Legality of parking on residential roads?

musictomyears

We live on a small residential estate. It is one small, windy road, with some houses on it, which ends at a small parking area for the houses (as ours) that are on a pathway, with no vehicular access.

Behind our houses is the back of a garage & car showroom, whose front access is at the front of them, onto another main road.

The garage used to have HGV lorries using our road. The council installed concrete bollards along the corners of the road, to prevent the lorries coming through and mounting the kerb, damaging the pavement & kerbs, which they had to do, seeing as people parked outside their houses.

No lorries came down for ages. Then one particular HGV started using the road again.

This is causing all sorts of problems. Twice we've had to back onto the main road, in rush hour traffic (in the opposite direction to oncoming traffic) as the lorry was trying to leave, and there wasn't room for us to pull in.

The second time this happened, the lorry was not seen till we entered the road (he was coming round the corner), there were cars parked on the road, and my driver refused to reverse back into the road, with my toddler in the back - we had to mount the pavement in the end.

The driver was really funny, and took our licence plate number, though I'm not sure why.

Yesterday the lorry got stuck. There was a car parked on the corner, and other cars parked opposite (but not parallel). There was plenty of room for vans, even fire engines to manouevre, but not this great big lorry. He stopped (meaning no one could get to their houses) for about 45mins, whilst he knocked on doors looking for the car owner. In the end others came out of the garage, and started taking photos of the car that was parked there. They had quite a lot of abuse from other residents.

In the end the lorry had to mount the pavement (breaking it) in order to reverse back into the garage.

I'm wondering the legal implications for the cars parked there. There are no parking restrictions at all. And although I know that you're not allowed to park in such a way as to cause an obstruction, I can honestly say no car did. There was no obstruction for normal vehicles (even emergency vehicles), but for a very long trailored HGV, there isn't enough room.

Obukit

No-one has the right to park on a public highway, only to "pass and repass". Thus technically if someone's parked car is causing an obstruction the lorry driver is within his rights to phone the police and ask for it to be moved. If an HGV can't get down I would be surprised if a fire engine - which tend to be less manoeuvrable - would be able to.

As an aside, whether you agree with the lorries driving down there or not, it's a bit bloody-minded to refuse to reverse a car if you meet a lorry. They are MUCH more difficult to manoeuvre and in the end if you get the side of your car ripped off - or if the lorry runs over a kid trying to reverse - you are going to feel pretty sick.

Del_Astra

If no parking restrictions are in place and the cars are parked (as opposed to abandon) then I don't see what the issue is. I assume it is a public road as the council have carried out repairs?

You might find double yellows going down one side soon, but if I read your post correctly the council put the bollards in to stop HGV access? Then I doubt they would do this. Do you have a residents assocation? it might be an idea to start discussions with the garage to avoid confrontation and get a resolution for all parties. Perhaps take advice / guidance from your community officer, I think it is important to open up constructive dialogue..... rather than people taking photos (not sure why, unless the car was illegal parked) and getting abuse of the residents.

Was the car parked on the corner obstructing the view of other road users? Not sure a corner is the best place to park really, perhaps this is why photos were being taken. I'm guessing as I don't know the road layout, I just find it strange that people were taking photos if no restrictions are in place.

It does sound like the council are on your side, might be worth giving them a call.

Mrs_Arcanum

Would get the local PCSO to have a word with the Garage or whoever is driving the HGV into your estate, as it appears they should not be using your road. Alternatively check with your local highways department to see if you can get a sign like

Notmyrealname

musictomyears wrote: »

The second time this happened, the lorry was not seen till we entered the road (he was coming round the corner), there were cars parked on the road, and my driver refused to reverse back into the road, with my toddler in the back - we had to mount the pavement in the end.

The driver was really funny, and took our licence plate number, though I'm not sure why.

I'm not surprised. It was far easier for you to reverse than him to reverse a vehicle which by your admission already had problems manouvering when going forward.

Yesterday the lorry got stuck. There was a car parked on the corner

Which is illegal

, and other cars parked opposite (but not parallel). There was plenty of room for vans, even fire engines to manouevre, but not this great big lorry. He stopped (meaning no one could get to their houses) for about 45mins, whilst he knocked on doors looking for the car owner. In the end others came out of the garage, and started taking photos of the car that was parked there. They had quite a lot of abuse from other residents.

