Large car parked on corner - can anything be done?

LadyMcFinch

For about 6 months now there's been a large people carrier parked just round the corner of my street, less than a metre from the actual corner.

It makes it difficult to pull out of the street, it wouldn't be too bad if it were a smaller car, but because of the size of the vehicle you can't see through the windows to check for passing vehicles.

I don't know who the car belongs to, I haven't seen it move at all since it appeared there. It is taxed and Mot'd.

I tried reporting it to the Council, but they responded to say that they couldn't do anything because local residents had objected to double yellow lines being painted in the area (must have been before I moved here!). They suggested reporting to the police. That seems drastic to me, but the car is causing an issue... does anybody know if this should be reported to police, or if there's anything else that can be done?

Comms69

LadyMcFinch wrote: »

For about 6 months now there's been a large people carrier parked just round the corner of my street, less than a metre from the actual corner.

It makes it difficult to pull out of the street, it wouldn't be too bad if it were a smaller car, but because of the size of the vehicle you can't see through the windows to check for passing vehicles.

I don't know who the car belongs to, I haven't seen it move at all since it appeared there. It is taxed and Mot'd.

I tried reporting it to the Council, but they responded to say that they couldn't do anything because local residents had objected to double yellow lines being painted in the area (must have been before I moved here!). They suggested reporting to the police. That seems drastic to me, but the car is causing an issue... does anybody know if this should be reported to police, or if there's anything else that can be done?

What do you expect the police to do?.....

fatrab

The higway code states:


DO NOT stop or park:
opposite or within 10 metres (32 feet) of a junction, except in an authorised parking space


I'd report it to the police if it's that much of an issue, but whether or not they do anything about it is another matter.


Best of luck

LadyMcFinch

Comms69 wrote: »

What do you expect the police to do?.....

I don't expect them to do anything, hence my hesitation to contact them - it's what the Council told me to do. I'd like someone to find out who the car belongs to and ask them to move it - if that's possible/reasonable - and I'm asking who that would be, if anyone.

fatrab

You could stick an anonymous note on the window advising them of the highway code rule 243, asking them nicely not to park there as it's causing an obstruction, or you could go down the route of stating that you don't want to report them to the police and could they stop parking there. But that might get their back up? And someone else will probably end up parking there when/if that vehicle moves.


Maybe it's broken down if it hasn't moved?

LadyMcFinch

fatrab wrote: »

You could stick an anonymous note on the window advising them of the highway code rule 243, asking them nicely not to park there as it's causing an obstruction, or you could go down the route of stating that you don't want to report them to the police and could they stop parking there. But that might get their back up? And someone else will probably end up parking there when/if that vehicle moves.


Maybe it's broken down if it hasn't moved?

Thanks for this, the polite note thing might be worth a try! To be honest, I wouldn't mind too much if someone else parked there if this car moved, it would be a bit annoying but it's the sheer size of this car (a VW Caravelle) that makes it difficult to turn.

fatrab

If it's causing an obstruction it really is the police's duty to contact the owner. Phone 101 and see what they say.

Johno100

Comms69 wrote: »

What do you expect the police to do?.....

Either have a friendly word with the neighbour whose vehicle it is and advise them they shouldn't park where they are because it is causing an obstruction/danger or just issue them a ticket (Section 22 of the Road Traffic Act 1988 should cover it).

IamNotAllowedToUseMyName

fatrab wrote: »

If it's causing an obstruction it really is the police's duty to contact the owner. Phone 101 and see what they say.

This. Unfortunately, since parking was decriminalised the councils and police have to play table tennis depending on the offence. Breaking parking restrictions is council, obstruction is police. Parking in such a way that a nuisance is caused is a police matter.

Unfortunately, police, through no fault of their own, are understaffed so it can be difficult to get traction, but register the problem through 101 and eventually they should deal with it.

If you did have an accident, they would find that they would become party to the claim and a record of the 101 report would be helpful.

parking_question_chap

Comms69 wrote: »

What do you expect the police to do?.....

Erm move it.

If its as OP describes then its a danger to other road users.

Ideally the Police should make contact with the owner and get them to move it. Though I dont expect its going to be high up their list of priorities, its worth asking.

theoretica

If it hasn't moved in 6 months the owner may well not see a note in the window. If it is not on yellow lines it needs to be dealt with by the police as an obstruction. Failing that, how long til the tax runs out?