when they parked their car right in front of my front door yesterday!
But now I am calm :)
Our house is on a main road with the front door about 2 feet from the kerb. It's not a busy road and people quite legally park outside our house.
I have no issues with kerbside parking outside the house. My angle is that if I didn't like it I would not have bought the house.
However the poor chap who transgressed yesterday got it with both barrels!
It all started when I saw him coming back to his car and asked him not to park outside my front door. He misunderstood and assumed I was asking him not to park outside the house. His next mistake was to inform me that the house fronted onto a public road.
I informed him that I was well aware of this, some pointless discussion ensued until I insisted he stand opposite the front door (with the bonnet of his car in the way) to see the exact problem he created. "If you had parked 3 feet further back we would not be having the conversation" I remarked.
On seeing this he apologised unreservedly. He also offered to move it immediately but came up with lame excuses about another car having being too close to allow him to park, which I knew was not an issue as my neighbour, whos car is longer, vacated that parking space that morning, never having blocked my front door. The car that was supposedly in the way was SWMBOs, and it had not moved.
Basically he didn't think. He never realised he was causing a problem until it was pointed out, and he tried to save face by coming up with excuses.
You find anyone who has never been in that position......
H
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Since your goat is temporarily redundant, could I borrow him to do something about my lawn?
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I've read it several times and I still don't understand the problem. Does your front door open outwards?
Where is this 2ft wide kerb?
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I agree with Rob C. You say that he was parked legally, so why should he apologise to you?
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I *think* the point Hugo is making is that the car was parked right across his front door, and being that there is only 2 feet of pavement between the parked car and Hugo's front door, should Hugo wish to enter or leave via his front door with something bigger than a carrier bag in his hand would make it near on impossible unless he could walk out or in from the road rather than the narrow footpath.
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Not to worry Hugo. It was Paddy Maginty, an Irishman of note.....
DVD
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Yes, I can see that - but Hugo's post seemed a little one-sided. After all, he does say that the other guy apologised unreservedly. In those circumstances, I am not sure I would do that. If I had parked legally, but inconsiderately, I might offer to move my car, but not apologise unreservedly.
The tone of Hugo's post seems to be what an idiot the other guy was, and this seems a little unfair given that he both apologised and offered to move his car.
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I am sure this is obvious, but my post above was aimed at replying to Dynamic Dave's message.
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Nope. Sorry Rob and Primera Driver, I'm not going to get into a arguement over this one. You form whatever opinions you see fit but at least make sure you fully understand the picture.
DD you are spot on my friend.
To clarify any issues here, my front door is 2 ft if that from the kerb. My boundary is at the kerb. One expects to be able to step out onto a quiet country lane from the "pavement" which is actually my property and not public. In an effort to make the entrance more obvious we have placed planted up tubs either side of the front door. If someone parks in front of the front door, we are forced to climb over these. This is in a similar fasion to the way some people have gates or drives coming from the front of their properties onto the road. Someone makes a choice to have such an entrance to their property from a highway or public right of way they see fit
The point I was trying to make was that I found this annoying in the extreme, was probably a little tearse with the chap in question.
He simply wanted to get to his next appointment in time. and parked in a way that he thought was acceptable. However on having the problem pointed out he realised that the way he parked caused problems.
I wanted to hold the chap up as a gent who, like everyone else from time to time makes mistakes. The misunderstanding manifested itself because he simply didn't realise he had even parked across the front door in a way to almost completely block an exit.
H
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So people going about their lawful buisness will be met by someone with a confrontational attitude? have you even thought about putting up a sign with words to the effect of please do not park in front of the doorway?
What will you do if (more likely when) the next person tells you to pink fluffy dice off? start damaging motors for having the temerity to park outside your house? Physically have a go at them? Sounds to me like you are the author of your own mis-fortune.
WTM
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So people going about their lawful buisness will be met by someone with a confrontational attitude?
My attitude was confrontational. I don't deny that nor am I proud of it. Although I have not stated this explicitly before, what promted me to write the post is the view that I should not have simply assumed that I was dealing with a selfish idiot. Indeed my experience proved this assumption wrong
When we both fully understood the issue of my entrance being blocked we both shook hands - literally.
have you even thought about puttingup a sign with words to the effect of please do not park in front of the doorway?
