Dodgy Parking

[SandradMrsp]

I live in a small village in an even smaller cul-de sac which is directly off the main road through the village.

There is a man who lives here who parks his volvo on the road, just a few feet after the junction and it's a really tight squeeze to get past him. Anything wider than a standard car has to mount the kerb to get by. This includes the local minibus service (comes down into the cul-de-sac to pick up an elderly lady who isn't very well), the bin trucks, the occasional ambulance (quite a few elderly people in our close), and delivery vans.

Myself and another neighbour have contacted the council asking for advice and they say as there are no parking restrictions in our street there is nothing they can do about it - yet their vehicles are having to mount the kerb to access the street!!

This man is completely unapproachable, his wife is the local cat woman and has already had the RSPCA sent round to my house claiming that I have 30 cats and regularly throw them out of upstairs windows. (I don't by the way). So a direct approach would probably make him park even further away from the kerb causing more of an obstruction.

I'm picking up my gorgeous mint condition SLK this weekend and I really don't want my wheels ruined by scraping along the kerb.

I just wonder if anybody else has experienced anything like this as I'm an utter loss as to what to do about it.

 

[davidjpowell]

Ask your local fire service to have a look? If they have issues I believe they carry some weight with the local authority?

 

[SandradMrsp]

Ooh that might be a thought. It would definitely be a problem getting a fire enging past him. I know my neighbour is contacting the council again tomorrow.

The one thing that really annoys me, and I know it's probably a built in feature of the car, but he has his wing mirrors folded in.... he's like he's giving us the finger every time we have to get in or out.

 

[artyman]

Get an old land rover and pass closely

 

[nigel cross]

I think that you will find that the police classify that as an obstruction.
Even though there are on yellow lines it is still unlawful to obstruct the carriageway

 

[flango]

Ask your local fire service to have a look? If they have issues I believe they carry some weight with the local authority?

It is illegal to park within 10 meters of a junction so you have a couple of options. Call the local traffic police and tell them about the obstruction they will investigate and most likely issue a section 59 warning if he persistantly offends then they have the power to sieze and impound the car.

Alternatively this is covered under decriminalised parking and the council can issue a pcn again for repeat offenders they have the power to remove the car.

Play on the fact it is affecting emergency services access and egress and your problem will soon be sorted

 

[DSM10000]

Ask your local fire service to have a look? If they have issues I believe they carry some weight with the local authority?

Of course if they have to get past then they will not be overly concerned about "modifying" the Volvo!

 

[davidjpowell]

Of course if they have to get past then they will not be overly concerned about "modifying" the Volvo!

This is also true. A friend of my fathers, now deceased used to drive fire engines.

If it was a 'persons reported' fire not a lot would stop them...

 

[Dieselman]

Is it really a problem getting past the Volvo or are you just bothered about not scraping your SLK wheels?
How do you get past now?
It sounds like a tight road with limited parking, but I don't think he is doing anything wrong and it would be illegal for him to park on the kerb.

 

[flango]

Parking partially on the kerb or pavement is perfectly legal for a car as long as you are not causing an obstruction and satisfy the pram test, so he could park two wheels on the kerb to ease the situation

 

[SandradMrsp]

Is it really a problem getting past the Volvo or are you just bothered about not scraping your SLK wheels?
How do you get past now?
It sounds like a tight road with limited parking, but I don't think he is doing anything wrong and it would be illegal for him to park on the kerb.

It really is a problem. It's been bothering some of us for a while now. My husband has just recently passed his driving test and even his instructor has commented on the shoddy parking. We can get past it, but it's a real squeeze and I've scraped the kerb a few times.

The car in front of the volvo parks with a couple of wheels on the kerb, and this makes a huge difference. There are no pram, or wheelchair issues, as there is a path both sides of the very very short cul-de-sac. And no prams or wheelchairs in any of the houses.

Legally, he possibly isn't doing anything wrong, but a bit of consideration for us would be nice. His house isn't even in our cul-de-sac, it's on the main road, with a path to a side entrance.

 

[brucemillar]

Similar incident at a friends house. They called the fire brigade and reported a strong smell of gas. Offending car was "dragged" to allow emergency services access. It was subsequently found not to be taxed and was permanently removed.

Gas smells are serious.

 

[flango]

Possible Solution?

Just sat here with my next door neighbour who is a traffic cop. The offending vehicle as mentioned by the OP is parked illegally under section 22 of the Road traffic Act 1988. From the information on the OP he deems the vehicle to be parked in a dangerous position and suggests you contact your local police to resolve.

Section 22 of the 1988 RTA attached for reference.

 

[Simon_M]

Pay the local scallies £50 to set fire to it. But approach them in the dark and wear a wooly hat or hood to help conceal some of your identity.

Give them half before and half after to ensure it is done to your requirements. Make sure they do not know where you live as they will squeal like pigs if they are spotted and reported to the police.

 

[Scott_F]

Pay the local scallies £50 to set fire to it. But approach them in the dark and wear a wooly hat or hood to help conceal some of your identity.

Give them half before and half after to ensure it is done to your requirements. Make sure they do not know where you live as they will squeal like pigs if they are spotted and reported to the police.

Or you could get them to throw bricks at it.

 

[IanA2]

Just sat here with my next door neighbour who is a traffic cop. The offending vehicle as mentioned by the OP is parked illegally under section 22 of the Road traffic Act 1988. From the information on the OP he deems the vehicle to be parked in a dangerous position and suggests you contact your local police to resolve.

Section 22 of the 1988 RTA attached for reference.

As ever spot on

 

[peter49]

Why don't you just go and talk to the guy?
Explain the problem that he is creating for you and your neighbours.
He may not have realised that it is of concern.
If this fails and he really is being awkward then consider the above legal options.

 

[IanA2]

Why don't you just go and talk to the guy?
Explain the problem that he is creating for you and your neighbours.
He may not have realised that it is of concern.
If this fails and he really is being awkward then consider the above legal options.

The OP has already explained that:

"This man is completely unapproachable, his wife is the local cat woman and has already had the RSPCA sent round to my house claiming that I have 30 cats and regularly throw them out of upstairs windows. (I don't by the way). So a direct approach would probably make him park even further away from the kerb causing more of an obstruction."

Maybe that's why she doesn't:

"just go and talk to the guy?"

 

[John]

...and also, you will deal with the problem (hopefully) without being 'the one who told the cops' and getting any further agro - especially if the guy is a tit which apparently he is.

 

[Dieselman]

Maybe that's why she doesn't:

"just go and talk to the guy?"

It's still got to be worth a go though. Any action without giving him the chance to remedy the issue is likely to cause more strife.

Go round, smile sweetly, explain the issue and flutter, Girl, flutter...