New neighbours don't get the etiquette

LADYXXMACBETH

Hi we have just had new neighbours move into our area. There's a bit of an unwritten rule that everyone abides by with regards to parking. There is space for 3 cars that happen to be opposite this new neighbours driveway. I park in one of these 3 spaces. Yesterday I went to my car and a lady was putting a note on my car windscreen. She asked if it was my car and I said "yes" where by she told me that from now on I couldn't park there as she apparently couldn't get out of her driveway. I tried to explain that if I didn't park there then someone else would and that when her new house was unoccupied the neighbour had parked his massive truck in the drive and managed to get out easily. Anyway we had a bit of a discussion as she was quite rude. Anyway today, I was parked in my usual spot and one of her cars decided to occupy another spot. Fair enough, I came back and the idiot had moved forward and taken both car parking spaces. They have a driveway for 2 cars.
I'm unsure as to how to go about this. There is literally no where for me to park if she takes this course of action regulaly and I certainly don't want to fall out with a neighbour over something so stupid. I don't like notes being sent as I personally find them pretty spineless and can be seen as aggressive. I really don't want to fall out with her over this, it's a harmonious road where everyone gets on. However, if she is going to be a idiot then what can I do. I'm happy to go into parking wars with her if she wants but I'd rather not, as it's a bit petty.

BoGoF

Well you can't make them park on their drive so it seems it's first come first served for these '3 spaces' - are they really spaces? It's not good form to park opposite the entrance to a drive imo.

It's not their problem if you have knowhere else to park.

Sea_Shell

Do any of the houses "own" these 3 spaces or are they general visitors spaces on a first come, first served basis?

Are they marked bays, or just room for 3 if parked in a certain way? Kerbside?

LADYXXMACBETH

The 3 spaces in question are just road. No bays no permits. Anyone can park there. We live near to the town centre and if I don't park there people park and walk into town. It's a tiny little crescent on the main A road so there are no other streets to park. I'd literally have to park 1/2 mile away. It's been fine for 10 years until today. I can see her point but, I literally will have to park illegally if she Carey's on doing this.

phill99

LADYXXMACBETH wrote: »

The 3 spaces in question are just road. No bays no permits. Anyone can park there. We live near to the town centre and if I don't park there people park and walk into town. It's a tiny little crescent on the main A road so there are no other streets to park. I'd literally have to park 1/2 mile away. It's been fine for 10 years until today. I can see her point but, I literally will have to park illegally if she Carey's on doing this.

*carries..

phill99

Sad thing is, providing the cars are insured/taxed/MOT'd they can be parked anywhere that isn't in breach of parking regulations.


There is very little you can do. And there is very little she can do if you continue to park there.

Barny1979

Nothing you can do, just get ready for a petty war, the highway is not a place for members of the public to store their vehicles, however so long as they are not causing an obstruction, then there is nothing wrong being done. You have as much right as she, or any other member of the public to park in that area of carriageway, presumably as no parking restrictions in place.

Sea_Shell

Maybe suggest she reverses onto her driveway, if she feels she doesn't have the room or angle to reverse off her drive (with cars parked opposite)

Seems odd for her to target you, when the parking is a free for all.

Barny1979

Sea_Shell wrote: »

Seems odd for her to target you, when the parking is a free for all.

Could be due to type of car, seen the OP and perceive them as an easy target, wrong place, wrong time, could be many reasons that make no sense, neighbour disputes often don't make sense.

elsien

Barny1979 wrote: »

Nothing you can do, just get ready for a petty war, the highway is not a place for members of the public to store their vehicles, however so long as they are not causing an obstruction, then there is nothing wrong being done. You have as much right as she, or any other member of the public to park in that area of carriageway, presumably as no parking restrictions in place.

Out of interest, if people don't have a drive where else would you suggest they store their cars?

Barny1979

elsien wrote: »

Out of interest, if people don't have a drive where else would you suggest they store their cars?

Theoretically somewhere private, the Highway as part of the Highways Act does not give rights for the public to store their vehicles, but in practicality and over time, Highway Authorities have chosen not to enforce this, but just install restrictions where parking is dangerous or parking turnover is generally advantageous.

Ultimately it is the individual member of the public's choice to live in a property with no off-street parking, but own a car.