We had exactly the same situation in our quiet cul de sac. Next door had got the hump because since i got the van her passenger couldnt step out onto our drive when she parked nose first on hers - the drives have a grass strip about a foot wide between them. They used to have a good try though, lots of dink marks on the side of my van and all the same colour as her car. Total denial though.
OK two can play at that, I put up a small fence about a foot high just on my side of the line down the middle of the grass strip. Only a plastic chain link thing about a foot off the ground (with the option of upgrading to a spike metal chain if need be) meaning that even when my drive was empty she still couldnt step out onto it. Problem solved.
Then she really started playing silly bu**ers. Leaving her car parked on the road across her drive right up to the very edge of our drive, knowing that we now couldnt get out of our drive because of the brick wall on the other side of the road.
Her joy was short lived. The solution? We noted down every time and date every time she did this, with photos to prove it. We called the local area copper, and showed her the notes and photos and explained the situation.
The Pc decided that, while he couldnt tell her to stop obstructing our drive, he would tell her that she was blocking access to the rest of the close for fire engines and ambulances and the firemen in particular would have no hesitation in bumping her car aside with the appliance in an emergency!
The situation at present? She parks her car on the drive but lets her passenger out onto the pavement before pulling up the drive
The highway code rule 217 says,
217: DO NOT park your vehicle or trailer on the road where it would endanger, inconvenience or obstruct pedestrians or other road users. For example, do not stop
"in front of an entrance to a property"
But there is no law preventing this, it is only a guideline.
Where your neighbour parks their car now. Does it obstruct traffic on the road? sounds like it does,
Regulation 103 of the Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986 creates the offence of unnecessary obstruction. No person in charge of a motor vehicle or trailer shall cause or permit the vehicle to stand on a road so as to cause any unnecessary obstruction of the road.
Section 137 of the Highways Act 1980 (as amended by sections 38 and 46 of the Criminal Justice Act 1982 and the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984, Schedule 7) provides an offence of wilful obstruction of the highway. An offence is committed if a person, without lawful authority or excuse, in any way willfully obstructs the free passage along a highway.
if the blocking car is parked across your drive the council may hit them with a parking charge notice, or tow them away , as this e mail from southend borough council shows (forwarded from a canoeing buddy)
"Thank you for your e-mail regarding vehicles parked across your driveway. The Council are at present issue Penalty Charge Notices (PCN’s). If you are the resident of the property and wish to report a vehicle parked across your drive, please telephone 01702-215000 or if outside of office hours 01702-466550. When telephoning you will need to supply your name and address and a contact telephone number. You will also need the make, colour and registration number of the vehicle. If your vehicle is on your driveway and blocked in, it becomes a Police matter.
Vehicles parked on double yellow lines can have a PCN issued to them at any time. For single yellow lines you should refer to the time plate. You can report these vehicles as per the above procedure. "
Parking Management
Southend on Sea Borough Council.
Its the same as noise pollution complaints, if you are going to go down the "official" route - have a note book with all the times, dates and take photos. the more the better. The police or council can only do something if they can see some evidence T: