Horsebox parking woes

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GaryTheDonkey

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Can anyone give me an opinion on whether I’m in the wrong here?

I bought a 3.5t horsebox earlier in the year. We live in a small village and the box won’t fit on our drive. We can’t park it on the road directly outside our house as the road is too narrow there and would block the way. But a little further down the village there is a sort of lay-by that is used for general parking by various vehicles (mainly visitors to the village as most houses have their own private parking) and this is where we have been leaving it. It isn’t directly outside anyone’s house so it’s not blocking light to windows etc. It is alongside the village green.

It has been recently brought to our attention that the other villagers are not happy about the presence of the horsebox. I’m not sure what to do about this information. I hate the thought of bad feeling among our neighbours, but equally I think it’s a bit unfair they seem to have singled us out when every other tom dick and Harry seems to be parking there.

I know I’m legally entitled to park it there, but am I being selfish to keep doing so?
 
Does it fill the whole lay-by and do the other users just park while their visiting for a few hours?

if you do take up the whole parking area, although it may be legal, unfortunately it probably would cause problems as you are 'selfishly' using a public parking area, also what happens if you go out and someone else is in the parking area, have you got a 'default' area?
 
I would also be worried if i was annoying the village, whether it would be vandalised.
Could you put something on the village facebook page explaining, apologising, asking for other suggestions, i too live in a tiny village so know what you mean about not upsetting the locals.
 
I know of a large village which supplies a foc car park for all, no limits on how long etc. There is constant mention on SM of two vans which are parked there and never move - one is obviously being lived in, and one is a never ending repair, with spare parts stored beneath it. There’s probably about 30 spaces in there and it’s constantly full.

I completely understand that your horsebox may be legally parked, but suspect leaving it there is going to cause you local issues.
 
Where do you keep your horse(s)? Is there room at your yard to park it. I can see why it might annoy locals if it’s taking up the only decent “spare” parking locally.
 
nagblagger said:
Does it fill the whole lay-by and do the other users just park while their visiting for a few hours?

if you do take up the whole parking area, although it may be legal, unfortunately it probably would cause problems as you are 'selfishly' using a public parking area, also what happens if you go out and someone else is in the parking area, have you got a 'default' area?
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No, there’s still parking for another 4 cars at least and it’s rarely ever full. I understand the objection is more just the fact that it is there and they have to look at it, rather than wanting the spaces for themselves. Pretty much all the houses in the village have off-road parking. Ironically one of main users is a farmer who parks his pick up with long flat bed trailer attached taking up far more space than my little box but I don’t hear anyone complaining about him for some reason. There is other on-road parking along the village that is directly outside houses and I never park there to be considerate.

I guess I don’t see why I have less right to park there than anyone else.
 
nagblagger said:
I would also be worried if i was annoying the village, whether it would be vandalised.
Could you put something on the village facebook page explaining, apologising, asking for other suggestions, i too live in a tiny village so know what you mean about not upsetting the locals.
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We considered the possibility of accidental damage but made peace with the risk. I can’t imagine anyone around here damaging it deliberately, but you never know I suppose!

The only alternative I can think of is asking the one farm in the village if I could park it somewhere on his yard, but obviously he’d want paying and to be honest I think he’d just say no anyway.
 
Spotherisk said:
I know of a large village which supplies a foc car park for all, no limits on how long etc. There is constant mention on SM of two vans which are parked there and never move - one is obviously being lived in, and one is a never ending repair, with spare parts stored beneath it. There’s probably about 30 spaces in there and it’s constantly full.

I completely understand that your horsebox may be legally parked, but suspect leaving it there is going to cause you local issues.
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I do think that scenario sounds a little different, as our village is tiny and although I’ve described it as a lay-by it’s technically just on the public highway. And it’s never full. Plus I am a villager, not an outsider. it’s only a few doors down from my house.

I’m happy to hear everyone’s thoughts though, I don’t mean to be one of those posters who wants everyone to agree with them. I’m just trying to give more details to explain the situation in full.
 
HopOnTrot said:
Put a post on village social media asking to rent the parking for your 3.5t, I know many farmers would happily pocket a few extra quid each month to provide a parking space.
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I could try that. What would be the going rate for 3.5t parking does anyone know?

Thing is, there’s only one farm that’s actually close enough to make that a possibility, so if they say no I’m back to square one.
 
Where do you stable your horses? Any chance of parking there? Sounds like someone thinks you have commandeered extra parking for yourself. The fact that it doesn't cause anyone any problems doesn't enter their head. I think I would ask the farmer, and if he says no, ask if he has any mates who would allow you to park.
 
nagblagger said:
Slight change of thought, if there is plenty of other parking, maybe jealousy of someone so trying to stir up trouble?
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This has crossed my mind I must say. Admittedly its taller than the other vehicles that park there but otherwise I don’t see why it should be singled out over the other vehicles there.
 
Highmileagecob said:
Where do you stable your horses? Any chance of parking there? Sounds like someone thinks you have commandeered extra parking for yourself. The fact that it doesn't cause anyone any problems doesn't enter their head. I think I would ask the farmer, and if he says no, ask if he has any mates who would allow you to park.
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The horses are actually at my home, it’s just the access is really tight and the van just doesn’t quite fit through the entrance. It really needs to be parked within walking distance, as there may sometimes be circumstances where I need to take the box out but don’t have access to a car to drive to it. This obviously really limits options re farmers.
 
But yes I will ask our neighbour farmer and see what he says. I’m not sure what to offer money-wise so if anyone has any suggestions that would be helpful.
 
