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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

It’s a parking one

33 replies

Polishmamaa · 18/11/2025 20:30

Might be long, and apologies in advance if it’s boring, lol.

I’ll add a diagram because it’s a bit confusing, but basically I live on a row of houses facing a green, with two small car parks one at the side and one opposite.

We’re on a street with two schools, so staff often use the car parks during the day. It’s never been an issue until they moved in. New neighbours moved in further down the street and seem to think they own the car parks. They put notes on all the teachers’ cars telling them not to park there again, and today they even deliberately blocked one of them in.

I then saw a confrontation where another neighbour pulled into the car park and the new ones ran out, telling her she shouldn’t be parking there, that she needs to move, and that she should use her driveway instead (they have two cars, so I assume her partner was going to be using it).

The cheeky mare doesn’t even park properly herself when she does manage to get into the car park, she parks diagonally and takes up two spaces.

AIBU to be irrationally irritated by this behaviour? Even though I haven’t had any dealings with them it’s making me want to go and remind them that this is a public road and most of us have lived here 10+ years and there has never been any issue with the car parks. Yes, it can be annoying when you don’t get a space right outside your house, but we all understand it’s first come, first served, and anyone can park there because it’s a public road.

I’ll also add that 95% of the time, the road directly outside her house has plenty of free spaces that aremuch closer. So I’ve no idea why she’s so obsessed with getting into the car park every day.

OP posts:
Polishmamaa · 18/11/2025 20:44

Diagram

It’s a parking one
OP posts:
WineBeforeWhine · 18/11/2025 20:47

Personally I’d let her get on with it and just get on with my own life.

mutinyonthetwix · 18/11/2025 20:48

YABU to be "irrationally irritated". Your irritation is perfectly rational.

Arlanymor · 18/11/2025 20:53

If she's obsessed with parking off-road then it might not be a proximity to her home issue, it could be a car insurance issue and she's selected that she parks off-road to reduce her rate? Insurance is generally higher for those who park on the street as the propensity for an accident is arguably higher.*

*Don't come at me, I do not work in insurance, I do not make these calculations, but some insurance companies do operate this way which is why they ask you where you park the car overnight... and this may be her issue.

Strawberries86 · 18/11/2025 20:53

I don’t quite understand but that is the dogs bollocks of MN parking diagrams. For that alone YANBU

Pricelessadvice · 18/11/2025 20:55

That diagram is award worthy!

TheDandyLion · 18/11/2025 20:57

Let the new neighbour rant away. Just ignore until they stick their nose in your parking habits then tell them where to go.

Polishmamaa · 18/11/2025 20:59

I’m quite proud of the diagram to be honest glad you like it lol I do feel like a right busy body being bothered by it but it’s just really annoying me 🤣

OP posts:
Polishmamaa · 18/11/2025 20:59

Arlanymor · 18/11/2025 20:53

If she's obsessed with parking off-road then it might not be a proximity to her home issue, it could be a car insurance issue and she's selected that she parks off-road to reduce her rate? Insurance is generally higher for those who park on the street as the propensity for an accident is arguably higher.*

*Don't come at me, I do not work in insurance, I do not make these calculations, but some insurance companies do operate this way which is why they ask you where you park the car overnight... and this may be her issue.

I never thought about that actually I wonder if that is the case 🤔

OP posts:
Buscobel · 18/11/2025 21:01

Who owns the land the car parks are on?

Arlanymor · 18/11/2025 21:02

Polishmamaa · 18/11/2025 20:59

I never thought about that actually I wonder if that is the case 🤔

It's the only thing that makes sense to me if there are usually spaces closer to her home available. Doesn't make it right, of course, but does offer a reason.

Polishmamaa · 18/11/2025 21:04

Buscobel · 18/11/2025 21:01

Who owns the land the car parks are on?

