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Blocking a private road

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teddy...@hotmail.com

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Dec 14, 2012, 7:50:38 AM12/14/12
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I live on a very narrow lane that merely links two other roads. Parking around is almost impossible. I have a builder currently unloading and loading his van, parked in the lane outside my house. He is blocking the lane, but he's not stopping anyone going anywhere as alternative routes are always possible.

My neighbour has decided that he doesn't like this, and has threatened to call the police. No-one knows who owns the road, which is unadopted. Would the police have any jurisdiction? I suppose I need hardly add that there are no road markings, yellow lines, posted parking restrictions etc.

Thanks

Edward

Harold T

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Dec 14, 2012, 8:15:25 AM12/14/12
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Plods job. The guy needs a dispensation which they issue or don't as the
case may be.



Portsmouth Rider

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Dec 14, 2012, 8:21:27 AM12/14/12
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<teddy...@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:f5484058-84d9-4230...@googlegroups.com...
===================================

I suppose it boils down to how deeply you want to get on with your
neighbour.... with the outside possibility that it could end up in Court to
the mutual depletion of both of your bank accounts, and loss of value to
both properties should either of you wish to sell.

Your builder must have some sort of idea of how long the lane will be
blocked..... call round with a bottle of decent wine and a bunch of flowers
for Mrs Neighbour, let them know the probable timescale, be generally
apologetic, point out that the situation could easily be the other way round
should HE want work done on his property, there isn't really much either of
you can do about the situation and hopefully it won't be for long; there
will always be access at one end of the lane; just be sypathetic to him but
show how utterly reasonable you are tryting to be - which is no less than
you would expect from him if the situation was the other way round. A lot
cheaper than declaring a "Neighbour Dispute" at house-selling time.


AlanG

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Dec 14, 2012, 8:23:00 AM12/14/12
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On Fri, 14 Dec 2012 04:50:38 -0800 (PST), teddy...@hotmail.com
wrote:
Depends on who owns the road. Private road the police will not be
interested unless it looks likely to descend to violence

David McNeish

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Dec 14, 2012, 8:48:38 AM12/14/12
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On Dec 14, 12:50 pm, teddysn...@hotmail.com wrote:
> I live on a very narrow lane that merely links two other roads.  Parking around is almost impossible.  I have a builder currently unloading and loading his van, parked in the lane outside my house.  He is blocking the lane, but he's not stopping anyone going anywhere as alternative routes are always possible.
>
> My neighbour has decided that he doesn't like this, and has threatened to call the police.  No-one knows who owns the road, which is unadopted.  Would the police have any jurisdiction?  I suppose I need hardly add that there are no road markings, yellow lines, posted parking restrictions etc.

I don't see a crime being committed. I think the council is the more
appropriate authority to complain to about a blocked public right of
way (assuming that's what the road is) though unlikely to do anything
before your work is finished. But for the sake of a quiet life, can't
your builder temporarily shift the van out the way while your
neighbour gets past?

teddy...@hotmail.com

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Dec 14, 2012, 8:58:16 AM12/14/12
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On Friday, December 14, 2012 1:48:38 PM UTC, David McNeish wrote:

> I don't see a crime being committed. I think the council is the more
>
> appropriate authority to complain to about a blocked public right of
>
> way (assuming that's what the road is) though unlikely to do anything
>
> before your work is finished. But for the sake of a quiet life, can't
>
> your builder temporarily shift the van out the way while your
>
> neighbour gets past?

This neighbour has off-road parking. He comes out of his small drive and if he turns left his way is not obstructed. If he turns right his way is obstructed. The other day he turned right and sat there in his van hooting his horn. The builder spoke to him and explained that he was unloading, and suggested he turn round and go the other way (this would involve literally 400m of extra route). "Don't want to", the neighbour said, "want to go this way". So the builder said "fine, but I'm unloading and I may be a while." Fifteen minutes the neighbour sat there, engine running, waiting for the builder to move so that he could save himself less than half a minute of extra driving. So I don't think being reasonable has anything to do with it. Strangely, the neighbour is also an electrician, who has given me a quote for some work on my house. Guess who's not getting the work?

