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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to think it's not on for my neighbour to put cones outside our house to reserve himself a parking space?

70 replies

HeadFairy · 04/03/2010 13:29

Parking's a bit of a premium around here, and a few people put cones outside their house to reserve themselves a parking space... I'm not keen on that, it's a bit selfish, but each to their own. I got back from the supermarket today to find my neighbour across the street couldn't get a space outside their house, so they put their cones outside our house... I had to park a 5 min walk away, carry 6 bags of shopping and a 9 week old dd.

So, is it just not on, or do I need to get out more (reserving my parking space before I go of course )?

OP posts:
Tortington · 04/03/2010 13:30

is this a private road?

Marne · 04/03/2010 13:30

We have the same problem here . If someone put cones outside my house i would move them (or run them over).

saslou · 04/03/2010 13:31

I would have moved his cones and parked outside my own house. Cheeky bugger!

Tortington · 04/03/2010 13:31

bollocks to that last question - it matters not.

you should have parked on his cones - its outside your house

if this is a public road then he has no right to do this

if this is a private road park on his cones anyway - what's he gonna do?

Aussieng · 04/03/2010 13:31

I would have just moved the cones and parked there. There is no legal force to putting random cones out in front of someone else's house is there?

thighsmadeofcheddar · 04/03/2010 13:31

I would of just parked my car there tbh. And bundled all his cones up.

monkeyfacegrace · 04/03/2010 13:31

I dont see the problem. Stop the car. Move the cones. Park. Simples!

StealthPolarBear · 04/03/2010 13:31

how did you know it was his cones?
And why didn't you assume he'd done it very kindly on your behalf, and park there??

frogetyfrog · 04/03/2010 13:32

If they arent really elderly or physically challenged in some way, then move the cones and park there yourself. You could always pop a note through their door thanking them for reserving your space for you.

PestoMonster · 04/03/2010 13:32

Same as the others, move his cones. Cheeky sod so & so.

wizbitwaffle · 04/03/2010 13:32

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

Mongolia · 04/03/2010 13:34

Why did you walk that long? just move the cones, it is your house, street, neighbourhood, whatever, and unless he is using the cones to physically intimidate you, those cones won't do anything to you. (He should be ashamed of himself)

Steal the cones and hide them in your attic, that solves the problem for a few weeks.

EldonAve · 04/03/2010 13:37

what custardo said

venusonarockbun · 04/03/2010 13:39

Why didnt you just move the cones and park????????

GetOrfMoiLand · 04/03/2010 13:40

My mum's neighbour does this. Marks out a space on a public road with cones.

I just either drive on them or move them out the way.

He came out raging once and I pointedly asked him where he had stolen the cones from. He huffed and puffed but I just walked away.

There is nothing that anyone can do. Just drive on top of the cones.

Original poster
HeadFairy · 04/03/2010 13:41

HA! I knew I wasn't BU.. dh thinks I should just ignore it. It isn't a private road, they aren't elderly and infirm, and I know they're his cones because he's helpfully put his house number on them (and I've seen them putting them outide their house before)

We're new to the street so I didn't want to be the evil cow at number 20 who's always moving their cones, but no one else puts cones (or any other obstruction) out so I can't see why they have the privilege of parking outside their house!

OP posts:
ronx · 04/03/2010 13:41

One of our neighbours used to do this. If there was no other space to park then I used to park there and put the cones outside his house.

nowwearefour · 04/03/2010 13:41

i love frog's idea of a note thanking them for reserving your space for you! i am sooooo intrigued as to why on earth you didnt just move the cones and park there? yadnbu although bit of a pushover!

skidoodle · 04/03/2010 13:44

YABU to have obeyed the cones.

Whoamireally · 04/03/2010 13:45

Getorfmoiland you always have an answer to everything, wish my mind worked as fast as my mouth

Aussieng · 04/03/2010 13:45

HF - I wouldn't drive over the cones or "steal" them. Someone owns them and that could be criminal damage or theft. I also like Frog's idea. Alternatively you could place them in your neighbour's garden and pop a note through the door stating that you would hate him to get in to trouble for obstruction of a public highway!

Original poster
HeadFairy · 04/03/2010 13:45

nowwearefour... I am most certainly a pushover, but also I'm really good at thinking of clever comebacks/solutions etc after the event. I just drove on and parked, it was only later I thought "hang on a minute, that's not on at all!"

OP posts:
BurnyHill · 04/03/2010 13:51

I've lived on a private road before now and that was a different matter because you actually owned the road in front of your house, so it really was 'your' spot and if you chose to put out a cone then it was fine (ridiculous, but fine...) as long as it didn't block the thoroughfare for others.
On a public highway I don't think anyone has the right to put out cones except the highways agency. Just move it to the side and park there, he can't 'bagsy' a space!!!

JaneS · 04/03/2010 13:52

Of course you move the cones!

I've just moved house too, and for a few weeks I got notes put on my car saying 'you're parked in my space'. I left the car there for two weeks while I was on holiday and when I came back there was a note from the ticket warden saying 'Please note that this car has a valid permit for this space and is legitimately parked here'!

BurnyHill · 04/03/2010 13:53

just thought, the police can put out cones too and the fire service... and BT digging up the road... so actually loads can put out cones!! My point being that I don't think private residents have any right to.