I have actually. Though I get this problem one every few months if that.
The rest of your post isn't worthy of reply.
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The tone of Hugo's post seems to be what an idiot the other guy was, and this seems a little unfair given that he both apologised and offered to move his car.
PD
On reflection I can see your point here. That was not my intention btw.
H
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Check the other posts,I think there is a sheep available.
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The point of this post was to:
Be a little light hearted
Recognise that no one is perfect. I went off at the deep end with said gent who had parked in a way he thought was OK. I over reacted and admit it. I tried to admit it in a jocular fasion but I seem to have been taked all to seriously by some.
Also recognise that with clear communication in these circumstances you can reach a clear understanding. The gent involved had no idea what he had done until I actually asked him to stand and look. He then appreciated the situation. The conversation was concluded amicably, just as it should have been.
It is understandably easy to think from this that I could be naturally confrontational. I don't consider that I am though I know I occasionally jump to conclusions on some issues. After all we all have our pet hates, and mine is this. To respond to anyone who has genuinely marked me down as confrontational, I never meant to polarise me as the saint and the other guy as a selfish idiot. If your opinions are then based on the assumptions that I am proud of all said and acted, then let me tell you that is not the case.
We all make mistakes and yesterday I made one of assumption. read my post and see if you can learn from my mistake. After all is that not what this site is all about?
Those who see some sort of bandwagon to jump on and start to give me a good verbal kicking after selecting what they want to read in a post. Go ahead, I don't care. Your posts will speak volumes about your motivations for posting.
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I'll hand out the chill pills shall I? :)
Don't worry H - Mrs V & I still love you ;)
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LOL Volvoman!
My accounts getting to me I fear.
H
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Fair enough, but from the start you came across to me at least as someone spoiling for trouble. At least give us all the details, not hand them out piecemeal. And although you may feel outraged at the suggestion that you may turn to violence, anyone can lash out given the right (wrong?) conditions.
WTM
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just look @ love island, meant to be all love, but it nearly came to fisticuffs
i dont know how you smell it, cnat smlel vrey wel
i think a nice sign Hugo, on your front door, maybe with small printed roses around it. saying "please leave me room to get in my house Thanks".
i can see you wanting a country life, and if i saw a sign like that i would try and reverse or pull up away.
how about a nice white painted D sign, in 2 places on the kerb. either side of your door, might make someone think too. it dosent mean disabled, just DONT !
I might even get a large diesel and sit there with the back of the car at your door, and leave it running for half hour.
(not really! only joking my old pal)
:-)
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Perhaps this thread should be locked now....
WTM
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Fair enough, but from the start you came across to me at least as someone spoiling for trouble. At least give us all the details, not hand them out piecemeal. And although you may feel outraged at the suggestion that you may turn to violence, anyone can lash out given the right (wrong?) conditions. WTM
WTM
Everyone who posts here must take full responsibity for their post. That includes you and me.
Another time I will hopefully be more careful to include all the relevent details. However your post insinuates that you are holding me responsible for posting what you did. This is clearly not the case.
I did not pile on the insults to anyone here in the BR nor did I suggest any other member would behave in an antisocial or violent manner.
I did not force your hand to pile on a character assasination of me onto this forum - you, and only you, made the decision to do that.
Then today you try to justify your actions on a lack of information supplied by myself.
Was that wise when you could have put the same point across in a constructive manner in the way that Primera Driver did?
To avoid any hint of self serving moderation. I'll leave it at that. I suggest you do the same.
If in future you cannot kerb your conduct on this site I WILL disable your account
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>> Fair enough, but from the start you came across to me >> at least as someone spoiling for trouble. At least give us >> all the details, not hand them out piecemeal. And although you >> may feel outraged at the suggestion that you may turn to >> violence, anyone can lash out given the right (wrong?) conditions. >> >> WTM >> WTM Everyone who posts here must take full responsibity for their post. That includes you and me.
