residential street parking enquiry

DON79

hi, would appreciate some advice if possible regarding a problem with the parking in our street.

We live in a street where the main parking is on street or in little lay-by's. My house is situated on a corner with three other houses a little bit set back from the road, in front of the houses is a small lay-by which has parking for three cars (if you park sensibly that is!). The lay-by is directly in front of our house and we have been parking here without problem ever since we moved in.

In the past couple of weeks, other residents in the street who live about 20/30 feet away have been parking there despite the fact that they have a driveway that they can easily park four cars on if need be. Another car from across the street the same distance away has been doing this too.

This means that when my OH gets home from work, he can't get parked and is having to park further away. It means also that when we have the kids in the car (aged 2 and 1), we can't get parked close to the house to get them out safely.

What should we do? I just don't understand why they won't use their driveway! The other day, they came home from the supermarket, parked in the lay-by and then had to carry their shopping along to their house! why?! They then left the car parked there over the whole of the weekend and only moved it this morning.

Any advice please?

mikey72

Park in front of their house.

DON79

Well the thought had crossed my mind about blocking their driveway! Since they have obviously moved their car to go to work today, will see if they come back and park later today or not.

anewman

Unless it's your land, or the parking is permit only, unfortunately I think there's not alot you can do. And if they're inconsiderate enough to park there - asking them not to won't do any help and will no doubt cause more trouble than it's worth. I presume their driveway parking is "in tandem" and they want to be able to park to let the last car in get out, and the other driver can't be arsed to move the car to let them in, so they can get out to go to work in the morning?! It's a toughie.

I guess if you parked directly behind them they'd have to come ask you to move your car and then you could explain you had nowhere else to park, and make some sarccy comment like "I'd love to have a long driveway, but I don't". Again, not sure if that will cause more trouble than just parking elsewhere.

Neil_B

I do wonder what this Country is coming to sometimes!

OR - rather than block someone's drive or park up close behind them in reprisal - maybe you could act like a human being and talk to them??

Makes me wonder why you ask the question of the world that should be directed at them? Are they 'neighbours' or strangers fom some alien planet?
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Grrrrrrrrr!

Mrsmoneypenny

As long as the other cars are taxed and insured, they can park on the road, in front of their house, your house or anyone elses house.

I think there is something about not blocking access.

This happened to my daughter, shortish road, no off road parking. One morning my daughter came out and there was a note on the windscreen saying not to park in front of someones house.

By choice she would have parked near to her own house, but as is so often the case, first come first parked.

She made enquiries, in fact i think looked it up on citizens advice bureau website, it may be worth looking on there.

probably not the news you wanted to hear, sorry.

One thing that we did though, was keep the note just in case there was any damage to her new car, there wasnt - but if you make a lot of fuss and the other persons car does get damaged at any point (even away from the road) they may chose to blame you for convenience.

anewman

Neil_B wrote: »

OR - rather than block someone's drive or park up close behind them in reprisal - maybe you could act like a human being and talk to them??

Makes me wonder why you ask the question of the world that should be directed at them? Are they 'neighbours' or strangers fom some alien planet?

Often asking people not to do something makes them think more strongly they have a right to do that and will then just do it to try annoy you as much as possible (as they now know it bothers you).

After it became apparent a neighbour's child was smacking footballs as hard as they could at my car etc etc, and that the parents knew, I thought they were decent people and so I politely asked them if they could try stop it happening. Not only did I receive a defiant ignorant reaction, but rubbish dumped on top of my car and an escalation of the problem. Lovely. It would be a much different story if they had a car themselves I imagine!

Mrsmoneypenny wrote: »

but if you make a lot of fuss and the other persons car does get damaged at any point (even away from the road) they may chose to blame you for convenience.

They'd need evidence for any courts etc - but doesn't stop them making "reprisal" attacks - where equally if you don't see them do it then that's the end of the case.

DON79

Neil_B wrote: »

I do wonder what this Country is coming to sometimes!

OR - rather than block someone's drive or park up close behind them in reprisal - maybe you could act like a human being and talk to them??

Makes me wonder why you ask the question of the world that should be directed at them? Are they 'neighbours' or strangers fom some alien planet?
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Grrrrrrrrr!

And what response do you think I would get exactly? They would just tell me to my face to get lost probably! And like someone else said before, it is probably going to just cause more trouble anyway whether I ask them face to face or not.

And I do wonder what this country is coming too when people are really inconsiderate of their neighbours in the first place , they live six or seven doors away with a driveway sufficient for their needs and instead they are being selfish and taking up space which someone else could use!

DON79

Mrsmoneypenny wrote: »

As long as the other cars are taxed and insured, they can park on the road, in front of their house, your house or anyone elses house. - this is a separate lay-by however, not actually on road parking, it is designed specifically so houses on the corner like ours and the other two can get their car off the road and not block access or prevent people being able to see what other cars are coming around the bend in the road.

I think there is something about not blocking access.

This happened to my daughter, shortish road, no off road parking. One morning my daughter came out and there was a note on the windscreen saying not to park in front of someones house.

By choice she would have parked near to her own house, but as is so often the case, first come first parked. - the issue here though is that they have ample room on their driveway but are deliberately choosing to park in the lay-by.

She made enquiries, in fact i think looked it up on citizens advice bureau website, it may be worth looking on there.

probably not the news you wanted to hear, sorry.

One thing that we did though, was keep the note just in case there was any damage to her new car, there wasnt - but if you make a lot of fuss and the other persons car does get damaged at any point (even away from the road) they may chose to blame you for convenience.

Thanks very much for your comments

outragedparker

Definitely start with talking to neighbours...if that doesn't help, perhaps paint a dotted line round the bay and a Parent and Child symbol, as in supermarket carparks? Get a friend to wear a boiler suit and fluorescent jacket as if a legit council worker, and some of those red and white 'worker present' stands, and if asked, say you spoke to the council about the problem!

Neil_B

DON79 wrote: »

what

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probably!

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probably

yep that just about sums it up. I confess i failed to notice you didn't describe them as 'neighbours' but 'other residents'.

be an adult and talk. The world would be a better place if we did. Don't presume a bad reaction cos so far you are looking like nothing like the kind of neighbour I would like! Who exactly is at fault?
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