In the end the lorry had to mount the pavement (breaking it) in order to reverse back into the garage.

I'm wondering the legal implications for the cars parked there. There are no parking restrictions at all. And although I know that you're not allowed to park in such a way as to cause an obstruction, I can honestly say no car did. There was no obstruction for normal vehicles (even emergency vehicles), but for a very long trailored HGV, there isn't enough room.

I'm sorry but a fire engine is exactly the same width as a HGV but with a far worse turning circle so if there wasn't enough room for the HGV there wasn't enough room for a fire engine. If the cars are parked in such a way that the lorry is obstructed for getting in, they're causing an obstruction. I've delivered to factories where I've had no problem getting in. Then some div will park on the pavement right up to the factory gate and I can't get out because if I turn, the trailer will go right over the car.

Notmyrealname

Mrs_Arcanum wrote: »

Would get the local PCSO to have a word with the Garage or whoever is driving the HGV into your estate, as it appears they should not be using your road.

How do you work that out? There is no weight, width or length restriction.

musictomyears

Firstly it's only one lorry - all the others use the entrance to the garage.

Second it's not exactly a straight road, it's a twisty, very narrow access to the houses, there is a gate to the garage, but it's always locked, except at the time this one lorry uses it.

I know fire engines DON'T have a problem with driving down here, they've done so a few times in the last couple of months; what makes it harder for the lorry is that it is very long - longer than the bit of road he is trying to get down, so that he can't swing round the corner when other cars are parked there.

I can't believe people honestly think that cars should be prevented from parking in what amounts to a close (there is no access through to anywhere) just so one damned lorry can do that. He can quite easily turn round in the garage, but doesn't want to.

As for the rather sickening comment that we should reverse rather than have the lorry knock over a child!!! For your information the lorry was coming round the corner after we'd already turned in. We then had to reverse into a dual carriageway in rush hour traffic, into oncoming traffic... there was no reason for this at all, the lorry driver didn't need to do that.

I had my toddler in the car... the road we had to reverse into has had lots of accidents, to reverse into it is suicide. We didn't see the lorry when we turned.

I've lost a child four months ago, so please don't say such offensive things, and to be honest I don't give a damn about the lorry, I'd rather keep my remaining child safe, than reverse into rush hour traffic because of an idiot.

It's hard to explain our road, it's very narrow, not a road as such, which is why no other lorries come this way

musictomyears

I just want to add that the council have told the garage not to allow lorries to use the close, which is why they boarded up the gates, but the lorry driver said his firm has "told" him to use it.

If it was a straight road that it would be different, but it's not, it's a windy one, which the lorry is longer than.

As for children, the back entrance to the garage is next to a footpath, which he frequently cuts across, so yes a child could get injured, but it wouldn't be other drivers fault

Mrs_Arcanum

Notmyrealname wrote: »

How do you work that out? There is no weight, width or length restriction.

And herein lies the problem. From the OP's description it is clearly unsuitable for HGVs which is why the bollards were put in to discourage HGVs.

We live on a straight cul-de-sac which is only just wide enough for two cars to pass safely with care. Lorries (not Class 1 HGVs) are advised to reverse up the hill for any deliveries and these HGVs do not even attempt it. Yet is is perfectly fine for Fire engines.

Sgt_Pepper_2

Mrs_Arcanum wrote: »

And herein lies the problem. From the OP's description it is clearly unsuitable for HGVs which is why the bollards were put in to discourage HGVs.

We live on a straight cul-de-sac which is only just wide enough for two cars to pass safely. Lorries (not HGVs) are advised to reverse up the hill for any deliveries and HGVs do not even attempt it. Yet is is perfectly fine for Fire engines.

What's the difference between a hgv and a lorry then?

Mrs_Arcanum

Sgt_Pepper wrote: »

What's the difference between a hgv and a lorry then?

I have amended my previous post.

Perhaps the OP should get the garage to erect a sign at the end of their road regarding deliveries.