Thanks everyone.

Edward

Mentalguy2k8

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Dec 14, 2012, 9:02:11 AM12/14/12
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"David McNeish" <davi...@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:77081aee-930e-4980...@c14g2000vbd.googlegroups.com...
Or unload/load it and then move it out of the way for the rest of the day?
Does the house have a driveway, and if so, maybe the OP could park his
car(s) elsewhere so the builder can park there.

It's like these bloody Iceland/Asda/Tesco trucks, the guys all have wheels
on their trolleys but they'd rather block an entire street/car park than
park courteously and wheel their goods an extra 20 yards.

teddy...@hotmail.com

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Dec 14, 2012, 9:31:24 AM12/14/12
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On Friday, December 14, 2012 2:02:11 PM UTC, mentalguy2k8 wrote:

> Or unload/load it and then move it out of the way for the rest of the day?
>
> Does the house have a driveway, and if so, maybe the OP could park his
>
> car(s) elsewhere so the builder can park there.
>
>
>
> It's like these bloody Iceland/Asda/Tesco trucks, the guys all have wheels
>
> on their trolleys but they'd rather block an entire street/car park than
>
> park courteously and wheel their goods an extra 20 yards.

No, I don't have a driveway otherwise that would be possible. All the local streets are restricted to residents parking. The point I was trying to get across is that the neighbour is not seriously inconvenienced in any way, but is just being a big petulant baby, basically because he can. So he's lost at least £500 worth of work from me. Big deal, maybe, but hey ho.

Edward

GB

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Dec 14, 2012, 11:05:13 AM12/14/12
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> No, I don't have a driveway otherwise that would be possible. All the local streets are restricted to residents parking. The point I was trying to get across is that the neighbour is not seriously inconvenienced in any way, but is just being a big petulant baby, basically because he can. So he's lost at least £500 worth of work from me. Big deal, maybe, but hey ho.

Equally, it's arrogant of your builder to block the road.

Mentalguy2k8

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Dec 14, 2012, 11:14:26 AM12/14/12
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"GB" <NOTso...@microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:50cb4e48$0$1152$5b6a...@news.zen.co.uk...
True. Although his neighbour may well be one of these people that looks out
of his window to see the road blocked and then suddenly "has" to go out
somewhere in his car.

AlanG

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Dec 14, 2012, 12:03:40 PM12/14/12
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I've had the same with builders blocking the lane to the rear of my
house. The area is a one way system with the kerbs and street
furniture laid out to force drivers into following the direction of
the one way system. If the lane is blocked we have to reverse down it
and round a chicane into the main road. Bloody dangerous it is. If
they would just unload and bugger off to park somewhere else I
wouldn't care but the twats all park up and block the exit.

steve robinson

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Dec 14, 2012, 2:45:22 PM12/14/12
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How so if the poor chaps unloading the van, it also appears from what
the op states the road isnt actually blocked the neighbour can access
the property.

steve robinson

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Dec 14, 2012, 2:48:17 PM12/14/12
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Given that most builders carry a lot of expensive kit i wouldnt want to
leave my van to far away (infact my van had the door punched open
beneath the lock and the eurosecurity lock ened with an electronic lock
pick within 35 seconds )

Mentalguy2k8

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Dec 14, 2012, 2:51:27 PM12/14/12
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"steve robinson" <st...@colevalleyinteriors.co.uk> wrote in message
news:xn0i6txq...@reader80.eternal-september.org...
That's fair enough but it doesn't give you the right to park in the middle
of the road!

Owain

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Dec 14, 2012, 3:09:43 PM12/14/12
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On Dec 14, 1:58 pm, teddysn...@hotmail.com wrote:
> Fifteen minutes the neighbour sat there, engine running,

Which is an offence under Section 42 of the Road Traffic Act 1988 and
Regulation 98 of the Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations
1986.

Section 88 of the Environment Act 1995 and Road Traffic (Vehicle
Emissions) (Fixed Penalty) (England) Regulations 2002 allows
Environmental Health Officers 's to issue Fixed enalty Notices.

