Odd man next door

[sherrardk]

I have posted before about my neighbour and the parking issues (he doesn't have a dropped kerb but parks one of his cars on his front garden, we don't park across 'his' bit, but occasionally himself's van has to slightly encroach because of the neighbours the other side). I have made huge progress on being friendly (to the point where the wife brought round a big tin of chocolates, etc). Came home today and he has put a traffic cone half way down the pavement, attached with a chain to his fence, designating 'his' bit of pavement (he has previously painted a white line down 'his' bit of pavement). I don't want to get arsey with him, but what am I supposed to do if one of the kids falls over it (obviously I will warn them that it's there, but two of them are only little so it's not likely to sink in).

[sir.prize]

Has he clearly obstructed the right of way on a public pavement? If so, phone the local council.

[sherrardk]

We live in a tiny cul-de-sac so walking on the road is not a big deal (though not ideal). He's obviously got issues (we were warned by our landlord) but I think he's gone a bit too far now, you can't fall over a painted line but I will be so cross if one of the kids falls over his cone/chain thing.

[Ann]

Could you not tell him nicely that one of your kiddiewinks may fall and hurt themselves ................

[hc4361]

Call the council out.
This loop of a bully will only get worse unless he is stood up to.

[lozzer50]

just tell him where theres blame theres a claim ! it is not right what he is doing

[sir.prize]

Although a cul-de-sac it is still visited by pedestrians ie postman etc. Its a hazard particularly to your youngsters.

[sherrardk]

He won't answer the door to me, and if he wants something (like if I take in a parcel for him - and even then the delivery man complains about him because he is so off), he makes his wife do it. Might wait till all the cars are there so I know she is in and pop round. Might also wait to see if it is a temporary thing (I will give him the benefit of the doubt). He parks his other cars on the access to a power sub-station thing, he has a real thing about parking.

[DaisyNonna]

...and if they do you will sue, having warned him.

[hc4361]

Inform the police as well - it is illegal to drive over the footpath or pavement unless there is an official dropped kerb.

[Hopkirk]

I would just move it off the pavement every time I saw it.

[sherrardk]

It's only appeared today (we've been away and my friend has been feeding the rabbits and she said it wasn't there yesterday). I can understand him getting narked, but we have got rid of one car to cut down on how much parking space we use and even paid for the off-road parking for the front of this house (it's rented and we had permission) to keep tension to a minimum. Thought I had made so much progress with him, none of the other neighbours will give him the time of day and he just winds himself up.

[sherrardk]

Hi Hopkirk, he is so barmy, it's probably filled with concrete!

[sherrardk]

Hi HC - the police know all about it (someone moaned about the parking, but don't think it was him). But they realise that parking is a problem and think it is best if everyone just tries to make a bit of an effort. People have been very patient with himself and his van (before we got rid of the other car).

[SlackAlice]

I'd just tell the council he's parking in his front garden, without dropped kerbs and deliberately blocking the pavement with a traffic cone and chain.

Some neighbours think they can do what they like.

[askyourgran]

He sounds awful sherrardk, can you report him to your landlord or the council? He has no right to mark off a public path or cause an obstruction with a cone. His rights end at his garden gate. You have made every effort to be friendly with them. The problem with parking in the garden is he will have to put a full lock on his steering wheel to get around the van. We have a neighbour with this problem too, so now he parks in the street outside his house.

[joggerjayne]

Did he steal the traffic cone?

[sherrardk]

To be fair, even I could get past the van in an ordinary sized car. He just has no ability to be flexible at all. He has four cars so is stretched for parking. He even sent his wife round to ask if we could not park by his fence in case we damaged it (if we want to go out together we take the car and move the van up the street a bit). I feel sorry for his wife, I fully expect her to start passing me notes saying 'help me!'. I will have a think about, but I am a bit annoyed about it really.

[sherrardk]

That's a thought JJ, where did he get the cone (drunken pub crawl maybe?) and why did he have chain (to keep the wife in the garage maybe?). Don't think I will ask him though.

[mike11111]

You beat me to it, JJ. As far as I am aware traffic cones are not available for sale to the general public (not in my branch of Poundstretchers anyway). Report him to the rozzers.

[HowardKennitby]

not relevant to your problem; why does he have 4 cars?