's private front garden and park there.
Honestly, some of you are mad.

HikingforScenery · 23/03/2023 15:39

Applepiesmum · 23/03/2023 14:35

Because it would mean parking in front of someone else’s house and for the most part people are polite and try to avoid it it’s quite clear what space is for who and whilst no one would moan if I know my neighbor comes home and parks outside their house everyday and I don’t need to I wouldn’t take their space

Show quote history

So you’re parking in the visitor parking space allocated to your house? no issue there then

It’s nice of you to think about your neighbours and not want to park in the space outside their house. Do you not have a space outside yours though? Could your DH block you in when he comes in?

BlueHeelers · 23/03/2023 15:39

idonttalkaboutthat · 23/03/2023 11:56

But the CF isn’t visiting the OP’s housing development. It’s a visitors space, not a ‘picking up from the nearby school’ space. So while the OP is a bit of a cf to be basically reserving it and stopping any other visitors using it, it’s absolutely not for the CF school mum to use!!

So where do you suggest school mums (and dads!) park then?

Bloody well walk.

chickadee12 · 23/03/2023 15:40

Yes I’d block them in and put museli on their roof to encourage a flock of birds to shit on their car. Your drive, your rules x

PinkSparklyPussyCat · 23/03/2023 15:44

QuertyGirl · 23/03/2023 15:15

@Itsneverwhatitseems

That's it, isn't it? Full time employment with a long commute, we should not be encouraging it. Locally employed where possible and fewer working hours.

Agree about terraces, dam good design.

OK, what do you suggest I do? I don't have a long commute as I live 4 miles from my office but I work in an area with poor public transport and the two routes I could cycle aren't safe - a lonely unlit towpath or a badly lit busy, winding road with no footpath.

viques · 23/03/2023 15:53

Brefugee · 23/03/2023 10:54

what if the parent has an appointment somewhere and they can't get to it?

then they shouldn't be a CF and park on someone's actual drive?

In that case it is double whammy kudos to the OP.

Howdoyoulikeyourtea · 23/03/2023 15:54

I’m finding it strange that so many pp are having a go at OP for parking on the road when they have two cars. I always park on the road and DH parks on the drive as his is the newer bigger car which we want off the narrow road. Also I’m in and out all day and the drive is a PITA to reverse into and unsafe to reverse out of due to sight lines.

If OP had just said she parked outside her house rather than saying visitors bay would pp still have kicked off?

There is a new primary school being built near us, in a new estate of houses. There is no car parking provision on the plans. I can understand older schools not having parking, a generation ago most walked to a local school, but not planning parking for a new school with todays issues is short sighted.

Skodacool · 23/03/2023 15:54

Richhandcream · 23/03/2023 15:31

It doesn't matter where Op chooses to park her car. It's her bloody driveway on her land and there is nothing that justifies someone deciding to use it as a parking space.

It also doesn't matter how the people who actually live in that road choose to amicably use the visitor parking spaces. Nothing about that gives someone the right to basically drive in to Op's private front garden and park there.
Honestly, some of you are mad.

Well said, I agree. I think a diagram from OP might lighten this discussion a bit 😉

Cakeorchocolate · 23/03/2023 15:56

YANBU.

I live very close to a school and the parking I witness is horrendous. Constantly blocking driveways, junctions, footpaths. I regularly have to walk in the road to get around cars because the footpath is a car park to them.

ThereIbledit · 23/03/2023 15:56

I'd absolutely park them in then go out for a lovely walk for an hour or so.

lieselotte · 23/03/2023 15:59

Do some MNs really think that we can all work, live and find schools within walking distance

No of course not. But where I live they ARE within walking distance and it's not a case of dangerous country lanes or busy dual carriageways. And I know that the parents aren't coming from work, because they arrive 45 minutes early to get a space, and sit with the aircon running while they play on their phones! They absolutely could walk. I often go out for a walk between 1.30 and 2.30 so I see them when I come back. School does not finish until after 3pm.

And even if you do need to drive, you don't need to park inconsiderately or dangerously or on someone else's land. Again, where I live there is a parallel road that goes round in a massive loop. It is half a mile long. Plenty of space to park safely.

Howdoyoulikeyoureggsinthemorning · 23/03/2023 15:59

QuertyGirl · 23/03/2023 15:13

Lentils

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Lentils are reasonable if they're in visitor spaces but I wouldn't leave my lentils in OP's drive.

stayathomer · 23/03/2023 15:59

I can’t get over the fact that people actually argue with you!!! If I did that I’d apologise a million times over, not argue!!

stichguru · 23/03/2023 16:01

This would be tempting payback. Morally, I think you'd be good, even if they or their child missed something important. However, be careful because blocking a driveway is illegal. While trespassing on someone's property is also illegal, they might get less punishment than you!

Cherrysherbet · 23/03/2023 16:02

Oh yes. Block ‘em