Neighbours Van

[SusanLisa]

Has anyone got any ideas how I can solve the following problem? We live on a fairly busy road and we have a drive way where we park our car. In the last few weeks, next door but one have parked a very large van outside their house which is so big, it covers half of our next doors front garden too. We struggle to get our car in and out of our drive safely as the van obstructs the view down the road, and at rush hour, I have to stand in the middle of the road while my BF reverses out! Apart from obviously asking them if they would mind parking somewhere else, and them saying get lost, do I have some kind of right to make them move? I probably haven't but its worth asking! Thanks Sue

[~Wingnut~]

I really hope there is something you can do but I'm afriad I suspect there isn't. We had someone park their 7 1/2 tonne pick up truck down our road (a cul de sac) taking up at least 4 parking spaces (parking is limited as it is down here) and when I enquired with the council they told me there was no weight restriction on that road (it's a cul de sac!!!) so he is well within his rights to park there and sod the other residents who now can't park down the street they live just because of one person.
Ring the council (highways) and explain your situation and how you have to risk your life by standing in the road directing him out because the view is now obstructed. it's worth a shot.

One reason that anything might be done is if it would restrict emergency services getting through, does it?

Also you might get people answering you saying "It's their living, why shouldn't they be able to park outside their home?" (like I did when I asked on here for advice) but from posts like yours isn't it obvious sometimes?

Hope someone can offer you some other hopeful advice :o)

[SusanLisa]

Thanks for your reply and your experience Wingnut. It doesn't restrict any emergency services so I cant use that reason to complain. It wouldnt bother me for someone to say that the neighbour can park where he wants etc as im not disputing that, its just a safety issue especially in the morning as my BF has to reverse out into sometimes fast moving traffic ( the road is straight and people race down it ) when im not at home.I will try and have a word with the van owner and see what happens I suppose. x

[jake-the-peg]

I believe a vehicle that is kept overnight at home is classified as a "company car" for taxation purposes as it is deemed that the owner derives benefit from it and you have to pay tax on that benefit.

It's a fair bet that he doesn't declare it as such - you could threaten to shop him to the revenue - and they might have a poke around his other dealings while they're at it.

[joko]

i would just explain it to him - he may not realise there is a problem - just ask him to park slightly further along is space is there

[scotchollie]

Stick a potato up his exhaust each and every time he parks there - don't get caught.

He'll soon get the message.

[Bellringer]

scotchollie! A man after my own heart.

[coco pops]

just a thought but maybe there is a bylaw forbidding vehicles over a certain size being parked overnight . Your council will advise you.

[JonOfLondon]

I appreciate this isn't really helping, but it is actually illegal to reverse out into a main road (one of my uncles is a driving instructor), meaning you should be reversing your car IN to your drive, not out of it.

This may actually help with your problem; give it a try.