Parking issues

[pollypocke]

Hi all,

For a bit of context, I live on a row of 6 town houses (double fronted terraces) there are another 6 on the opposite side. The lady who lives on the end house on the opposite side has a driveway, no other houses have driveways apart from the end ones. There is a concrete bollard to mark where her driveway starts so no one can block it by parking over the driveway. My OH has a work van (not huge) and one night parked it outside of her house and about a meter away from the concrete bollard. She came over and knocked on our door and asked my OH to move his van because she couldn't see the road coming out of her driveway. He did the first time she asked as he was being polite but when he parked there again she came knocking again and asked him to reverse back away from the concrete bollard so she'd be able to see better. Bear in mind there is limited parking on our street and if OH had reversed he'd be taking up 2 spaces which hardly seems fair given the lady has her own driveway.
Anyway, my OH refused to move his van the second time but was very polite and just said he didn't want to take up 2 spaces. She went off in a huff and was clearly annoyed.

So now, she parks her own car outside of her house but just far enough away from the concrete bollard that no one else can park in front of her and her partner still parks on their drive. Their drive is big enough for 3 cars and originally they always parked their cars on the drive.

My OH wasn't malicious or mardy, he simply said if there was no other space on the street then he'd carry on parking the way he has because he's not done anything wrong but this seems to have not been good enough so she's made sure he can't park there by parking her own car there even though she has her own drive.

AIBU to think this is a bit much, considering my OH wasn't breaking any rules and was parked perfectly legally

YABU - He should just take up 2 spaces so she has more space to see

Agree it'd annoy me too if it was everyday, it was a handful of times which were weeks apart

The OP obviously doesn’t get that a van or a massive taxi parked blocking visibility from someone’s drive is different from a car where you can see over it or through the windows of it as a PP has said.

Works vans should not be allowed to park in residential streets anyway. They weren’t designed for that. They should be parked at the employers premises or the owner should procure their own parking area outside of residential areas if self employed and they don’t have their own drive to put it on. It’s a bit different if vans are while doing work temporarily but they shouldn’t be obstructing anyone either.

Your neighbour is NBU at all OP. She should be able to move safely on and off her drive with clear visibility. To suggest she shouldn’t be driving because she doesn’t have x-ray vision to be able to see through a van is arrogance in the extreme!

Obviously you have an issue with her being a HA tenant and you thinking you’re a superior to her as home owner otherwise you wouldn’t have mentioned it………….

Just to add I struggle to understand how you can say you’ve pulled out at roundabouts and junctions without having visibility of oncoming traffic. That’s very dangerous driving!

Your neighbour should probably take some lessons on how to manoeuvre with limited visibility. How does she manage pulling out of junctions onto busy roads?

You're saying a lot of 'should do this' 'should do that' The fact is, work vans have a right just as much as cars to park on residential streets. There are a lot of things that should and shouldn't happen in the world.

I suggested she shouldn't be driving because driving never guarantees 'clear visibility'
Instead of insisting my OH moves when he's not doing anything wrong, why doesn't she put up a mirror on her fence post so she has a better view?

It's absolutely disgusted me that you've suggested I have an issue because she's a HA tenant. My house used to be HA. All of the houses on our estate did. Some still are, some aren't. I simply said it because it was relevant as the council own her driveway/house but not ours so we can't ask them to make our own driveway. If we could afford it, we would turn our front garden into a driveway. If I had an issue with HA then why the hell would I live on a HA estate. That's a very hurtful thing to accuse someone of. I come from a very working class background and am bloody lucky to own a home, a luxury not many people can have nowadays, but would I ever feel superior to someone who rents or lives in a council house? Of fucking course not! I know what a privilege it is to own.

Also, yes it is dangerous, but so is driving in general. No one has the perfect view of the road ahead 100% of the time.

The fact is, work vans have a right just as much as cars to park on residential streets.

Not on all. Our estate (27 years old) has clauses in the deeds to say no commercial vehicles. We didn't notice it when we moved in, it wasn't until someone mentioned in passing. There are lots of commercial vehicles in the estate, but they are very considerate as all it takes is one home owner to be pissed off and invoke the clause.

You may have equal rights in your estate, but this is neighbour goodwill you are talking about. Why insist on your rights and wind her up if it is not necessary?

If the space at our house is not free dh could park infront of other neighbours houses/windows, but he knows it pisses me right off having a van in front of my house is inconsiderate so parks in visitor parking 2 streets away, at the side of houses that doesn't bother anyone, and walks so he doesn't annoy anyone except me.

You are not going to change anyone's mind OP. Van owners should be aware their van could be an issue and regardless of whether it is "allowed/legal" be extra considerate when parking in residential areas.

There's no point. OP has said they aren't going to listen

Where's the diagram ?

So now, she parks her own car outside of her house but just far enough away from the concrete bollard that no one else can park in front of her and her partner still parks on their drive.

According to your rules, @pollypocke she is legally entitled to park like this so it's all absolutely fine.

Vehicles shouldn't be parked too close to junctions!
It doesn't matter that 'everyone' does it and hasn't been caught. It's still illegal.

Also... your OH doesn't have to park elsewhere on the street and walk home. There are secure parkings for commercial vehicles with CCTV etc. He drives his car there, switches to the van, then switches back. Simples. You sound a bit stupid just having a go as though there's no other solution.

Finally, I still don't understand what your problem is. She is doing nothing wrong.

Even if this entire thread agreed with you, that she was a twat etc etc. What are you going to do about it? Show it to her? Doubt she'll change her mind. Start a smear campaign?

Jesus, calm down with the hyperbole

YABU
Vans on residential streets are a nuisance. It is blocking her view and you husband doesn't really care so long as his van gets parked near his house.
If he parked in a lock up somewhere there would be room for 2 cars and the nieghbour would see fine.