To wonder why my neighbours all take the P

[Inspectorflange]

Lived here 7 years. Semi detached with a driveway for one car. Convenience shop exactly opposite on a busy main road. Shop customers park wherever they please and I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve been blocked in so can’t get off/ onto my driveway.
So fed up with it that I started parking across my driveway, effectively blocking myself in but at least it stops other people doing it, thereby leaving my driveway empty.
Shop owner has asked me to park on my driveway and not leave it empty because it’s “not fair to his customers and business.”
I was too gobsmacked to argue back about having to park this way in order not to get cars, delivery vans and even tractors parking across my driveway and making me late for getting my children to school.
AIBU?

Of course YANBU, but go back and tell him what you've just written here.

It doesn’t sound like it’s your neighbours that are the problem - it’s people who don’t live on your street surely.

Clearly you’re not being unreasonable, as you well know. Your actions aren’t taking parking away from the shop customers as no one should be parking in front of your drive anyway. You just need to explain this calmly to the shop owner.

People are unbelievably entitled when it comes to parking. I have a similar situation and also park across my driveway otherwise I am frequently blocked in. It’s infuriating.

You need to speak up, it’s not your problem if his customers can’t find parking

I get that customer parking is limited because every house on both sides of the street has a driveway, but it’s always mine!
appreciate that it’s the customers who are parked badly, not the shop owner, but it would be nice if he could ask THEM to park with more consideration, not me.
In my position would you carry on parking across the driveway?

Yes, of course. Otherwise you will always be blocked in

Neighbours or customers? Can you put a polite sign out saying driveway in frequent use, don not block.

You should have told him why probably to stop the whinge.

I wouldn't change what I was doing though.

His customers block you in and you are choosing to prevent that now.
Subject closed.
CF.

I would just say how does it affect your customers? The driveway is private property so they can’t park there anyway and it’s illegal to park blocking a driveway so they can’t park there either. So you are taking zero spaces away from his customers.

Yes I would. It’s the shop owner’s problem, not yours. They know it really.

A sign won’t do anything, it doesn’t stop people where I am. I just have to park across my driveway. It’s annoying.

What an absolute nerve! Carry on parking over your drive. He's taking the proverbial! Let him know too. How dare he!

No, I wouldn’t stop parking across your driveway. There’s nothing else you can do.

Thanks I don’t feel inconsiderate now

Surely his customers will just block someone else's drive in for a change, which will not bother him or affect him in any way. They are not going to drive on by just because one single illegal parking spot is occupied. Keep doing what you're doing and being mystified as to how it could possibly affect him when there are plenty of other driveways available to be blocked.

You carry on parking across your driveway. It could be worse, I saw somewhere that a woman drove her car onto someone else's private drive, parked up and walked off, leaving the family car blocked in, so she didn't have to pay for on street parking. I would have been furious if that happened to me.

Sounds like a him problem. You keep parking across your drive because if you don't, someone else will.

You're not unreasonable, but if he mentions it again, I'd explain your reasoning. He may not like it, but he'll be clear on why you're doing it and with any luck accept it and stop pestering you.

Not 100% but you might be able to talk to the council about the fact his business customers are causing an issue.

Each council is different but a lot don’t like companies causing residents parking issues.

Definitely keep blocking your own drive.

Tell him that his customers and delivery drivers are NOT allowed to block you in.
You'll carry on parking across your own driveway.
If this continues you'll inform the police that he is harassing you.
Try and get a H line - maybe even double yellows if you can somehow show it's dangerous. Maybe apply for a disability space if you have a badge.

I know someone with a disability badge and they genuinely think they can park anywhere 🙄
(I know this isn't about badge holders - just giving an example of a stupid person I know)

People, just don't care. Make them uncomfortable.

Put cones out.

Why would you have felt inconsiderate for parking somewhere nowhere else should be parking anyway, to prevent yourself being blocked in? You need to have confidence in your actions and stand up for yourself more, OP.

OP - the bigger issue here is that you're people pleasing and CFs smell this a mile off. I'm guessing you're single without a partner which can intensify your vulnerability to CFs. I recognise this as have struggled too like you with CFs taking advantage of me.

This motherfucker is taking the piss beyond comprehension. He needs to understand it god damn stops.

Here's my advice - I'd actually go into the shop. I'd practice this conversation in the mirror multiple times before you do it.

I'd go in and nicely say ' I was thinking about our chat. It must be frustrating there's no suitable parking for customers. The thing is, I can't have customers continually choosing my drive to block any more. I'll be parking side ways ,( whatever you're doing parking wise to stop access) and if I'm out and it gets blocked again when I need to access it coming home, that's going to be a problem really '.

You say it very calmly and nicely. Not one sorry in there OP. Not once.

There is probably further action that can be taken in case he tests you. Highways, the council, legal routes.And you must see it through. Pretend to empathise with his predicament whilst asserting this boundary. No more OP.

When he says it's unfair to his customers and his business he means if they can't park right outside they'll go to another shop. If his customers are to lazy to walk 20 yards that's not your problem.

OMG you must be a mind reader. How did you know I’m single? Divorced actually but that’s weird.
Anyone know if it’s actually illegal for ME to block my own driveway? I’ve googled it but can’t get a definitive answer.