To think we can park here?

[ShopTattsyrup]

AIBU to just ignore this letter and keep parking?

I live on a very short stretch of street that is just 4 terraces at the back of a church. Opposite our houses is the car park for the church and for it's church hall.

All 4 families who live on this stretch know eachother fairly well, no drives or garages and so the unoffical rule is that you park outside your own house and if you have a second car you park on the other side of the street behind the church (where there is space for two neatly parked cars while allowing a good clearance of the dropped curb entrance to the church car park).

Last week we all got the same letter, seemingly from this church, asking us to refrain from parking on the side next to the church as it impedes entry to our car park.

Now one of my neighbours has lived here for >20 years and the existing parking arrangement has never been an issue. I've lived here for 3 and the street is more than wide enough to have cars parked on both sides and drive comfortably through the centre. There's no double yellows etc.

What makes me think this letter is a load of bollocks is that the letter is signed from "St Christopher's Church" - surely if it were official it would say From Rev. John Smith or similar? Or be from the council?

One of the church parishioners is probably a bit of a shit driver and doesn't like having the additional cars there. If you're not blocking the dropped curb, ignore and carry on.

Also, beautiful diagram!

I should say - I don't think this church has a full time vicar attached. There's no vicarage or rectory here and there isn't one of those boards at the front that tell you the name of the vicar. Obviously if there was a vicarage opposite my house this would be much easier 🙃

If there are no parking restrictions and they can leave the car park ok, and your map shows that I think, I would just ignore.

Alternatively I would send a letter back explaining there is no where else unless they would like to donate two spaces in theircar park, that there are no parking restrictions and no issue leaving the car park

If your blocking entry or making visibility poor then you can't park there. Its not the churches fault your houses don't have driveways.

By all means carry on but they have asked nicely so don't be surprised or offended when relationships sour.

It's from the church organisation, not an individual, not sure why you take issue with that. As to whether they have a case depends of whether they have a point, do any cars over hang the entrance

YABU for saying curb it's kerb. You should not block where people are trying to exit the car park.

There's always one 🙄 You knew perfectly well what they meant

What a weird set of first replies

YANBU. There are no parking restrictions, you have said the cars do not go over the dropped kerb or block the entrance to the car park

Carry on and ignore

I would guess that the car nearest the gate is slightly impeding access, but what they need to do is either get the council to mark the road to prevent parking, or widen their gate. Otherwise people will keep parking there.

On the face of it YANBU but this must be causing an issue of some sort, or they wouldn't have bothered. Is there space for them to safely exit the car park? I.e. are you blocking their visibility so that they're having to pull out blindly? Is there room to turn right in order to leave via the road on the right of your diagram? Maybe speak to them and find out what the exact problem is.

How big is the car park? I think I'd say I could do that if you don't mind me using the car park.

They also said that access was easy if you use the middle of the drive, suggesting cars are having to adopt a different road position to access the drive safely. It may also mean that even though it is wide enough to have an entrance and exit people at struggling causing blockages. So I don't think it as clear cut as you suggest.

I don't take issue, I'm just asking a question.

If it came from some kind of board then presumably it would say "the church board"? As opposed to from "St Christopher's Church ... anyone could write that.

Anyone could write "the church board" You sound like you're being pedantic because you want to ignore the letter

if the way you are parked is in your opinion safe and legal and there are no official signs to indicate otherwise then I would carry on as if the note never arrived.

There are some people who love to get riled up over this kind of nonsense and honestly all you can do is rise above.

if you get a parking fine from the council or the police ask you to move that is different. Even if it was from the church’s Vicar or elder committee they don’t have authority over the public highway so that’s that.

Exactly this. They clearly need to learn how to drive

If it is a public highway and you are not physically blocking a dropped kerb then you are perfectly at liberty to park there. The church or whoever has written on their behalf (it really doesn't matter) has no authority to tell you not to.
They can ask you, of course but I can guarantee that if you and your neighbours stop using those spaces, someone else will.

Just add your reply on the back of the letter and drop it through the church door, then they at least see the letter has been sent in their name (if you are hinting you think it's been faked?)

"Thank you for raising a concern. The spaces being used are legal to park on, and cars are always parked considerately. If you wish to, please contact the local council about having some double yellow lines painted if you feel that part of the street shouldn't be available to legally park"

The entrance to the car park is two houses wide and the dropped kerb is probability about 4ft (at a guess) from the back of my neighbours car that is there now.

If we knew who it was from we would ask what the problem is of course

My neighbour has found an email for a nearby church to see if they know who holds services

Wonderful diagram.

I would phone the number on the church board and ask them if they sent it. Provided you're not across the kerb and there are no yellow lines, then you are fine. Otherwise could you park in the church car park?

If it's from the.organisation it should still have a name on it, and contact details.

I suspect it is not from the church at all.

Not faked exactly - we just wondered if it was being written by one parishioner who thought it would hold more weight if it came from "the church" without them knowing.

But good suggestion re. Replying on the back of the letter

If you have parked safely without blocking the dropped kerb in any way, and there are no other parking restrictions, you are fully entitled to park there.

But you know who it's from. Just walk in next Sunday and ask who the pastor is?

She doesn't know who it's from. That's the point.