Nuisance neighbour causing parking mayhem

NeilCr

Aylesbury_Duck wrote: »

Is it possible that planning permission was granted for that number of parking spaces and no more? That might be why there are patches of grass where extra bays might be useful. Aesthetically, acres of tarmac looks rubbish and worse when cars are dumped all over it and there is the often-cited requirement for areas where rain can naturally drain away. If all green space is converted to parking space, it looks worse and possibly increases flooding risk. That’s perhaps why the management company won’t be able to do anything about creating extra parking, but they ought to be enforcing the parking that does exist.

I think that’s possible.

I know the builder who built our estate (it was a while back) pretty well. We have very tight parking and only one visitor spot for 69 flats and houses. It is a big issue because a lot of people these days have 2/3 cars. The builder told me that he wanted to put more visitor spaces in but the council wouldn’t let him.

Top post from vivatifosi with good advice. I am in the same position as a director of an estate and would be putting this straight to the management company. As said writing to all residents re the covenants would be the way I’d go - that takes the individuals out of it - but be prepared for this to be ignored.

People are selfish about parking. On our estate they block access for larger vehicles so we have had problems with refuse collection and, more importantly, emergency vehicles might struggle. We are at the stage of thinking about ticketing

googler

EachPenny wrote: »

... even if it was public, it would be unlawful for the council to put a 'Keep Clear' marking down in this situation.

Why?

We had no difficulty getting our council to do this. Two Keep Clears painted on our street in the 'turning heads' adjacent to visitor spaces (one of which is adjacent to our driveway)

rwcwilson

SephirothX wrote: »

I'll have to check Companies House tomorrow - his van has advertising all over it but I don't fancy going out in the dark to get details.I actually think it is against the covenants to run a business from these houses from what I remember but most likely he's just a self employed tradesman so I would think that's different than me opening a shop or office in my house for example.

You say you think its different to running a shop or office but he is very much running his business from his house... The fact that he is bringing his customers to his house and causing a nuisance to you and your neighbours is the very reason why these covenants exist. If it is in the deeds and you care enough about the problems its causing I would take action on that point alone.

I think Vivatifosi puts forward a very reasonable suggestion in regards to raising it with the management company. I suspect they will be very keen to mediate and avoid legal action. Even if it is increasing signage around the parking areas, such as 'visitors please only park in the designated areas' it may just make people think twice. And like vivatifosi says, if they the neighbour conitnue to flout this then they can take further action. It would avoid you getting too directly involved and raising a neighbourly dispute.

Marvel1

SephirothX wrote: »

There's cars blocking my drive around 3 times a week and that's only the nights I notice, it just so happens that I don't often go back out on an evening after getting home from work so I don't bother getting them moved.

It's very tempting to knock the neighbours every time I'm blocked in, pretend I'm going somewhere, and start tutting/annoyed as they walk/move their car as if you are in a hurry.

G_M

cjdavies wrote: »

It's very tempting to knock the neighbours every time I'm blocked in,...

I don't think violence is the way to go.

Marvel1

G_M wrote: »

I don't think violence is the way to go.

:rotfl: oops

EachPenny

SephirothX wrote: »

I really don't know why they thought adding two patches of grass would be better than having two extra parking spaces.

As Aylesbury Duck says, the most likely reason is planning related. Most planning authorities will have policies in their Local Plan requiring a minimum percentage of a new development to be 'soft' landscaping, this usually applies in the public realm as well as in private gardens. A landscaped area in the street makes it look much nicer on the plans than areas of concrete and tarmac. But in terms of maintenance it is a nightmare.

borkid

It's difficult to tell distance from the diagram but would this help. Ask #1 to get their visitor to park upto the grass and over the visitor parking space. If they are clients #1 will be in and not using his van so they won't be inconvenienced. Would this give you enough room to get your car out?

I know lots of people say it's new builds where there are parking problems but I've lived in old ie C19th , 1970s and new build houses. The only time I've not had parking issues is with my new build although others on the estate have. It comes down to people being inconsiderate/ lazy/ not wanting the public road infront of their house to be parked on etc. Basically people feeling entitled to do as they want without considering others.

Edit Just spotted you've mentioned this.

EachPenny

googler wrote: »

We had no difficulty getting our council to do this. Two Keep Clears painted on our street in the 'turning heads' adjacent to visitor spaces (one of which is adjacent to our driveway)

Road markings are a form of traffic sign and are regulated (on public roads) by legislation and guidance. Councils should only use markings in accordance with the regulations and guidance, but many no longer have staff with the expertise to know this.

The road marking consisting of the words 'Keep Clear' should only be used to discourage queuing (not parked) traffic from blocking a side road or access where doing so would also cause queuing of traffic coming from the opposite direction. So, for example, it would be wrong to use the marking to make it easier for someone to get out of their driveway, but correct if it is likely that a vehicle waiting on the road to get into the driveway would block traffic back through a junction. 'Keep Clear' is not a parking restriction, it is in effect a variation of the 'yellow box' marking.

In the OP's case it is unlikely there would be any queuing traffic, so if it were a public road it would be unlawful for the Council to use a "Keep Clear" marking in the way you suggest. People who have a similar problem (on a public road) shouldn't expect to be able to ask their council to do this and get a positive response. But as the OP is dealing with a private road the owner is pretty much free to do what they want - although the neighbour is also entitled to ignore the marking and still park there anyway (subject to any legal restrictions).

teddysmum

The council will not like a business being run from a private house.


My husband used to run a wedding car business, not from home,but occasionally would take a car (only two cars) home to valet the inside using our vacuum cleaner. This was done on our drive and didn't cause any access problems to anyone as the everyday car would have been left in the wedding car's garage.


A neighbour , took exception and told the council that a business was being run from the house and he received a stroppy letter,saying that he was running a business without permission and should permission be sought ,it would not be forthcoming,adding that,if the business didn't cease, they would take further action. (In this case proof of garaging and business address was provided and no further action was taken)