If you aren't taking up the space and it's hardly ever full it really feels more like trouble making, maybe someone accusing you of acting entitled to near permanent parking there. Not much you can do in that case, is there another nearby layby you could rotate between?

I'd either developer thicker skin or look for farm parking, ours charges £5 a week to have it on hard standing.

There is a van parked most of the time in a similar situation in our village, I assume he's doing it to advertise his business. Bit of an eyesore but nothing wrong with it.
 
I used to park mine outside my house but in a village, on the road. No one complained but it is a pretty village and I did feel it was a bit of an eyesore. Are you outside houses that might feel the same? If so it is a bit harsh on them, even though it's legally fine. I think I would be looking for a more permanent local solution.
 
Jambarissa said:
If you aren't taking up the space and it's hardly ever full it really feels more like trouble making, maybe someone accusing you of acting entitled to near permanent parking there. Not much you can do in that case, is there another nearby layby you could rotate between?

I'd either developer thicker skin or look for farm parking, ours charges £5 a week to have it on hard standing.

There is a van parked most of the time in a similar situation in our village, I assume he's doing it to advertise his business. Bit of an eyesore but nothing wrong with it.
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There are other places I could park but they would be much less considerate imo as it would be near to people’s houses. I think eyesore is exactly the problem people have with it (although it’s new and smart). There is a bright, branded utility van that’s often there, but I reckon people let that go because it’s used for work therefore a necessity. Whereas horsebox = a luxury in their eyes. Plus I get that the height of the van means it does take up the eye a bit more than other vehicles.

Thanks for the advice on parking rental, I will offer that to the famer to begin with 🤞
 
Abacus said:
I used to park mine outside my house but in a village, on the road. No one complained but it is a pretty village and I did feel it was a bit of an eyesore. Are you outside houses that might feel the same? If so it is a bit harsh on them, even though it's legally fine. I think I would be looking for a more permanent local solution.
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Like I say, I don’t park directly next to any houses (even though I technically could), but it is visible across the green and through trees from some windows. Lots of vehicles parked on the road all the way along the village sadly, mostly I agree it doesn’t look great but it’s unavoidable I guess. I think they are targeting the box because they see it as an optional luxury, whereas all the cars and work vans are viewed as a necessity (rightly or wrongly).

Ironically when we first moved here we had to park our 2 cars on the road until we spent a fortune on creating the narrow access that we now have for parking. So you could argue that we’ve swapped 2 cars for 1 horsebox!
 
GaryTheDonkey said:
Like I say, I don’t park directly next to any houses (even though I technically could), but it is visible across the green and through trees from some windows. Lots of vehicles parked on the road all the way along the village sadly, mostly I agree it doesn’t look great but it’s unavoidable I guess. I think they are targeting the box because they see it as an optional luxury, whereas all the cars and work vans are viewed as a necessity (rightly or wrongly).

Ironically when we first moved here we had to park our 2 cars on the road until we spent a fortune on creating the narrow access that we now have for parking. So you could argue that we’ve swapped 2 cars for 1 horsebox!
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Is it possible to park the lorry at your property where you presently park your two cars? And park your two cars where the lorry in sight seems to offend villagers? Or do you have to get to where you park your cars through the narrow opening?
 
Mrs. Jingle said:
Is it possible to park the lorry at your property where you presently park your two cars? And park your two cars where the lorry in sight seems to offend villagers? Or do you have to get to where you park your cars through the narrow opening?
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Sadly not, it’s not that there isn’t space on the driveway itself for parking - there is - it’s that we physically can’t turn it to get it in. It’s just slightly too long and wide.
 
Is it worth asking around if anyone in the village has an unused drive that they would rent out? I’m thinking perhaps someone who doesn’t drive, or a holiday home which is often empty and looks better with something parked up?
 
GaryTheDonkey said:
But yes I will ask our neighbour farmer and see what he says. I’m not sure what to offer money-wise so if anyone has any suggestions that would be helpful.
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We've got a motorhome (4.5t) and it's parked in secure storage at a boatyard, which costs £75 per month (in the SE). We've paid a bit less in the past for less secure storage.

Are there any vehicle/ caravan storage places near you where you could check the prices to work out the going rate for your area?
 
Spotherisk said:
Is it worth asking around if anyone in the village has an unused drive that they would rent out? I’m thinking perhaps someone who doesn’t drive, or a holiday home which is often empty and looks better with something parked up?
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Yes that’s definitely worth a try. The village really is tiny and few have large enough driveways but can’t hurt to ask around.
 
Northern Hare said:
We've got a motorhome (4.5t) and it's parked in secure storage at a boatyard, which costs £75 per month (in the SE). We've paid a bit less in the past for less secure storage.

Are there any vehicle/ caravan storage places near you where you could check the prices to work out the going rate for your area?
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I haven’t heard of anything like this, we are northern and pretty remote so I doubt anything like that exists nearby.

The thing is, if it did, it would certainly be more than a short walk away at which point it all becomes rather inconvenient. I take the box out up to 3 times a week for lessons, competitions etc. and I have young children that can’t be left at home alone while I drive off to fetch it. I don’t mind (too much) the idea of paying for off-road parking somewhere, but I think I would feel a bit resentful of putting myself out so much simply because a few villagers don’t like the look of the horsebox legally parked where it is. However if the consensus is that I’m being totally out of order then I’m prepared to rethink that.
 
I’m genuinely trying to put myself in their shoes. Before we got the box I would often drive through the village and see the all the parked utility vans etc and think ‘that’s a bit of an eyesore’ but it never occurred to me that they shouldn’t be parking there or anything.
 
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