Owain

Portsmouth Rider

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Dec 14, 2012, 3:33:39 PM12/14/12
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"Owain" <spuorg...@gowanhill.com> wrote in message
news:7d9aa3ab-86b5-4f9f...@ci3g2000vbb.googlegroups.com...
===========================

On a PRIVATE road???????

HOW private? public have regular access? dedicated for frontagers only??? is
it a BOAT?


GB

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Dec 14, 2012, 5:27:11 PM12/14/12
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On 14/12/2012 19:45, steve robinson wrote:

>> Equally, it's arrogant of your builder to block the road.
>
> How so if the poor chaps unloading the van,

If someone wants to use the road the builder ought to at least offer to
move his van. He apparently kept at it for 15 minutes. He could, so he did.

All sorts of people making deliveries in large vehicles think it's okay
to inconvenience other road users for their own benefit.

As an example, I remember driving down a long very narrow lane. There
were some girls driving a horse box towards me. They deliberately drove
20 yards past the passing place and right up to my front bumper. They
explained to me that they were in a terrific hurry as they had horses in
the back and how important it was that I should reverse 300 yards up the
lane to the next passing place.


> it also appears from what
> the op states the road isnt actually blocked the neighbour can access
> the property.

Yes, agreed, so the neighbour was only marginally inconvenienced.




Jethro_uk

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Dec 14, 2012, 8:45:33 PM12/14/12
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On Fri, 14 Dec 2012 22:27:11 +0000, GB wrote:

> On 14/12/2012 19:45, steve robinson wrote:
>
>>> Equally, it's arrogant of your builder to block the road.
>>
>> How so if the poor chaps unloading the van,
>
> If someone wants to use the road the builder ought to at least offer to
> move his van. He apparently kept at it for 15 minutes. He could, so he
> did.
>
> All sorts of people making deliveries in large vehicles think it's okay
> to inconvenience other road users for their own benefit.
>
> As an example, I remember driving down a long very narrow lane. There
> were some girls driving a horse box towards me. They deliberately drove
> 20 yards past the passing place and right up to my front bumper. They
> explained to me that they were in a terrific hurry as they had horses in
> the back and how important it was that I should reverse 300 yards up the
> lane to the next passing place.
>

I hope your car didn't break down, and you had to to call the AA ?

Jethro_uk

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Dec 14, 2012, 8:47:08 PM12/14/12
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Sneak out in the middle of the night, and put up some cones, and those
plastic barriers that utility companies use to protect excavations. Put
them where the van was, and leave them.

steve robinson

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Dec 15, 2012, 1:33:14 AM12/15/12
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GB wrote:

> On 14/12/2012 19:45, steve robinson wrote:
>
> > > Equally, it's arrogant of your builder to block the road.
> >
> > How so if the poor chaps unloading the van,
>
> If someone wants to use the road the builder ought to at least offer
> to move his van. He apparently kept at it for 15 minutes. He could,
> so he did.

Not always possible to stop unloading once started unless you restack
tie down securely etc which can take far longer
>
> All sorts of people making deliveries in large vehicles think it's
> okay to inconvenience other road users for their own benefit.

What else are they supposed to do

F Murtz

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Dec 15, 2012, 4:01:18 AM12/15/12
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In some cases there is no sensible alternative it gets me how some
people whinge and carry on. I do not know what they expect the must
think you can dematerialize or hire a helicopter or hire a small army to
carry equipment on their back from miles away.

