Show Posts
1
The Flame Pit / What do I do if someone has parked blocking access to my driveway?
« on: April 03, 2025, 12:42:43 pm »
The issue someone had parked across my driveway back in January, leaving my car with no way to get in or out (my car at the time was on it).
I spoke to Croydon council who advised me all they could do is have it removed if it's still blocking my driveway after a few weeks (6 I think), but I had to make a report on 'fixmystreet' first, which I did. They advised me to call the police.
I spoke to the police who advised me it was a council matter.
I went back and forth between Croydon council and the police and got nowhere, both claiming it was the others' responsibility.
I even emailed a local MP and he was unable to get anywhere with Croydon council either. His exact response was:
"Parking services can attend but powers are limited to issuing a PCN. We cannot remove the vehicle.
Only untaxed vehicles can be removed, by Abandoned Vehicles.
Abandoned vehicles can then attend 2 weeks and 2 days after the tax has expired and under DVLA powers, can remove.
A blocked drive must be reported by the property occupier before we can action as we have to make sure that the vehicle is causing the property owner nuisance."
Now obviously the car disappeared later in the day. I don't know who it belonged to, and neither was I about to go knocking on every house to find out. But what am I supposed to do in future? Surely there's some law or form of recourse rather than 'wait 6 weeks'?
I am absolutely fine with taking matters into my own hands, but a criminal record isn't something I want.
To date, nobody from the council has contacted me about my report on fixmystreet.
I spoke to Croydon council who advised me all they could do is have it removed if it's still blocking my driveway after a few weeks (6 I think), but I had to make a report on 'fixmystreet' first, which I did. They advised me to call the police.
I spoke to the police who advised me it was a council matter.
I went back and forth between Croydon council and the police and got nowhere, both claiming it was the others' responsibility.
I even emailed a local MP and he was unable to get anywhere with Croydon council either. His exact response was:
"Parking services can attend but powers are limited to issuing a PCN. We cannot remove the vehicle.
Only untaxed vehicles can be removed, by Abandoned Vehicles.
Abandoned vehicles can then attend 2 weeks and 2 days after the tax has expired and under DVLA powers, can remove.
A blocked drive must be reported by the property occupier before we can action as we have to make sure that the vehicle is causing the property owner nuisance."
Now obviously the car disappeared later in the day. I don't know who it belonged to, and neither was I about to go knocking on every house to find out. But what am I supposed to do in future? Surely there's some law or form of recourse rather than 'wait 6 weeks'?
I am absolutely fine with taking matters into my own hands, but a criminal record isn't something I want.
To date, nobody from the council has contacted me about my report on fixmystreet.