I have no idea, I’m assuming the council maybe as they are council or ex council houses. Does this mean it’s not even a public car park lol

OP posts:
randomchap · 18/11/2025 21:06

Could they own the spaces they are protecting in the car park? Or be renting them from somewhere?

Politicians247UnderwearExtinguishingService · 18/11/2025 21:10

We have somebody like this on our street - no car parks, but has actually claimed that he owns the bit of road opposite his house. It's awful enough when people who've been there the longest do this, but he's one of the more recent arrivals too - some of the people he's been ordering not to park there have been there several decades longer than he has.

He and his wife have a double-width drive and two cars, so they don't even need to park there themselves. He just has too much time on his hands and has chosen harassing neighbours and making enemies as his hobby.

I disagree with PPs saying not to concern yourself with it, as it isn't affecting you. What happens if you have visitors who need to use it; or if she just randomly starts to dictate to you what you can and can't do?

Do the teachers definitely know that it's her? Is there a risk that they might think it could be you or one of the other reasonable neighbours leaving them nasty notes? It seems par for the course for busybodies like this to sign notes 'from the neighbours' or 'from the residents of Oak Street', as though they speak on behalf of everybody and they think that somehow gives them more credibility and authority in their ridiculousness.

mutinyonthetwix · 18/11/2025 21:12

Maybe she just can't parallel park on the road? She's going diagonal into the bays so perhaps manoeuvring isn't her thing.

Politicians247UnderwearExtinguishingService · 18/11/2025 21:14

Whoever owns the land, even if it's not the council, they clearly don't mind people treating it as a public amenity.

In the highly unlikely event of her having bought the car parks herself, surely she would just put up barriers and/or signs - she wouldn't keep going over in person or leaving cowardly notes.

LovesLabradors · 18/11/2025 21:14

Top diagram and YANBU!

I wonder if she thinks one of the spaces is hers? My DDad was led to believe he "owned" a parking space next to his house in a naice Surrey village & sometimes parked his car there - he also had a car port, which he directed guests to.
It was only when we sold the house that we saw on the deeds and found out it belonged to the neighbours 😳No one ever said a thing!

FairFuming · 18/11/2025 21:21

Amazing diagram! She sounds like a lunatic. I suggest you keep watching with great interest and let David Attenboroughesk narration play out in your head.
And keep us updated if she does anything funny of course.

Talkingfrog · 18/11/2025 21:26

Great diagram 👏

A few things spring to mind

Neighbour has been told at least one or more of the spaces belongs to them.
They have declared off road parking on their insurance.
They can't parallel park ( that assumption only works if the car park spaces are pull in)
Your neighbour is a busy body/a know it all/a bit crazy ( any or all of the things in the list).

TheFinePrintess · 18/11/2025 21:26

Just wanted to come on and say that’s a bloody lovely diagram - top marks OP!

grapestar · 18/11/2025 21:27

8/10 for diagram. You need to reference the location of the school for an extra 2 points.

yanbu though, love a parking drama and the audacity of some people. Wish I lived there.

Friendlygingercat · 18/11/2025 21:30

I dont drive but love a good parking thread. When someone parks in front of my gate (dropped kerb) I creep out at dead of night and sprinkle wild bird seed all over the car, especially the windscreen. Next day the car is covered in bird crap. After that they park elsewhere.

100% for the diagram!

pizzaHeart · 18/11/2025 21:34

What does the sign on a car park say ?

This diagram is real work of art.

ChocoChocoLatte · 18/11/2025 21:37

Excellent diagram 👌🏻

pizzaHeart · 18/11/2025 21:38

Friendlygingercat · 18/11/2025 21:30

I dont drive but love a good parking thread. When someone parks in front of my gate (dropped kerb) I creep out at dead of night and sprinkle wild bird seed all over the car, especially the windscreen. Next day the car is covered in bird crap. After that they park elsewhere.

100% for the diagram!

Wow! I don’t need this at the moment but will put it mentally into lifesaving advices for curious adults.