Parking Issue

[kai]

Firstly, excuse the epic drawing.

I am after some advice, I reside in-house A. Both houses have a double drive for 2 cars, and a large garage suitable for another 2 cars.

My Neighbour B insists on parking their car(s) in X, blocking access to the path in front of my house /front door. To gain access to my house I either need to walk across the grass to get in the house from the side of the drive or go round the back. I also have to look at a car window directly in front of my kitchen (not huge deal)

Both I and my wife have asked (several times nicely) can they use their own drive like everyone else in the estate. We have been told, it’s easier, it’s in front of their door and its not an issue for them to park there.

Each morning, if my wifes car in front of my mine, I have to move both cars and struggle around X car to get mine out. House B, does not have this issue as to the right is a full courtyard and can simply pull out.

It’s a private estate, but after two years the road is now owned and maintained by the council so it’s a public road. Not sure I have many options

 

[kai]

why do you not park there when you can

We do now and again, but I don't want to start that. It becoming a fight for space. Neither of us needs to park there, to begin with. Plus Neighbour B works for a dealership, and will often bring cars home. IF they wanted they could let a car sit there 24/7

 

[kai]

Are they parking across a dropped kerb or on solid white / yellow lines? If not, ****-all you can do about it.

Neither, see the photo above.

Let me get this straight Your neighbours have a double drive, and don't park anything on it. Instead they park in the street?

Yep, well they put one car at the end of drive and second in X space. Each house has a double drive and a double garage (length ways)

 

[kai]

Agreed

If you've asked them nicely a few times and they won't entertain changing their ways, and assuming you can get back before them to park, park outside your own house and leave your drive empty and see how they like it.

As above, this will just make the situation worse. IF they wanted they could let a car sit there 24/7.

 

[kai]

Op, do your neighbours have 2 cars? They're probably too lazy to swap cars around if so, just start parking in the same space and give your reason as 'we have to swap cars a lot, this makes it easier'.

Here is a picture.

I have a closed off drive, my house one side, a wall other side. They dont. They dont need to swap cars around. To the right of their drive they have a full courtyard, they can openly move in and out without moving any cars.

 

[kai]

I'm guessing your house is on the left of that photo and his front door is in the middle of the photo? If so, your garden footpath pretty much becomes useless when he parks a car in front of it?

Correct. I have to walk across the grass to get to the house. Not a huge issue, but it should not be an issue.

 

[kai]

Update, as I've been away with work not had the chance to review the comments until now.

So last week my wife has parked her car there a few times as she has been working from home. This has resulted in the neighbour getting her parents (they live in the same street - 4 houses down) to park and leave the car there for long durations. The parents have a similar attitude and are inconsiderate. They are now simply playing tag, and moving the cars when not in use.

I've attached the overview print i found, its a privately built estate so I'm not sure of the circumstances but its starting to become an issue. Asking nicely has clearly not worked.

Me being plot 7.

 

[kai]

Drop the kerb in front of your path for wheelchair/push chair access. When they park in front of it, call local council. Keep calling them until they get the message.

Yeah, i just looked at the local council cost.

Council charge an application fee of £130 in respect of vehicle crossover applications. The quotation provided to applicants is non-negotiable and normally in the region of £1300-£1400 for a standard crossover. Cheaper for me to buy a £300 banger tax it and MOT and leave to rust

 

[kai]

I think I've misunderstood - I thought the dropped kerb bit on the left of the photo was your footpath? The more I look at it now is making me think that that is your driveway and is it the white bit that meets at the corner kerb is your footpath?

If so - doesn't that mean that if he parks a car parallel with your house in the corner, it partially blocks your drive also? Unless he drives a Ford KA or something.

Correct, this is the entrance to my drive. This is not a footpath. The white part is indeed the path to my house.

Yes, its parking parallel with my house and front view to theirs. There is no blocking of the drive, the photo is deceptive its a fairly large space it's over 1 cars length. They have a big jeep and does not overlap my drive.

side view hopefully makes it easier to see.

 

[kai]

@kai we needs updates!

Sorry, i work long hours , I've spoken with the developers and they refuse to do provide a dropped kerb. The plan was displayed when i purchased. Fair comment, i guess.

If i want a kerb, i am looking at £1-1.5k, at the moment it i dont think that is a viable option

 

[kai]

Ok this was my mistake, a ninja edit is required. I should have said 1-1.5k. :x Still £1,500 is a lot of coin to stop a single car from parking there. Plus even when the work is done there is nothing stopping them park there initially. It would then take further action to say they are blocking my access etc.

