Between our back gate and our garages is a small area of no-mans-land where we back out, turn our cars, or even park for a short while whilst unloading shopping. Otherwise it is kept clear at all times. It is private land, and is for the use of residents only!
However, occasionally some selfish idiot decides to use the area as a free car park. They block our garages, and simply act as if they have every right to be there.
I have encountered a Chinese family having picnics there (twice), a taxi driver using it as pick-up point, and many others who park there, go shopping in town, and couldn't care less about who they inconvenience.
Recently this car above blocked both my, and my neighbour's, garages. It was there all day. I wanted to go out but was blocked-in. My next door neighbour's wife is 'heavily pregnant' and they could require their car at any moment. Blocking both our garages like this is simply not acceptable.
So, what can one do about such behaviour? Well the answer is 'Not Much'. The Police aren't interested as it's private land. We can't let his tyres down, as that would make him stay there even longer. And we can't really pour a pot of paint over his windscreen, as he'd probably sue us.
This car (above) was there for most of the day. Luckily Lady Magnon did see the owner sitting in the car before driving away. He was of 'dark complexion', and was in the process of lighting a 'spliff'. When she told him 'what's what', he just shrugged his shoulders and drove away. He had won!
I'd previously put a note on the windscreen, but he didn't even bother to look at it. Maybe the traditional Potato up the exhaust pipe might have done the trick, but I didn't think of it early enough.
Any non-criminal solutions to our problem would be gratefully received.
I know it would prolong the inconvenience, but could you clamp the car and then demand a very substantial fee to release it? Hundreds of pounds? After all, it is private land.....
ReplyDeleteThat is something I have suggested myself, but I'm not sure of the legality. The one thing we wouldn't wish to do is to put ourselves in a position where we could be in trouble.
DeleteSet orange cones just inside the perimeter of your parking area?
Delete-AK
We've been looking at various options. Somehow I imagine Orange Cones would soon go missing.
DeleteIs the perpetrator with his licence plate now on public show for all to see, even aware that he is blocking you from exiting your garage. Would a permanent professional sign fixed up on your garage door dissuade him from parking there in a private slot?
ReplyDeleteSome of our near neighbours have fixed in collapsible and lockable metal poles in their front drives to stop people parking there while they're out at work each day.
We once had a white man van carrying out a local job while parking his van for free in our small front driveway for about a week. But when all of our house tenants worked out that there was no work going on in our house, we soon put a stop to his parking freebie.
It's a row of nine garages, so anything that would stop instant access would certainly annoy someone (probably me).
DeleteThree coloured people ( the taxi driver was probably of Pakistan) on white man's property, what a scandal.! Of course bastards. Would be easy to close with a gate and put a sign. ( a bit money to invest)
ReplyDeleteYou sounds a tad racist; please leave such comments elsewhere!!!
DeleteOh it was ironic you mentioned it. I'm black and know how people, especially women change the sidewalk when seeing me.Never mind. We Brits are .multi cultura.l
DeleteMove to Brighton, and you'll see how decent people behave in a truly multicultural society.
DeleteFirst a potato up his tail pipe would be the perfect revenge. Anonymous and hopefully with dire results. I have no idea what a potato actually does but it sounds as though there's going to be some sort of noisy, smelly show
ReplyDeleteSecondly two metal pipes with a chain and a no parking sign attached. Or would they just park right beside the sign
I think the potato simply stops exhaust gases from escaping, and the engine fails. I've never tried it, or even heard of someone who has.
DeletePourquoi ne pas rester en France ? Un joli cottage , une magnifique région, beaucojp d'espace, des voisins agréables et amicazx et de bonnes choses à boire et à manger.
ReplyDeleteHuguette
And no problem of people parking nearby.
DeleteRoger dear, calm down Seth will find a solution. Still little feelings for you. Memory lane.....
ReplyDeleteYou teaser!
DeleteYou chose Anne.
