'My annoying neighbour reserves a car space - and gets their friend to guard it'

04 January 2023 , 15:50

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The neighbour was left baffled by the driver's behaviour (stock photo) (Image: Universal Images Group via Getty Images)

There's nothing that divides neighbours more than parking wars. But two residents have baffled their neighbours after teaming up to help secure one car space.

A homeowner has reportedly been blocking off a space in their street with a cone - and asking their friend to guard the spot.

The extreme efforts, which contravene the Highway Code, sound odd to begin with. But the actions become even stranger when you realise the driver has their own allocated parking elsewhere.

Regardless, the neighbour evidently prefers parking in the street, and they go to great lengths to ensure there's always a space available.

The driver uses a cone to try and reserve a space (stock photo) (Getty Images/iStockphoto)

The frustrating scenario came to light when someone living in the street took to Mumsnet to complain about their 'ridiculous' neighbour. The parent wrote: "Someone in our road has decided that one of the parking spaces - which are council owned and free for anyone to use - is 'theirs' and taken to reserving it with a cone.

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"Annoyingly they actually live in some flats that have their own parking but for some reason choose not to park there. They're not very approachable and have another neighbour keeping watch when they are out to make sure the cone isn't touched - it's laughable but also baffling!"

The post concluded: "There isn't lots of parking here and to have one space taken up makes things tricky at times - we've been shouted at for removing the cone but I can't see why on earth the person thinks they have more right to the place than anyone else.

"What can we do? I really don't want to get into any drama but it's getting ridiculous." In response, people were quick to offer suggestions.

One commenter wrote: "Report them to the council for fly-tipping on the public highway."

A second said "just remove the cone at night" while another revealed "someone used to do that and I just moved the cone and parked. One time I was reverse parking and I didn't see the cone so I drove over it and squashed it."

What do you think the resident should do? Let us know in the comments.

Amber O'Connor