Neighbours Blocking Access to/from Driveway Parking

[Carlos100]

Hoping someone can give us some advice on what we can do and where we stand.

We live on a new build estate without pavements in front of property's and narrow roads just over 2 cars width wide. To get in/out of our driveway you need to use both sides of the road to get the turning circle to get in the narrow opening.

Our neighbours both park in positions on the opposite side of the road to our house that makes it impossible to get in or out of our drive.

One set of neighbours who own their house (16) have repeatedly done for this for many years and have at least got better from when they used to park directly opposite my drive, now they park to the side, but still blocking my turning circle turning left. Previously this has been OK as the owner of number 14 did not park outside his house meaning I could have access by turning right.

However there are new tenants renting number 14 who insist on parking outside their property, blocking access to/from my drive to the right.

When they are both there I can not enter or leave my driveway.

The neighbours at 16 do move when I ask eventually but still continue to park in the same spot.

The neighbours at 14 are aggressive and refuse to talk about the issue and will not even answer the door if I knock to ask them to move. They are incredibly anti social and impossible to reason with.

This has resulted in me missing appointments, being late for work etc.

I have tried talking to both neighbours and still find myself blocked on most days.

I have contacted the police, they have come out and agree that the issue is not satisfactory, but won't talk to our neighbours yet for fear of escalating the issue. However they state if we "need" to get out to call them and they will tow a car away.

However most times we call there is no resource to come and deal with the issue. I feel a hostage in my own house and can not have a situation where I keep needing to ask my neighbours permission to enter and exit my driveway.

I have attached images that show the overhead view where the 2 vehicles park and my turning circle as well as what it is like side on.

I have contacted the management company who we pay maintenance fees to who enforce the covenants of the estate but have limited real power.

To make matters worse, the vehicle 14 are blocking us in with us declared SORN and being used daily as a taxi. The police noticed this on their first visit and said they would be coming to tow the vehicle the next morning. So far that was 5 days ago and on subsequent calls they have not had resource to remove it.

Any advice on how to try and resolve this and what my rights are as a homeowner? It seems the minimum i should expect is to be able to enter and leave my own property freely?

[des8]

I suppose those are private roads.
you refer to covenants.... what are they (exact wording)?

[Carlos100]

The roads are council owned roads but there are covenants imposed on what we can do with out properties mainly related to the look of the exterior of the property etc.

There is some complication on when exactly responsibility passes from the developers to the council but I believe it is council managed roads at this point. These are not private roads we or the management company have responsibility for. So I assume that means legally it is the same as any public road?

The only point in the covenant relating to parking is no commercial vans or caravans to the best of my knowledge.

[pt2537]

Regulation 103 Road Vehicles Construction and Use Regulations 1983 , if they are blocking you in, then call the police, they are obliged to move the vehicles as it is an offence to obstruct the highway.

My local police dont like that fact but they deal with obstructions when i cannot get off my drive way.

[Carlos100]

Thanks. That's great to know