Neighbourly dispute

[Birdymum29]

Hi everyone, I am just getting myself all stressed out!

My husband and I moved into a village 3 years ago. The lady the bought the house from retained part of the extensive garden to build her own bungalow in. When we moved in there is parking out the front, but it is on street, not allocated, but many people parked out there so we parked on the road behind the house where we and the old owners builders parked while they were building.

The only issue we had was that the person living opposite asked if we could park a bit further up the road so that they could get in and out of their awkward driveway which we did.

The neighbours house was completed and she started parking out the back aswell, no problem to us but she kept parking too close so we could get one of our cars out. She has her own driveway, and only parks out on the road when we are there.

I have started parking out the front of our house when I can after the other neighbour had a pacemaker fitted so his wife drives and she finds it difficult getting in and out of their driveway.

The old owner spoke to me before chirstmas about parking, but not that our cars were actually causing an issue, she just said that large vehicles were having a problem getting past, but the school bus and delivery lorries have not had a problem, and if it was that bad I dont know why she would park out there, and she never told her builders to move when they were parked out there. The main issue is she wont even say hello to me now. It makes me worry, not sleep and feel sick. My husband tells me not to worry, but I find it really difficult not to.

I know parking is the usual thing which causes neighbourly disputes, but today I just said hello, she was a foot away from me and ignored me. My husband is still going to park behind the house. I have always lived in a village and got on with my neighbours, I dont know why this one is so different! I dont know if I should just carry on being civil, trying to say hello or just ignore her too or what to do. I hate confrontation, and she doesn't seem to want to talk, any advice?

Carry on being your normal, polite self and don't worry about her. She has probably found it hard to adapt to the change and is set in her ways. If you are doing nothing to inconvenience anyone else, you have nothing to worry about. She probably wants to park in a specific place but knows it would be unreasonable of her to just say that is her issue.

parking on a publicly owned highway, so long as you are not blocking access along the road or in and out of driveways, is perfectly legal. Parking directly opposite a driveway or on the same side and too close, may make it difficult to turn in and out of the driveway and so is inconsiderate. Aside from that, park wherever is most convenient for you and be polite but not a doormat when it comes to other people's wishes. On street parking is first come first served.