I stand by what I said.
Another time I will hopefully be more careful to include all the relevent details. However your post insinuates that you are holding me responsible for posting what you did. This is clearly not the case.
No I'm not, and dont put words into my mouth. I said what I said. nohing more, nothing less.I did not pile on the insults to anyone here in the BR nor did I suggest any other member would behave in an antisocial or violent manner. I did not force your hand to pile on a character assasination of me onto this forum - you, and only you, made the decision to do that.
You gave a public account of your actions in a public forum, in a manner inviting public comment. I gave my opinion on your actions, as it looked to me ("...from the start you came across tome >> at least...") Then today you try to justify your actions on a lack of information supplied by myself.
I asked about putting a sign up. Something you neglected to say in your original post.
Was that wise when you could have put the same point across in a constructive manner in the way that Primera Driver did?
So you only welcome constuctive criticism?
To avoid any hint of self serving moderation. I'll leave it at that. I suggest you do the same. If in future you cannot kerb your conduct on this site I WILL disable your account
I said you came across as confrontational. You even admitted it yourself. your further postings on this thread are further evedence. I even suggested that this thread be locked, but no, you wouldnt listen, and now its come to threats. I'm not going to agree with you on this. Go ahead, disable my account. I want no part of such hypocrocy.
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Lets just say I had similar probs where I used to live.I know what you mean.And cannot say I blame you for blowing your top.Drivers should be more carefull in how they park.Not just park as they see fit.In a lot of cases. these inconsiderate drivers dont think about what they do untill its too late and caused grief.I fully agree with what you did!
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Steve
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A cone might do it, Hugo, if you can find an abandoned one in a hedgerow somewhere.
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Where I used to live, our neighbours would put cones down outside their house. I objected to this for 2 reasons : first, because it just meant that other people would be more likely to park outside our house; second, because the road outside your house does not belong to you - everyone has the same right to park there.
I would not have a problem in moving cones if there is nowhere else to park - assuming I was prepared to risk someone scratching my car.
Personally, I think putting cones down outside your house is quite aggressive. Having said that, I am certainly not intending to have another pop at Hugo and, in his particular circumstances (ie access problem and presumably lots of space elsewhere for people to park), this may actually be a perfectly sensible (and non-aggressive) thing for him to do - certainly better than confronting everyone who parks outside his house!
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I agree with you PM and think that putting cones outside your house is a harsh way to do things but then I also agree with Hugo's point. We have a bakery across the road from my house and the rear entrance is directly opposite. The bakery owners also put cones on the road to stop people parking across the piece of land which they use as a driveway. It isn't a drive, as there is no lowered kerb and the land isn't solely the bakery's anyway, it is half theirs and half the shops next door.
Everyone on the street objects to the cones as it effectively takes a parking space away but the grief anyone gets for parking in that spot is ridiculous so people only park there out of absolute desperation.
I can understand both sides of this argument... Hope you get something sorted Hugo
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I can understand both sides of this argument... Hope you get something sorted Hugo
To be fair it's not a major problem. I could count the time its happened since I've been here on one hand.
Three offenders have been neigbours. A friendly chat with them along the lines of "I accept you're quite within your rights to park outside my house but I would be grateful if you did not park accross the frond door" to date has worked a treat.
The problem with the latest incident is that the chap was insisting he had done nothing that I should be upset about. This was enough to get me hot under the collar. It was when he realised the problem he had caused, then apologised, which he didn't strictly need to but I was grateful for the gesture.
A number of months ago another chap did the same. When he reappeared with a colleague I pointed out the problem. Despite the fact he could clearly see his car was completely infront the the door he didn't really appraciate the problem, but still undertook not to do it. His female colleague immediately appreciated the problem and apologised on his behalf.
H
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My impression of Hugo's post was that it was an event he rather wished had not started from where it did: more a note of caution when blowing off steam! However, one point that seems to be missed is that there is no general "right" to park on the highway. It's for travelling on, not parking things. Therefore, given that the Highways authorities take on powers where the road is "adopted" the actual land beneath, up to the middle of the road, still belongs to the land owner. In my view therefore, in the pecking order, the non-existent right to park sits better with the land owner than the itinerants who come along.