AlanG

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Dec 15, 2012, 4:24:07 AM12/15/12
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Blocking a one way system is illegal. The vans could quite easily park
up in the main road out front of the houses

steve robinson

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Dec 15, 2012, 4:36:58 AM12/15/12
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The ops roadway from my understanding is not one way

AlanG

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Dec 15, 2012, 6:04:18 AM12/15/12
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On Sat, 15 Dec 2012 20:01:18 +1100, F Murtz <hag...@hotmail.com>
wrote:
Yebbut the helicopter leaaves after it drops its load.
White van man leves the van sitting there all day blocking the exit

AlanG

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Dec 15, 2012, 6:06:13 AM12/15/12
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On Sat, 15 Dec 2012 09:36:58 +0000 (UTC), "steve robinson"
I know. I was speaking of my own situation with arseholes in white
vans. I'm quite happy to wait if they are unloading. I an fucking
incensed when they bugger off leaving the van blocking the lane

®i©ardo

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Dec 15, 2012, 7:20:45 AM12/15/12
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On 14/12/2012 22:27, GB wrote:
> On 14/12/2012 19:45, steve robinson wrote:
>
>>> Equally, it's arrogant of your builder to block the road.
>>
>> How so if the poor chaps unloading the van,
>
> If someone wants to use the road the builder ought to at least offer to
> move his van. He apparently kept at it for 15 minutes. He could, so he did.
>
> All sorts of people making deliveries in large vehicles think it's okay
> to inconvenience other road users for their own benefit.
>
> As an example, I remember driving down a long very narrow lane. There
> were some girls driving a horse box towards me. They deliberately drove
> 20 yards past the passing place and right up to my front bumper. They
> explained to me that they were in a terrific hurry as they had horses in
> the back and how important it was that I should reverse 300 yards up the
> lane to the next passing place.
>

And did you?


>
>> it also appears from what
>> the op states the road isnt actually blocked the neighbour can access
>> the property.
>
> Yes, agreed, so the neighbour was only marginally inconvenienced.
>
>
>
>


--
Moving things in still pictures

steve robinson

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Dec 15, 2012, 8:17:30 AM12/15/12
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Try understanding the builders problems, just knock on and ask if they
could move and they will, i have been known to let them park on
property i own if it makes life easier , then aain i work in the
industry and realise all the problems

GB

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Dec 15, 2012, 8:26:29 AM12/15/12
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On 15/12/2012 12:20, 展奄rdo wrote:
> On 14/12/2012 22:27, GB wrote:
>> On 14/12/2012 19:45, steve robinson wrote:
>>
>>>> Equally, it's arrogant of your builder to block the road.
>>>
>>> How so if the poor chaps unloading the van,
>>
>> If someone wants to use the road the builder ought to at least offer to
>> move his van. He apparently kept at it for 15 minutes. He could, so he
>> did.
>>
>> All sorts of people making deliveries in large vehicles think it's okay
>> to inconvenience other road users for their own benefit.
>>
>> As an example, I remember driving down a long very narrow lane. There
>> were some girls driving a horse box towards me. They deliberately drove
>> 20 yards past the passing place and right up to my front bumper. They
>> explained to me that they were in a terrific hurry as they had horses in
>> the back and how important it was that I should reverse 300 yards up the
>> lane to the next passing place.
>>
>
> And did you?

I switched off the engine and remarked what a lovely spot it was for a
bit of a rest - which indeed it was. It turned out that they were very
good at reversing the short distance required.




Mentalguy2k8

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Dec 15, 2012, 8:44:29 AM12/15/12
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"steve robinson" <st...@colevalleyinteriors.co.uk> wrote in message
news:xn0i6urdm...@reader80.eternal-september.org...
> GB wrote:
>
>> On 14/12/2012 19:45, steve robinson wrote:
>>
>> > > Equally, it's arrogant of your builder to block the road.
>> >
>> > How so if the poor chaps unloading the van,
>>
>> If someone wants to use the road the builder ought to at least offer
>> to move his van. He apparently kept at it for 15 minutes. He could,
>> so he did.
>
> Not always possible to stop unloading once started unless you restack
> tie down securely etc which can take far longer
>>
>> All sorts of people making deliveries in large vehicles think it's
>> okay to inconvenience other road users for their own benefit.
>
> What else are they supposed to do

The same thing I'm *supposed* to do when I can't park right outside the shop
I want to go into.

Mentalguy2k8

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Dec 15, 2012, 8:45:55 AM12/15/12
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"F Murtz" <hag...@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:F2Xys.1644$1k5....@viwinnwfe01.internal.bigpond.com...
Tough! Why are they more important than me?

