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Original poster

Parking at home issue ...

12 replies

wobblyweeble82 · 13/04/2011 17:25

We moved house a couple of months ago. Our new driveway is a double driveway, however only one half of it has a drop down kerb. In order for both DH and I to fit our cars on the drive, we face the house, with just his car opposite the drop down kerb. I have to drive up the raised kerb to park my car.

There's been a couple of instances in the past week whereby someone has blocked my car in. It narks me (and bothers me as I'm 8 months pregnant) as I can't get my car off the drive when they do it, especially if they've mounted the kerb. It's not just one car - there's been 3 different ones since we've moved in. Am I in the wrong to be narked, or the drivers of these cars wrong for blocking me in?

Hope this makes sense - hard to word!

OP posts:
AMumInScotland · 13/04/2011 17:33

I think legally, if there isn't a dropped kerb at that point then there is no law to stop other people from parking blocking you. You could try contacting the local council to find out how to get a dropped kerb for that half as well, though there's a risk they may tell you that your predecessors never had permission to widen their drive so not be cooperative.

Original poster
wobblyweeble82 · 13/04/2011 17:41

Thanks - I think you're probably right seeing as it's been different cars. Annoyed really as a double driveway was one of our ticky boxes but hey ho. Win some lose some. I think I might start parking on the road myself - at least until baby comes. That way if DH is at work, at least I can get out.

I think it'll be a case of merely pricing up the extended dropped kerb in case it is a can of worms. Out of interest, I don't suppose you know whether or not the council could pull their face at us and make us 'pay' so to speak, for any work done by previous owners that didn't have permission??!

OP posts:
Mollymax · 13/04/2011 17:42

If there is no dropped kerb, people can park there even if it means blocking you in- a lot of people would not be bothered by doing this -
If it keeps happening, is it possible for the first one home parks in the drive, then the next parks on the road along the dropped kerb.
A neighbour of ours has many vehicles and it is what they do.

Original poster
wobblyweeble82 · 13/04/2011 17:52

Thanks Molly, I think that's going to have to be the way forward. It's just something I'd never do - ignorance on my part I reckon! At least I had the nounce to come on here and find out before I got on my soapbox, and had to step down all red-faced and things Blush

OP posts:
BehindLockNumberNine · 13/04/2011 17:58

Is the issue you can't get out if a car is blocking your exit (over the non-dropped kerb) whilst dh is home or whilst your dh is not home?
If dh is home - can't you simply take his car and drive out the dropped kerb bit?
And if dh is not home can't you exit your driveway at an angle ie from where your car is parked drive to the dropped kerb bit (which I presume does not have a car parked over it as it is a dropped kerb)?

Or am I missing something?

bluerodeo · 13/04/2011 18:01

i would block your car in too with no dropped kerb.

Original poster
wobblyweeble82 · 13/04/2011 18:03

If DH isn't at home, and the person blocking me in is jsut on the road, I have space to swizz the car to go down the drop-down. If however the person is half on the pavement, as some are, I don't have that space.

Last night DH was at the footie and got a lift so his car was on the drive and I got blocked in whilst he was out. He had his keys (we don't have a spare at home as it's a company car) so if I needed to get out, I'd have been buggered. I'm not after sympathy here - I just want to know where I stand. If DH is in, it's no problem obviously!

OP posts:
CarGirl · 13/04/2011 19:53

Where I live, you have to apply to the council to get a dropped curb and pay them to do it via their approved contractors. It was about £700 for a single width drive a few years ago.

TBH I would enquire about getting it done - once you have children you will want to be able to park on your drive easily.

BehindLockNumberNine · 13/04/2011 20:26

Right, I see now.

Ok, so your options are to either park on the road yourself - but would the neighbours take umbrage at you taking up a space on the road and leaving your driveway empty?

Or get the kerb dropped. This is probably your best bet.

Hope you can get it sorted.

Legally, the drivers of these cars are not wrong for blocking you in. They are not blocking a dropped kerb. And they are not to know your dh has left with the carkeys to his car leaving you blocked in. Smile

jalopy · 14/04/2011 13:18

I'd get the kerb dropped.

Gonzo33 · 15/04/2011 11:35

I'd get the kerb dropped too. Easiest option imo

Blu · 15/04/2011 11:40

Sorry - having converted the front of your house to a double driveway doesn't automatically entitle you to effectively ban a space of two cars length from parking on the road!
No dropped kerb = no obligation to leave free. Either use the other car, organise your two cars in a way that enables you to get out, or park on the road yourself when you know you need to go out.

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