Parking annoyance

[Poodle123456]

We live at the end of a cul-de-sac, each house has its own parking space (or drive) and there are a few visitor spaces. The road is very tight, barely room for 2 cars to pass.

A neighbour has started parking opposite our driveway so they can park directly outside of their house (which does not have a drive) and are not using their designated parking space.

By doing this they are making it really difficult for to get on and off our drive. It also means the car parking space next to our drive cant really get in and out.

We left a note explaining this and followed it up by trying to talk to then to explain, they said they found it too hard to get to their parking space as they are a new driver, They moved their car after a day or so but now it’s back.

Do I just need to accept it or is it worth me trying to speak to them again? No one has ever parked there before as it’s quite obviously a place not to park, however these are new neighbours.

You're not being unreasonable.
That would annoy the hell out of me.

If they are actually blocking a space it is very unreasonable. Best way for a new driver to improve their skills is to keep practicing! They should use their space.

Diagram mandatory for parking posts!

New drivers need to practice parking so they can do it properly, not just opt out and inconvenience everyone else. Just knock on their door every time they park there and ask them to move their car to let you out

I'd be minded to tell them that it's too tight for you to manoeuvre and you're worried that their car might get damaged. Explain to them that it's really hard for you and your neighbour.

I'd beat them to it and park in that spot.

This also works!

its hard to say but it doesn’t sound like they are parking blocking anything just making things a bit trickier?

I would start parking there tbh

I would also do this. Maybe by being inconvienced they will understand how annoying it is.

If Op parks there she can’t then argue it’s not a suitable parking space.

Loving some of the suggestions- wish I had the courage to just park there too.

They are technically not blocking as they’re not parking on the side of the road our drive is, however it’s very difficult for us to get in and out of our drive with them there and they’re not using their space to make it easier for them.

If they can't negotiate a parking space and park blocking people in (new driver or not) then they are not really ready to be on the road driving at all. Are the spaces that hard?! I had to go from passing to using a work car park with reverse parking only -it's something they will have to just get on and do. The more you do it the better and easier it gets. You can't just inconvenience others because of your supposed inability to park. I'd be tempted to say I'd do it myself (don't though as you might be accused of scratching/breaking something).
Either block the space yourself or knock every single time they do it.

Can you reverse into your drive? That makes it easier to depart.

Just knock on the door and ask them to move their car every time you want to go in/out. You'd hate to damage their car after all.......

It could be worth talking to the council about getting a no parking sign put up there, or a double yellow line.

Park your car in front of their house (there's no law against it) and when they complain, feign innocent surprise and tell them they have their own dedicated space.

If it’s blocking the road access to house for emergency services, the fire brigade used to be very helpful in explaining the error of peoples ways to inconsiderate drivers, they saw it as per of their role to keep the community safe and aid response times.
I have no idea if they still do this, but might be worth asking?

You park there, so THEY can’t. That’s what I’d do. They’ll get the message soon enough.

Because their neighbour is anxious about parking in a their allocated space?

So there are designated spaces and visitor spaces. What are the neighbours parking in? Is it just the side of the road or is it a visitor space? Is it a private road or a public road?

You need to knock on their door and ask them to move their car to let you out, every single time you want to go anywhere.
They'll soon get sick of that.

Stop trying to manoeuvre around them to get onto your drive. If it isn’t actually a normal level of manoeuvre then stop and sit on your horn until they come out and tell them your drive is blocked so they need to move, or go chap their door. Every single time. It’s the only way they will stop.

Yanbu it annoys me when people don’t park in their allocated spaces.

Our neighbour used to do this and park outside our house as they had a second car they parked in front of theirs… ok fair enough BUT they literally have an allocated space around the back of their house!! Which is left empty! If we didn’t have allocated spaces I wouldn’t care but given that we do it annoys me because she slams her doors and sets the dogs off every time she parks outside… even though they complain about our dogs barking they actively do something to set them off. Most selfish and self centred people I’ve ever known.

Argh this is so annoying. Our old neighbours always let their guests park across the front of their driveway despite there being space for two cars on their driveway. Anyway once or twice my parents backed out of their own drive and ended up slightly hitting the neighbours guests car and they’ve ended up having to pay for damage which is ridiculous. But now if they need to back out of the drive and the neighbours have guests they will go over and ask them to move their car. It’s not stopped guests parking there but I imagine if you asked your neighbour to move each time then eventually they’ll get fed up and actually park in their space. Just tell them it’s really tight and you don’t want to damage your car or theirs.