AlanG

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Dec 15, 2012, 8:59:33 AM12/15/12
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On Sat, 15 Dec 2012 13:17:30 +0000 (UTC), "steve robinson"
Not if the driver has gone off with the keys or the driver is an
objectionable twat who believes it is no problem to reverse 50 yards
the wrong way in a one way system.

> i have been known to let them park on
>property i own if it makes life easier , then aain i work in the
>industry and realise all the problems

We live in a town centre where parking is fought over. Blocking people
from off street parking is as bad as putting their vans on your
driveway.

F Murtz

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Dec 15, 2012, 9:34:17 AM12/15/12
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Until you want something done which annoys someone else.

®i©ardo

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Dec 15, 2012, 11:17:16 AM12/15/12
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LOL - Mr Smoothy wins the day!

Ophelia

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Dec 15, 2012, 11:26:07 AM12/15/12
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"GB" <NOTso...@microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:50cc7a95$0$7315$5b6a...@news.zen.co.uk...
*applause* :))

--
--
http://www.shop.helpforheroes.org.uk/

Portsmouth Rider

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Dec 15, 2012, 12:08:22 PM12/15/12
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"Mentalguy2k8" <Mental...@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:kahuum$fbc$1...@dont-email.me...
because one day, YOU might "be more important than the other guy".... what
would happen should YOU be having some major work done on your property,
which might entail tradesman's vehicles - which often form part of their
workshop/ stores - parked in front of YOUR house, wher other people will be
mildly inconvenienced. Even someone moving house, would cause the OPs lane
to be blocked for a few hours by the removal lorry - twice; once for the
move out, and again for the move in. These things happen: if the neighbour
doesn't like it, lentus faeces!!


Cynic

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Dec 17, 2012, 9:24:59 AM12/17/12
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On Sat, 15 Dec 2012 13:44:29 -0000, "Mentalguy2k8"
<Mental...@gmail.com> wrote:

>>> All sorts of people making deliveries in large vehicles think it's
>>> okay to inconvenience other road users for their own benefit.

>> What else are they supposed to do

>The same thing I'm *supposed* to do when I can't park right outside the shop
>I want to go into.

There is a big difference between carrying a couple of shopping bags
100m and carrying a few tons of bricks the same distance.

The last time you bought a washing machine or refrigerator, did you
insist that the delivery people leave it at the nearest car park and
you carried it home from there?

--
Cynic

Cynic

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Dec 17, 2012, 9:29:16 AM12/17/12
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On Fri, 14 Dec 2012 19:51:27 -0000, "Mentalguy2k8"
<Mental...@gmail.com> wrote:

>> Given that most builders carry a lot of expensive kit i wouldnt want to
>> leave my van to far away (infact my van had the door punched open
>> beneath the lock and the eurosecurity lock ened with an electronic lock
>> pick within 35 seconds )

>That's fair enough but it doesn't give you the right to park in the middle
>of the road!

The OP has explained that in the case in question there was a
perfectly viable alternative route that would cause practically zero
inconvenience. In that circumstance I see no reason for a delivery
vehicle driver to make extraordinary efforts to avoid blocking the
road for the duration of the offloading.

--
Cynic

GB

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Dec 17, 2012, 9:36:04 AM12/17/12
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On 17/12/2012 14:24, Cynic wrote:

> The last time you bought a washing machine or refrigerator, did you
> insist that the delivery people leave it at the nearest car park and
> you carried it home from there?
>

OTOH, if the parking regs were applied more rigorously delivery people
would develop trolleys suitable for moving a washing machine a couple of
hundred metres along the pavement - they already exist actually, but are
not widely used.

AlanG

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Dec 17, 2012, 10:55:56 AM12/17/12
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On Mon, 17 Dec 2012 14:36:04 +0000, GB <NOTso...@microsoft.com>
wrote:
I don't think anyone other than a few grumpies are bothered about
someone unloading. It's when the vehicle is left unattended blocking
the highway one starts to think the driver is taking the piss.
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