Making Complaints

My father is disabled, uses a wheelchair and lives down a cul-de-sac. At the entrance to the street there is a family that has about six cars but the space to park only two. Instead they park their cars on both sides of the street with two wheels on the pavement. They park right up against walls on one side and a hedge on the other. This means that the only way in and out for my father is down the middle of the road! Quite dangerous. Instead he chooses to stay in or only go out in his car.

I complained to the council and they told me is a a matter for the police.

Here is the problem - the adult male in this house is a police officer. I hate confrontations with strangers so I'm not going to knock on their door. I'm not sure if writing a letter to the police is a good idea. I don't think anonymous complaints are taken seriously.

What would you do next?

Andy

You've apparently ruled it out, but I would definitely knock on the door. I would just explain that they may not have realised, but your father is in a wheelchair and because of how the cars are parked he is finding it difficult to get out. Would they mind parking in such a way that would leave him a clearer path without having to go into the road? Chances are they're being oblivious rather than malicious, and it just needs to be pointed out to them. You don't have to be nasty or confrontational, just making a polite request for a disabled man.

DrS summed up exactly what I was going to say. It is common practice here for people to park up on the pavement to give more room in the roads, I am sure many people would not think about the space needed for a wheelchair. I really would try to just have a polite informative conversation.

Thanks for the replies. Turns out there are several people living down the street who are fed up but don't seem to be able to do anything about it. Very depressing.

Andy

Parking blocking the pavement is an offense as it is causing an unnecessary obstruction to the public highway. Your local council if correct and they are not able to issue a pcn for blocking the pavement, but the police can.

I am quite certain that if you made an annonomous complaint to the police that they would have to take action, as not doing so could leave them open to law suits. If you mention that it is affecting a disabled person, they are even more likely to do something.

What if someone walks in the road because they can't get past on the pavement and gets hit by a car (I appreciate that this is quite unlikely in a cul-de-sac)? If the police were aware of the problem, but took no action, they are responsible.

Tapatalking. Sorry for any typos and other randomness.

Could you contact the Blue Badge Network for ideas?
http://www.bluebadgenetwork.org/

HTH.