An application fee of £88 is charged which is non-refundable

.

If a crossover is approved then the works can only be completed by the Council’s direct labour organisation

.

The quotation provided to applicants is non-negotiable and normally in the region of £1300-£1400 for a standard crossover

 

[kai]

Holy thread revival!

So, the issue with parking settled as the next door neighbors moved. The new neighbors, we explained the situation and have been fantastic. We both share the space when a visitor comes and we both leave it free as needed. We both also both make an effort to never park our own cars there.

However, half the street including people living 200+ yards away have seen this as an opportunity! oh look a space. We had my wife's grandmother over today (she uses a walking frame) we opened the door and was greeted by this, just some random deciding to leave their car there, probably over the weekend.

From the the horizontal flag stone, the highway agency actually own that piece of grass and land. I think i explain this further in my original post with diagrams. My wife is also 7 months pregnant, so prams and all that are now going be in the not so distant future.

I decided to call the council today and complain about the situation. Initially, they palmed me off, As above as soon as mentioned the issue with a family member with disabled access the tone changed. They spoke with the highway agency and transferred me directly. They are coming out on Tuesday to review the situation.

Here is another example, people now think they can fit' two cars across the verge.

It's not a huge problem, but do you think the highway agency would just say, surely people can walk on a bit of grass? It's sounds kind of trivial but i don't really want to open my door to be walking around a car or struggling with a pram or helping an 80 year old women across wet grass when she should be able to have the car pull right up to door and be helped in?

 

[kai]

I think I may have mentioned this early, but a drop kerb to the path would technically stop parking there. With a drop kerb I think you can also get those lines to span it to show where you're not allowed to block e.g. |------|

Where do you mean regarding the dropped kerb? across my path or vertical to crossing?

That looks like a bit of a **** up when the contractors built the place to be honest. Either the pavement or your path has been put in wrong.

I managed to get some drawings from the contractors.

I am hoping the highway agency do not just say, we can tarmac "X" and problem solved.

 

[kai]

That would likely be the easiest solution.

I guess you could argue for a dropped kerb for access but I don't know if they will do that for a pushchair.

If there is a shortage of parking then they will have to consider that as well.

It's not just a pushchair, both sides of our family someone either require a wheelchair or walking aid when visting. There is certainly no shortage of parking. Everyone has x2 parking spaces on the drive and a garage. However, people are lazy and rather park on the road, rather than manoeuvre cars.

 

[kai]

I spoke with highway agency this morning (on site) and they confirmed its a very strange setup. How it got signed off, is a mystery. He admitted it's an issue but was not willing to drop the kerb as no one else on the street has this, although i am the only house with a turning/parking spot outside. A small dropped kerb he believes does not resolve the issue.

His unofficial answer was for me to artificial grass the entire surface to allow for easier access or put slabs down. I explained, this is merely circumventing the issue at hand. However, it would resolve my issue of having access to my front door. I was also told to simply park my car across my drive. This was then block people in. Not the answer i was expecting!

As a side note: For us, this was a small contractor who built around 20 houses on the estate. Each house has a double drive and the garage is also a double (length wise) with large back gardens. As such i have done a conversion and split 50/50 into an office. It's not your typical box room mass produced new build. It's just this issue outside!

 

[kai]

This is from memory of the image and information posted earlier in the thread and I am not going back to double check, but Highways suggested that you lay artificial grass or put paving slabs on land in their ownership?

Correct, to circumvent the problem of not reaching the path to my front door. Artificial grass or put paving slabs will make it easier when someone parks there to for wheelchair access etc. Crazy response.

 

[kai]

I feel like you are just ignoring the real issue that regardless of what happens with a dropped kerb,yellow lines etc. Your front door pathway is still going onto the road. Why wouldn't you just make it diagonal so it goes onto pavement?

I understand the house was more than likely not thought of when making the path but it will not change and you are just making life more difficult for yourself through being stubborn.

Nevermind I have just re-read and see the grass next to your pathway is not owned by you. Wtf lol new build problems. I guess the only way to solve this is ask for the bit they own to get tarmacked like the rest or at least ask the owners if you can slab it yourself.

Yep, not technically owned by me. I was told they are unable to tarmack as then i could be done for obstruction as my driveway would block people walking across. Now, i know what i can and can't do ill be doing diagonal. Does not solve the issue, but helps.