Driveway being blocked

zugenie · June 2023

We are frequently having people park blocking our driveway, this isn’t me being dramatic about people parking close to our drive, they are parking across the entrance.

I was debating getting “please don’t block the gates” and “please keep drive entrance clear” type signs, the first because we find people think if our gates are shut they can park there, but we often close them just to keep our dog safe! I was wondering if anyone has had a similar problem and if putting a sign up helped or if it was a waste of money?

Jenny_Aster · June 2023

It would be great if the council would put a 'no parking' sign up for you, I'm presuming these sort of things are what we pay council tax for? Maybe contact a local councillor, if they're like ours then they might be still 'fresh' after recently being elected.

Fairygirl · June 2023

The girl across the road from me has the same problem. She has a sign on the gates and it makes bog all difference most of the time.
She even has the white line denoting the gate/entrance, which was put in by the previous owners, and was presumably done by the council too. That doesn't stop them either.

People are ignorant unfortunately. The usual 'I'll just be a minute' excuse is probably used if questioned.

I hope you have better luck.

Dovefromabove · June 2023

I know someone who got a ‘ticket’ and a fine for parking just a little way across a dropped kerb. I suggest an email to your local Community Police Officer cc’d to your local town councillor.

KT53 · June 2023

The first question is, is there a drop kerb? I've come across many instances where people genuinely think they have right of access because the drive was in place when they moved in. Without an officially approved drop kerb it is actually the occupant who is committing an offence by driving across a pavement.

Working on the basis that a drop kerb is in place I would try the 'Please do not block the drive' notice, along with politely worded notice under the wiper of offenders. If that doesn't work try your local councillor to see if they will put the white markers on the road for you. Police are unlikely to be interested unless the problem escalates to threats by one or other of the parties involved.

Dovefromabove · June 2023

Community police officers deal with parking issues around here.

Fairygirl · June 2023

The person I'm referring to has a dropped kerb- it was all done by the book by the previous occupants.
I hope @zugenie can get it sorted though.

clematisdorset · June 2023

How really annoying @zugenie. People can be real idiots about parking anywhere. An additional thought is maybe (if you can bear to) paint in yellow and black or in red and black, a sort of 'warning' chequerboard design at the entrance to your drive on the ground or even on the gate area. It might be people need a visual reminder from afar, to put them off even half thinking about parking in front of your drive. I was going to suggest potted plants or rocks too but they would probably be impeding pedestrians or get nicked. In my experience, people get arsey over unofficial written 'keep-out' sort of signs, even when they are in the wrong - but warning symbols sometimes sink in more (maybe on a subconscious level).

Wild_Violet · June 2023

I think a “keep gates clear - 24 hours access needed” sign made by a sign maker and mounted onto the gates wouldn’t be out of order here. Hopefully drivers would notice it and not block your driveway.

A house I know of has a “no stopping or turning sign” at the top of their large driveway (not gated obviously) but I think it might just have antagonised the main family responsible and delivery van drivers don’t seem to take much notice.

I do wonder if that sign was a bit counterproductive but I don’t think it would be the same in your case. No one else would like to be blocked in.

thevictorian · June 2023

I read about someone having the exact same problem not to long ago, it was slightly different as it was their neighbour that kept doing it because the entrance was hard to get into and the owner parked their car elsewhere. The short version was that no one was bothered that the neighbour parked over the drive. The council said contact the police and the police said that it was only if they parked the car in your drive that it would be seen as an offence and then it would be your responsibility to take them to court.

I think most people would respond to an access at all times sign and if they didn't, they probably aren't the sort of people you'd want to approach anyway.

Sheps · June 2023

I'm going through the same thing, mine all started when I asked my neighbours not to block the shared driveway.

They then started doing this and it's been going on for 4 years, blocking the driveways on purpose to try and cause trouble.

The police sent them a letter warning them, but that had very little effect.

The next option is to have them charged with harassment with the threat of violence which I can undeniable prove..

I cut off all verbal contact after they told me that they hoped my cancer killed me.

Lovely people as you can imagine.

Driveway being blocked

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