Blocked in daily by same two cars

DottieDam

I live opposite a school and school staff have been blocking me in. I've only lived here for three weeks but it has literally been every school day so far.

The first day I could just about walk between my van and the back car. A neighbour helped me out but the next day there was no room to walk between either vehicle and I had to wait until they moved until I could go out.

Next day I ended up hitting car in front because my OH had left the van in gear (which I didn't realise) so when I started it jutted forward and bumped car in front (showing how close they are parking!).

Since then I've been able to use my partners car, that I am leaving parked much further down road, but he needs it next week (there isn't generally space of an evening for two cars back to back and even so my partner leaves before school staff arrive). My van is still being boxed in and I have been taking pictures because it's literally the same two cars everyday and they are just as close (no room to walk sideways between either car).

Tbh this is really getting to me, I haven't been here long enough to have upset anyone so I don't know why they are doing this to me. There is generally space in front and behind the cars so they aren't squeezing in. They might not realise it's trickier manoeuvring a van with no back windows but I wouldn't be able to get our Yaris out the space either they are so close.

There is dedicated parking for the school but it would be a longer walk to entrance.

Not sure on what I can do? I thought about leaving a note on the cars or writing to the school (and some other less wholesome thoughts) but it feels so deliberate I just feel like I am about to escalate a situation (after three weeks in new home!) and not resolve it.

I know you might say just park further away from my house but I have my reasoning's for wanting to park relatively near my front door.

[Deleted User]

Either write a letter or go to the school and speak to the Head,explain he problem and ask him to have a chat with staff members.
Do not cause any damage to either car even if other members advise it jokingly,that will not end well.

Bigphil1474

OP, is your van parked on a driveway - if so, if it's a dropped kerb, you might get somewhere with the local council parking enforcement. If it was me, though, I'd see if you could catch one of them parking up and have a friendly word - could just be thoughtlessness and no malice intended. They might have been parking there for years because the previous occupier didn't have a vehicle. If you get no joy, then try the school - they wouldn't want their staff upsetting the locals.

DottieDam

Bigphil1474 wrote: »

OP, is your van parked on a driveway - if so, if it's a dropped kerb, you might get somewhere with the local council parking enforcement. If it was me, though, I'd see if you could catch one of them parking up and have a friendly word - could just be thoughtlessness and no malice intended. They might have been parking there for years because the previous occupier didn't have a vehicle. If you get no joy, then try the school - they wouldn't want their staff upsetting the locals.

No it's on-street parking so they are nose-to-tail, if that makes sense?

I have thought about catching them face to face (harder to ignore a person in real life) but I've been so angry I didn't feel I could be friendly. But less angry today as have car so will try tomorrow.

I just don't understand how someone can accidentally park so close to another vehicle, surely that takes more effort than leaving space!?

DoaM

So these same 2 cars are parked "bumper-to-bumper" with your van, front and back? That's not carelessness or thoughtlessness IMO, that's deliberate. I suspect they've "taken umbrage" at someone parking in "their spaces". Speak to the school.

wongataa

The first action would really be to contact the school and politely request that they get the owners to move their cars and ask them to not park their cars like that again. Inform them that if they keep being antisocial and blocking you in you will investigate what further action you can take.

motorguy

Take pictures. Phone the headmaster of the school. Explain whats happening. Email them the pics. Tell them to please ensure it doesnt happen again.

PasturesNew

This is a problem that cannot be solved by moving these cars ... if they don't park there and do that somebody else will. Ad infinitum.

As you have a van, could you purchase a cheap/small/lightweight trailer and attach it to the back of your van when you park ... then detach it when you want to leave? If it's small enough (tiny) you can either pop it in the van, or chain it inside your garden if you have one. Look up camping trailers, some are just 1m long or so.

AndyMc.....

motorguy wrote: »

Take pictures. Phone the headmaster of the school. Explain whats happening. Email them the pics. Tell them to please ensure it doesnt happen again.

Whilst it is a solution that could work, if it doesn’t it’s not the headmasters problem to address.

motorguy

PasturesNew wrote: »

This is a problem that cannot be solved by moving these cars ... if they don't park there and do that somebody else will. Ad infinitum.

As you have a van, could you purchase a cheap/small/lightweight trailer and attach it to the back of your van when you park ... then detach it when you want to leave? If it's small enough (tiny) you can either pop it in the van, or chain it inside your garden if you have one. Look up camping trailers, some are just 1m long or so.

The point is that its the same two cars and they're school employees.

Not everyone is an inconsiderate parker.

AdrianC

Let's see some pictures of just how close.

It's not trickier manouvering a van with no rear windows - you just need to get into the habit of using the door mirrors instead of the interior mirror. Once you've got that, you'll probably find yourself doing it even where there is an interior mirror, simply because it's often a better view, given how small modern car rear windows often are.