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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To remove the parking cones?

481 replies

NameChanger401 · 15/09/2025 16:33

i have a tight turnaround for the school run each morning as need to catch a train to office (commute to London). The only way to make it logistically possible is to drive to school breakfast club, drop kids off at 7.30ish then walk to station near school so I can get to office for 9am. Then the car is there when I pick up at 6pm later in the day so I can make pickup easily too. School is on a residential road, with on street open marked parking spaces there are usually a few spaces at 7.30 with no timing restrictions, I assume as some residents have left for work. However, I’ve noticed since the new term has started, a random traffic cone has been put in the middle a couple of the spaces, which I believe has been put there by those living on the road to stop people parking outside their house. If this is the case, would you think it would be unreasonable to move the cone to park if there is no other close by parking space?

OP posts:
TwoLeftSocksWithHoles · 15/09/2025 16:36

I would slowly 'nudge' out of the way with my car.

HelplessSoul · 15/09/2025 16:37

Cone into boot, lock car and away you go to work!

Its a public road.

Wadadli · 15/09/2025 16:38

HelplessSoul · 15/09/2025 16:37

Cone into boot, lock car and away you go to work!

Its a public road.

🤣 excellent suggestion

RJ2023 · 15/09/2025 16:40

It sounds like you are completely within your rights to park there but you'll get your car "keyed" unfortunately😟

Ablondiebutagoody · 15/09/2025 16:40

I would move it

BruisedNeckMeat · 15/09/2025 16:41

I know the Mumsnet consensus is that a public road is a free for all, but I can’t imagine how frustrating it is for residents who have to live on a road with both a school and commuter parking.

Can you not park at the station?

Ddakji · 15/09/2025 16:43

You can do this of course.

But if school parents dumping their cars all day on a residential road pisses off the residents the end result will be residents only parking.

So I think you should look into alternatives.

First off - are you a single parent?

Overthebow · 15/09/2025 16:47

Yes move the cone they can’t reserve spaces on a public road.

SprayWhiteDung · 15/09/2025 16:48

BruisedNeckMeat · 15/09/2025 16:41

I know the Mumsnet consensus is that a public road is a free for all, but I can’t imagine how frustrating it is for residents who have to live on a road with both a school and commuter parking.

Can you not park at the station?

I wonder how long the school has been there? Some people want the best of both worlds: cheaper house prices because of the school and the associated limited parking - and then also preferential parking rights. See also people who buy a much cheaper house because it's under a major airport flight path and then complain because of the noise from all the planes!

Your choice is to either buy a house with private parking (if you can afford it) or accept that you have no more or less right to a space on the public roads, just because you happen to live adjacent to that space and you would like super convenient parking without actually paying for it.

Unfortunately, in general, if you don't buy/rent/get given something for yourself, you don't get exclusive rights over it.

ScrambledEggs12 · 15/09/2025 16:50

Park there for now, but they might well bring in parking restrictions at some point.

SprayWhiteDung · 15/09/2025 16:51

You also have to wonder where these people get the cones from.

Do they buy them from a legitimate cone supplier, or do they just steal them from the council?

Are they stealing council-owned cones in order to steal exclusive parking access to council-owned roads?

Comefromaway · 15/09/2025 16:51

I have reversed over an illegally placed traffic cone in the past. It was a street that the local council said was fine for school parking. A nearby street has restrictions between the hours of 8am and 9am and 3pm-4pm and other streets have residents permits but in this street there was unrestricted parking.

Skybluepinky · 15/09/2025 16:53

Park at the station, it could be residents have carers.

imbolic · 15/09/2025 16:53

I suppose it's possible that someone living there needs several visits a day from carers? Or maybe a disabled person - though they would have the option of applying for a disabled parking space.

Original poster
NameChanger401 · 15/09/2025 16:57

Ddakji · 15/09/2025 16:43

You can do this of course.

But if school parents dumping their cars all day on a residential road pisses off the residents the end result will be residents only parking.

So I think you should look into alternatives.

First off - are you a single parent?

No not a single parent - not sure how this makes a difference? DH and I both work full time and commute in though. When he does pickup/drop (on the days I need to get in before 9 or stay later than 4.30) it’s the same plan. We share a car but both have a key so can mix and match pick up and drop off depending who finishes first.

OP posts:
DoraSpenlow · 15/09/2025 16:57

SprayWhiteDung · 15/09/2025 16:51

You also have to wonder where these people get the cones from.

Do they buy them from a legitimate cone supplier, or do they just steal them from the council?

Are they stealing council-owned cones in order to steal exclusive parking access to council-owned roads?

You can get them on Amazon.

Bitzee · 15/09/2025 16:59

Presuming you’re legally parked, complying with permit restrictions etc. then I would definitely move the cones.

The homeowner with the cones is being ridiculous. They’ve presumably made a choice (assuming that the school isn’t brand new) to live in a house without a driveway on a busy road with a school so can’t reasonably complain about a legally parked car near their house.

GreenWheat · 15/09/2025 16:59

The upside of living on a road with unrestricted parking is you don't have to pay for an annual permit to park there. The downside is anyone can park there at any time. If the residents are finding that a problem they need to apply through the council for some restrictions, they are often approved and implemented where I live.

As PP have said, their houses cost less than those with private parking, and presumably they knew the situation before they chose to move there.

NoahDia · 15/09/2025 16:59

I'd move it.

But you're going to be fucked when they bring in residents parking only, which I guarantee you they will.

It's such a money spinner for local councils.

FuzzyWolf · 15/09/2025 17:01

If there was a space without the cone then I would opt to park there first. I agree with a PP about the likelihood of your car being damaged when you return.

MikesMohawk · 15/09/2025 17:02

Get a good foot pump OP. When this happened persistently in our street, the owner of the car returned to four flat tyres. Some of my neighbors are utterly crazy when it comes to parking! I felt a bit sorry for the chap tbh, he was parked legally.

HappyHunting101 · 15/09/2025 17:05

You absolutely could move it, but the fact that they've put it there indicates that it's clearly a problem for them. People who put cones out might be willing to go to "next steps" if you park there anyway.

To be honest I don't think I'd be thrilled about a car being dumped outside my house for 9 or 10 hours a day, Monday to Friday. It's not illegal to do it, but it's crappy, you can see their point.

BernardButlersBra · 15/09/2025 17:12

I would remove them

Last time someone put cones in my way l launched them out of the way. Ok it was outside my own house and a cheeky fucker neighbour thought he could have first dibs. Heavily pregnant me with twins disagreed!

amicisimma · 15/09/2025 17:12

Move it. No one has any more right than anyone else to park on the public highway, whether they live in the road or not.

Mumstheword1983 · 15/09/2025 17:15

My sister's neighbours do this as they live on the same street as a very popular golf club. They think they are entitled to as they shouldn't have to carry their (young) children up the street to the car so that golfers can park near the club.

Of course the golfers just move the cones and park there.