DeleteWe are forever having a similar problem.....people parking across our drive. Usual excuse is " I am only going to be a minute"...but yes if I am just arriving home with 3 heavy bags of shopping I don't want to have to park 25 yards away from my front door! We had a car type ambulance parked across the drive for 2 hours on Friday afternoon. No idea where they were....3 yards further back and our exit would have been free! Last year there was a van there....people working next door, but when they were asked to move it as we wanted to go out, it wouldn't start! That took about another hour before they could shift it!
ReplyDeleteIt's incredibly annoying; no different from blocking entrance to our front doors.
DeleteThe potato option would be satisfying if nothing else. Or a few nails in a tyre for a slow puncture on his way home?
ReplyDeleteYes, it would be fun to see what actually happens. I might keep some nails handy.
DeleteGX26 YKM. I just checked the ownership of that vehicle online. It belongs to a Mr Everton Grizzle. A further search revealed that Mr Grizzle (aka Knuckles Grizzle) has done time in both Wandsworth and Wormwood Scrubs for actual bodily harm and grievous bodily harm. Consequently, I advise that you approach him with caution and/or a nice cup of tea and a biscuit.
ReplyDeleteMr Grizzle would have to deal with 'Crusher Cro'; not something to be advised.
DeleteMaybe you could get some of your neighbors to block these trespassers, in turn, preventing them from leaving.
ReplyDeleteIt's a good idea, but I couldn't get my car out in order to block his exit.
DeleteThat's why I suggested that you ask your neighbors to do so.
DeleteAmazon sell "you park like a tw#t" stickers that look like a parking fine. They are also incredibly hard to remove.
ReplyDeleteHalf a dozen on the windscreen and side windows tends to make an impression.
That sounds good. I'll have a look. Thanks.
DeleteOh dear, how annoying for you and your neighbours Cro. It could be that you'll have to spend a bit of money and have something substantial installed. What about one of those raised arm barriers that they use across the entrances to supermarkets? You could probably pick one up second hand for a song! You'd each need a remote to operate it. Or you could go down the more sophisticated route and have an electrically operated gate, if you have the room? It shouldn't be that expensive if you all chip in.
ReplyDeleteIf all else fails - remote controlled exploding cones? But you'd need someone on watch duty and they might cause some damage and you'd need to keep replacing the pesky things...and the police migt have something to say about it!
Coppa's Girl
A simple BOMB; full stop! That'd do the trick.
DeleteWe had that problem in our 'ginnel' a couple of weeks ago making it difficult for the refuse collectors. So the person who looks after all the flats put all the dustbins in front of the car, so that the driver had to move the dustbins to get out. Dustbins are sort of neutral ;) And he didn't do it again.
ReplyDeleteThese people need to be told how inconvenient their parking is for others. Maybe if we make their own lives more inconvenient, they might understand.
DeleteOver here, in my neck of the woods, we'd call the cops and they'd have it towed. But I really do like the stickers suggestion best! Talk about passive/aggressive and so miserable to remove too. Love it.
ReplyDeleteYes, I shall try to find some.
DeleteHere in my area, county laws would allow me to post signs that is private property, no parking, tow away zone, towed at the owners expense and the name and phone number of the towing company the driver would have to pay to retrieve the car from. The towing companies will supply the signs free of charge. All I have to do is call and let them know there is money waiting to hauled away.
ReplyDeleteThat certainly sounds like a good option. Again, I will make enquiries. Thanks.
DeleteYou can buy lockable bollards which block access. The owners use a key to remove the bollard. Failing that a polite message in lipstick on the windscreen could be appropriate as obviously your paper note was too small to read. Clear communication is key…
ReplyDeletePersonally I would liked to have used an aerosol paint can to write some polite message.
DeleteMy husband was told years ago by the police to notify the council and they can give them a ticket but that’s it. Legally. Heather
ReplyDeleteThat's a possibility. Again I must make enquiries, thanks.
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