'Abusive' notes left on sixth formers' cars amid row over 'lazy' parking
Tensions over "lazy" parking by sixth form students at a college in Suffolk has led locals to leave expletive-laden notes on their car windscreens.
Residents living near One Suffolk Sixth Form College, in Ipswich, have long complained of cars blocking driveways and overrunning residential streets in the area.
Some have grown so frustrated that they've been leaving angry and threatening notes on windscreens of the offending cars, one of which read: "Yet again, you f****** a******* decide to park here. You are a disrespectful p******* s***.
"I have reported this car again!! We will get rid of you. Neighbours will report registration numbers and after the third notification, you will be fined."
The mother of the student described the note as "completely unacceptable and abusive" and insisted that her daughter was parked legally at the time of the incident on 19 March. She says she's even followed her to college since then to check she is parking correctly.
"My daughter is not lazy, has worked hard for her car and provides a car share for three of her friends in a bid to help reduce the parking issue," she said.
"Letters of a similar tone and different handwriting are left regularly on either my daughters or her friends' cars.
"This most recent letter has been the most abusive and contains the worst language. As young adults, they are naturally worried by these threats, it's really not acceptable."
She added that the dedicated park and ride service is 20 minutes away and is "certainly not an ideal option in poor weather conditions".
'We pay to live here and can't have anyone visit us'
This row between residents and students has been going on for nearly 10 years, according to one resident, who accused students of not wanting to use the park and ride out of "pure laziness".
"We pay to live there and can't have anyone visit us because we haven't got spaces for them," they said.
"They park on grass verges which need cutting but we can't gain access to them because cars are on them, they park on pavements which means I sometimes need to walk my dog in the road."
Suffolk County Councillor Christopher Hudson said that while he understands both sides and the "frustration" of residents, he found the recent abusive note "very disturbing". He added: "It's an unedifying letter, but we do need to press towards resolving the parking issue."
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A spokesperson from One Sixth Form College said: "We have been in contact with the student to check on their wellbeing, clearly this is a worrying note and we have had conversations with the police regarding this.
"We have always engaged with the local community as a hub for its needs and whenever there are issues, we always seek to understand individual concerns and find solutions.
"We stress the need for our students to be mindful citizens when parking in and around our local community.
"We welcome further conversations and engagement with everyone - but would urge the individual to stop issuing threatening notes and instead come and talk to us so we can work together for the benefit of all."
What are the rules on parking in residential areas in the UK?
It is legal to park outside someone’s house unless your vehicle is blocking a driveway or if a wheel is over a dropped kerb, the RAC says.
Some roads might have parking restrictions, such as being for permit-holders only between certain times or requiring drivers to buy parking tickets. However, this doesn't mean residents have an automatic right to a space outside their home.
If another vehicle is parked on a public highway and stopping you from getting out of your driveway, then the council has the power to act, either by issuing fines or having the vehicle towed away.
The council can't act if a car is actually on your drive, as it's private property, meaning it would be a matter of trespass, which is a civil offence.
As for parking on pavements, the rules are a bit more flexible outside of London, where it is prohibited at all times and punishable by a fine.
For those outside the capital, there will be some easy-to-understand signs indicating that pavement parking is allowed on certain roads, according to car retailer Evans Halshaw.
Driving course provider Pass Me Fast says that while it is not illegal, it isn't always the best idea to "double park", referring to parking on the opposite side of the street to another parked car.
If the road is narrow, it can make it difficult for other drivers to get past stationary vehicles, particularly in two-way traffic, however, sometimes it can't be avoided in busy and built-up areas.
Some other tips for parking in the Highway Code include parking close to the curb and giving vehicles with a Blue Badge plenty of room to manoeuvre and to park in the same direction as your side of the road.
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