I’m disabled and my mobility is pretty rubbish. So when I arrived home one day to find nowhere to park, I parked in a bay three houses down.
Next day I was really sick and didn’t go out at all. The following morning when I went to move my car I found a notice on it - stuck to the paintwork with brown parcel tape. I was furious. A bloke came out of the house telling me I had no right to park there. The note stated if I parked there again, they would call the police on me. Bloke was so rude, screaming in my face, saying I didn’t even live in the street! I was the first to move in when it was newly built!
I took photos and moved my car. I called my landlord (same as his) as I was shocked at what he’d done. Police said it was criminal damage (the tape took parts of the paint off) and did I want to press charges? I said no, but I’d like you to have a word with him to let him know anyone can park and that he doesn’t own the road which is what he was screaming at me!
That night at 11.30pm one of his sons knocked on my door. I opened it reluctantly for him to threaten me with violence if I parked there again, and he’d MAKE SURE I never used that spot again! What the f?!! My daughter was behind me and has the sense to record the conversation on her phone. Again reported it so it was on file in case of further incidents.
A few months later I had no choice but to park there again. As I hobbled up the hill walking stick in hand, another son raced up behind me and started screaming at me about parking there ‘It’s not your bay/this bay came with the house (none of them do!)
my Mums disabled (as am I - with a blue badge) move your car now or I’ll smash it up!’ He tried to stop me going into my house but I brushed past him. Reported it again, and waiting for the police to arrive. They never bothered. That was over 5 years ago!
But I had to make a formal complaint to the landlord for them to speak to him and stop him and his family screaming obscenities at me and my daughter in the street.
They’ve been quiet for a while now, Tho I often get two fingers up at me if I go out. I just laugh and if I have to park there again I will, even though I have since applied for a disabled bay which has been put outside my house. It’s not just for my use, but anyone with a blue badge and there’s a few people around here that have blue badges so it’s not always empty.
I say… Live and let live. No one owns the public highway apart from the council.