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Hi Everyone,
I am new here, so I am not sure whether this has already been discussed, the search did not return any related hits, so here's story.
My parents live in a townhouse of 6 units on a busy street off a main road full of shops & restaurants. The local council revamped out street with clear white lines indicating parking lots on the street outside this townhouse. Very convenient for parkers as a guide with these new lines. Unfortunately, the lines end up on both sides of the entrance of our common drive-way on the street – so unwary drivers will think it is a parking space even in broad day-light. Whoever, thought of this sort of partitioning had their head in the sand.
This means – no one gets in or out until the owner comes and moves the car. On a Saturday night, especially, they will be at one of the restaurants for a wedding that does not finish till past midnight.
From 5pm onwards, the parking officers are non-existent, the police refuse to see this as their problem, and it stresses everyone out. I need to travel 30 minutes to my own from after visiting my parents on a Saturday.
I have not tried writing to the council, but even if I did – what are they going to do? Put a no-standing sign at each side of EVERY driveway on the street?
Thanks – any assistance would be appreciated.
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I wouldn't have thought the police would not look into this matter. If it is a public street, then parking across a driveway is a bookable offence? It is my belief that you cannot park over a driveway on a public street even if it is your own driveway.
Not having access to a driveway means that emergency services do not have access. You should write to council and emphasise this fact. Should there be a fire, heart attack, act of violence, how would the appropriate people attend if the driveway is blocked?
I would write to council and point this out, ask them to paint “No Parking at any time” outside the driveway or some other obvious notice. Should there be a serious event on these premises (whose owners pay rates to council for services which I would think includes access to their homes from the street) and emergency services not be able to attend due to no action taken on this parking problem then you would have proof that you tried to bring this matter to someones attention.
Spikestan said:
I have not tried writing to the council, but even if I did – what are they going to do? Put a no-standing sign at each side of EVERY driveway on the street?
Some councils will erect signage exactly as you describe where there is a parking and emergency access problem – but first you and your neighbours have to bring it to their attention. Failing that, I'd be out there with a pot of paint myself at 2 in the morning. After all, as you said the police don't come round.
The opinions offered in these Forum posts and replies are not intended to be taken as legal advice. Readers with serious issues should consult experienced strata lawyers.
This was a very common occurrence at the unit I used to live in.
If it happens in business hours, call the council and ask the ranger to fine the owner. They come out real quick.
I kept the number of the local cop shop in my phone. I'd call and give the rego details and the cops would call the registered owner. Make sure you stress to the police that it is imperative you gain access. If you need to, say you have a child in the car and cannot sit outside the block.
And definitely fire up your creative writing skills and leave a carefully worded note under the wiper.
PS. so happy to be moving into a house next week.
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