Author Topic: What do I do if someone has parked blocking access to my driveway?  (Read 187 times)

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coxic

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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.
« Last Edit: April 03, 2025, 12:57:43 pm by coxic »

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stamfordman

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Re: What do I do if someone has parked blocking access to my driveway?
« Reply #1 on: April 03, 2025, 03:46:25 pm »
This depends on where you live. If you were in a borough such as Newham they'd be over to you with a tow truck pretty soon but need to issue a PCN first.
Maybe Croydon doesn't impound vehicles.
Police also would remove in some areas - we have seen this.

You are allowed to move a vehicle other than of the way so it doesn't block you as long as you don't damage it.

Dave Green

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Re: What do I do if someone has parked blocking access to my driveway?
« Reply #2 on: April 03, 2025, 04:11:52 pm »
I've previously seen it stated that if your vehicle is on the highway and you can't get on to your drive than no offence has been committed but if you are parked and you can't get onto the road then it's an offence under this:
https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1980/66/section/137

Quote
137Penalty for wilful obstruction.
(1)If a person, without lawful authority or excuse, in any way wilfully obstructs the free passage along a highway he is guilty of an offence and liable to [F1imprisonment for a term not exceeding 51 weeks or] a fine [F2or both].

Even if this is correct, actually getting the police or council to act will probably be far from easy.

andy_foster

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Re: What do I do if someone has parked blocking access to my driveway?
« Reply #3 on: April 03, 2025, 05:06:53 pm »
If you need to get your car off your driveway (assuming that it is legal - dropped kerb, etc., you are entitled to cause no more damage than is reasonably necessary to get your car out. Apparently "reasonable" includes making reasonable efforts to find the arrogant f**ktard who was being utterly unreasonable and entitled when blocking your driveway - so knocking on a couple of doors would seem to be a minimum.

If your car is not on your driveway, and they are simply preventing you from parking on your own driveway, then it is not so clear whether the "necessity" of parking on your driveway could render damaging the other vehicle reasonable.
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