Cannot enter or exit property due to vehicle blocking front door

shemsshem

I live on a road with on street parking and I am very much accepting of this and that you do not have a right to park in front of your property/you don’t own the road etc.

I do have a problem though. My house opens all most directly onto the road. There is a dropped curb of less than 20cm in diameter in front of the property.

People will park in front of the property and as I’ve stated, this is not a problem. The problem today is that someone has chosen to park flush to the curb and I cannot enter or exit the property through the front door, without risking marking the vehicle in some way.

The rear exit to my property involves exiting via my neighbour’s garden and she has had concrete laid today.

Effectively, I’m trapped. Is there anything I can do?

Half_way

I would climb over the blocking vehicle if possible.
Or at least call the local plod

lisyloo

Half_way said:

I would climb over the blocking vehicle if possible.
Or at least call the local plod

You have to get out the door first.
I read this as the door cannot be opened without marking the car.
that seems very close.

theoretica

The police can ticket vehicles that are causing an obstruction - and I believe get them towed if needed - I would call the non-emergency number. 

onashoestring

Trying to picture this, does your front door open outwards to the street ? 

Police will give priority if a car is parked in such a way that a disabled person is trapped in the house / unable to enter their home . 

Not an immediate solution, however to prevent this in future. Can you can take photos -( from inside if necessary) - that show the problem that this is causing -? If possible with a tape measure showing the tight space between your front door and the parked car . Then make a case to your local authority to increase the area of dropped curb . 

pramsay13

I'm not sure that I've ever seen an external door that opens outwards. 
Why not just squeeze out past the car. 

Norman_Castle

shemsshem said:

 My house opens all most directly onto the road. There is a dropped curb of less than 20cm in diameter in front of the property.

People will park in front of the property and as I’ve stated, this is not a problem. The problem today is that someone has chosen to park flush to the curb

Diameter is the width of a circle. A dropped curb is designed to be driven over.

Do you mean you've got a 20cm deep door step which someone has parked against?

shemsshem

Thanks all, the door opens inward, but there car is flush against the kerb (encroaching onto it). I’m probably exaggerating the length of the pavement at 20cm -it’s less). I can’t physically squeeze past the vehicle.

I’ve seen someone refer to the dropped kerb. There is no drive and the pavement narrows from normal pavement width, through to the distance I have described quite dramatically (it’s a very old one way road). The kerb drops just before my neighbours house and runs flat to the far edge of my other neighbour’s property.

Norman_Castle

shemsshem said:

Thanks all, the door opens inward, but there car is flush against the kerb (encroaching onto it). I’m probably exaggerating the length [width?] of the pavement at 20cm -it’s less). I can’t physically squeeze past the vehicle.

Take photographs and send them to the council. They may add parking restrictions.

Le_Kirk

pramsay13 said:

I'm not sure that I've ever seen an external door that opens outwards. 
Why not just squeeze out past the car. 

I have one!  However any car would have to drive over the pavement and 15 feet of my front garden to block the door!

pramsay13

shemsshem said:

Thanks all, the door opens inward, but there car is flush against the kerb (encroaching onto it). I’m probably exaggerating the length of the pavement at 20cm -it’s less). I can’t physically squeeze past the vehicle.

I’ve seen someone refer to the dropped kerb. There is no drive and the pavement narrows from normal pavement width, through to the distance I have described quite dramatically (it’s a very old one way road). The kerb drops just before my neighbours house and runs flat to the far edge of my other neighbour’s property.

I assume the issue is now sorted as it's the next day but you will need to sort it out so it doesn't happen in the future. If it's someone local can you speak to them politely and ask that they avoid your door?
I would speak to the police and see what you can and can't do.
How about adding a few large boulders enough to keep space, or even a planter and fill it with nice plants.
If you literally can't get out your door you need to take action to make sure it doesn't happen again.