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The French have a specific offence here. It's called le staionement abusif, (inconsiderate parking) and any copper or traffic warden can slap a fixed penalty on the offending vehicle. No complaint by the householder is necessary.
They order these things better in France . . .
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A bit of a typographical discombobulation. It should have read 'stationnement'.
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I have no idea where you live or how the road is layed out but if you own the pavement outside the house what about moving the planted tubs from either side of the door to the edge of the pavement, that way if someone did park there they wouldnt be able to get the car door open?
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Bugged
Nice idea, however, the "pavement" is only 2 ft wide so the tubs are at the edge of it anyway.
Also if people park with the drivers side facing the road, they have got no problem getting out.
H
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Hugo,
How do people walk along the path if your tubs are obstructing it?
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I guess that as he owns the path they can go whistle. I own the lane outside my property and the next two properties that take you to the end of the lane. It's written in my deeds that I must allow access to the residents of these other properties (but not guests/visitors) but there is nothing that infers or implies vehicular access.
But because I'm nice I've dug out a section of my orchard to let the people next door have somewhere to park. A nominal rent is charged (think in terms of the price of beer).
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I guess that as he owns the path.....
Well I do own it but it's not a path as such. At one end of my property there is a wall that is built up to the road and the other end the property comes out to the road. There is no actual pavement on the road.
In the middle there is my kerb. It is about 25 feet long and 2 feet wide. I suppose but could not form any part of a practical pavement or footpath as it is effectively isolated by obstructions either end.
The only purpose it serves for us I suppose is to set the property back from the road. There were iron railings upto either side of the front door that were up against the side of the road at one time but these have long since been removed.
We do get young children stray between the house and the parked cars occasionally out of couriosity or to break the boredom whilst out for a walk with their parents but it's not a public right of way.
It's hard to explain here but it's a bit like having a front garden that is only 2 ft deep, with a wall at either end and no fence onto the road.
H
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No joy those, Alan. I own the land that three separate householders must cross to get to their properties (converted barns originally part of my place). There was already a right of way footpath there and they have right of access to. A right nuisance. I'd give them the land if they'd take it.
They are allowed to cross it, they may not park on it, plant trees on it, put tubs out, or pretty much do anything else that doesn't come under the strict definition of crossing it. You wouldn't think so to watch them though.
I'd caution others against buying a property where such an arrangement exists - aside from anything else the whole driving/parking side is a nightmare.
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You'd be surprised at the percentage of properties in Cornwall that have these wiered rights of access.
The favourite in my village is the right of access across front gardens. One of our rental properties had access over everyone elses front gardens, which I actually gave up in return for vehicular access to the plot, something it didn't have.
H
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Predictably, there is a website and forum that deals with these issues:
www.gardenlaw.co.uk/
and look at the rights of way forum. There's some useful information in there. Mind, there are a lot of people who get wound up at the smallest infringement.
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Why not paint yellow or red stripes on the kerbstones?
Not particularly aesthetic but it might provide a visual clue.
Kevin...
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Come to this thread very late, I know, but hey whilst I;ve got internet access I might as well plague you all, don't you think?
I may be letting myself in for some abuse from PrimeraMan et al, but I am giving my wholehearted support to Hugo and his opinions here.
I know I don't live on a large estate or anything like that, but I understand Hugo's problems, and also his argument and subsequent handshake with the person in question. It's SO annoying, when you don't have a designated parking space, to find 'your' spot always used up, and maybe people even blocking your way out.
I am going to stop typing now, because I will otherwise go on and on and on.
I am really struggling to come to terms with the demise of the Astra. Bear with me please, tis a big thing for me. Sorry Hugo, was just trying to sympathise but feelings got in my way.
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When you're in a hole that is already deep enough for you, stop digging would seem to be a good maxim.
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L\'escargot by name, but not by nature.
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L'Escargot - thank you, I know what you mean. You know, I almost love you as much as I love RF. But not quite, of course.
Please, all of you, look after me a bit when Astra demises?
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