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Blocked driveway, What can I do about a van blocking by driveway
jibber123
post Tue, 12 Nov 2019 - 10:59
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A few weeks ago when i got back from work there was a van parked partly across the dropped kerb at the bottom of our drive. We live on a residential culdesac and most of the cars with out drives park on the opposite side of the road so this van was causing a bit of a problem but was mostly off the road on the pavement/grass, so i managed to squeeze onto our drive and didn't think too much of it, it was probably a builder or delivery driver. My wife came home an hour later by which time there were more cars parked on the other side and she could get onto our drive. So left her van further down the street and like me assumed the van would move shortly when they'd finished what ever they were doing and i'd go and move her van onto our drive. The next morning i got up at 5am for work and the van was still there and as the road had lots more cars on it now I couldn't get off our drive and off to work. So i came back in and did a check and the van wasn't taxed or MOT'd. I worked from home that morning and went in to work late explaining my situation to the company i work for. When i came home the van was still there so i decided to call the police as it appeared to have been abandoned. They took my details and the van details and I was told someone would be out shortly. Fast forward a week and still nothing. So I called them again and they said there were a bit behind dealing with un-registered cars and it might take a few weeks to get resolved. I explained it was blocking access to our property and the pavement, and they said they would escalate it for me. As getting on and off our drive was proving to be a pain we have had to leave both our vehicles on the street and my wife as she gets back later than me after picking the kids up, has to park a long way away and carry the kids and bags a good 5 mins walk to our house. Coupled with this the other morning she went out and someone had hit the side of her van and driven off,doing considerable damage to the drivers door and back sliding doors can't now be opened. When i rang the insurance company up to report it and look at getting it booked into be fixed i was told it wouldn't be covered as the policy states it should be parked on private property at night! My car has also had the wing mirror hit while park on the street. So we are now having to leave work early to get home and guarantee we can get on our drive. But then in the morning we can't get out so end up getting into work late. This has now been going on for 5 weeks and i got a written warning for repeated lateness yesterday. Which i have tried to explain together with photos. but my company just told me to ring the police and get the van moved! I have rung the Police dozens of times and keep getting fobbed of with excuses. There's even a parking ticket on the van windscreen now been there for a few days! So far the damage to both our cars comes to nearly £5000 and I've been late for work over 20 times, plus having to leave early sometime together with the written warning. I'm at a loss what to do next. I rung up a car recovery company and they said they can't just remove a car without documentation from either the owner or police, and the police just don't seem bothered. I spoke to the council and they told me to contact the police. I then tried my local MP who was very sympathetic to my cause, and said they were looking at introducing a parking permit scheme in our street as parking was becoming an issue, but this would have to go through a process before being implemented. In the mean time I've got a £5000 repair bill to get my wife's car through the MOT in a couple of weeks, I'm potentially going to loose my job unless i can find an alternative means to get into work on time and stay for a full 8 hrs 5 days a week, and i'm out of options.

This post has been edited by jibber123: Tue, 12 Nov 2019 - 11:47
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DancingDad
post Tue, 19 Nov 2019 - 12:31
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Trouble is that the moment asbestos is mentioned, Elf and Saffty comes into play.
Probably even needs a specialist team to open the vehicle, complete with all the safety kit.
Can't just tow it as possibly dust could escape and leave a trail of "victims" all the way to the disposal yard.
Should be on a priority and hopefully the councillor will ensure it is escalated.
Though if your report is accurate they sound more like a jobsworth rather then someone trying to help.
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jibber123
post Tue, 19 Nov 2019 - 12:49
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It does sound like a bit of an excuse from the council not to get on with it. They have assured me it's a high priority, but then again they said that removing the van was a high priority 7 weeks ago, so i'm not going to hold my breath.

It's become a bit of a joke at work now, they've even started a sweep stake, people pay a £1 and pick a date when they think it will be removed. I've picked Dec 17th so only 4 weeks to go, maybe if i win i can put the money towards fixing the wife's van! I have spoken to a local radio station a couple of weeks ago and they said they would consider this story on a segment they have coming up. I might give them another call now see what they have to say.
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Fredd
post Tue, 19 Nov 2019 - 12:57
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QUOTE (jibber123 @ Tue, 19 Nov 2019 - 12:49) *
I have spoken to a local radio station a couple of weeks ago and they said they would consider this story on a segment they have coming up. I might give them another call now see what they have to say.

There must be a fair opportunity to lay it on thick about the massive load of deadly dumped asbestos, authorities saying it's too dangerous to be moved, the risk a rusty old van potentially leaking asbestos is posing to local residents/kids passing on their way to school, etc.


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jibber123
post Tue, 19 Nov 2019 - 14:56
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The radio station have taken some details down and said they will be in touch nearer the time when they run the segment, probably in a week or 2. They did seem interested, but it still won't help me at the moment.

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cp8759
post Tue, 19 Nov 2019 - 16:53
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Surely if there's a danger to health, the local council has a positive obligation to deal with it promptly. Presumably the bins still get collected, so the local binmen might be at right and as they're employees of the council, there should be a regulatory obligation to do something about it. Maybe call the Health and Safety Executive and see if it can provide any advice.


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Ocelot
post Tue, 19 Nov 2019 - 19:32
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QUOTE (Incandescent @ Tue, 19 Nov 2019 - 12:09) *
Get this into the national press. I'm sure the DM would love the story.


Yes, they'd go mad for it. The OP would have to put on his best sadface or angryface for the photo op, but it might even precipitate its removal.
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mickR
post Tue, 19 Nov 2019 - 20:45
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Im amazed the recover truck driver had the knowledge and equipment handy to test the material on the van to conclude that it was asbestos. When i get it testedbit has to go to a specialist.
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jibber123
post Wed, 20 Nov 2019 - 08:11
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Interestingly the recovery truck driver said they've had an massive increase in dumped vehicles containing hazardous items, so he's now trained on what to look out for and told to visually check the vehicles before attempting recovery. I guess a massive van must ring alarm bells as you can get a lot of stuff in it, it wouldn't be worth it with a smart car i guess! Also as its getting harder to dispose of hazardous waste people will always look for easy ways around it.

I think I've given up with the authorities, i sure they will deal with it eventually, in there own time, but as it's not effecting them everyday in their office or home it isn't a high priority. It's only effecting one house, only one family and voter so i'm just not that important in the bigger picture i guess.

This post has been edited by jibber123: Wed, 20 Nov 2019 - 08:50
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DancingDad
post Wed, 20 Nov 2019 - 09:57
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QUOTE (mickR @ Tue, 19 Nov 2019 - 20:45) *
Im amazed the recover truck driver had the knowledge and equipment handy to test the material on the van to conclude that it was asbestos. When i get it testedbit has to go to a specialist.

They don't need to conclude that it was asbestos, just to have a suspicion.
Which can arise from the look of it, the type of rubble being typical asbestos parts, old insulation, whatever.
Or could simply be a directive from the management at the removal firm.... if in doubt raise the suspicion.
Likely to find that if they remove a vehicle containing, they would end up footing the bill.
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cp8759
post Wed, 20 Nov 2019 - 12:11
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There's also the fact that as I understand it, if the removal firm allows its staff to deal with asbestos without the appropriate training / equipment etc.. the penalties can be draconian and also criminal in nature. So if I were running the towing firm, I'd tell my guys to stay the f**k away from the stuff.


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Fredd
post Wed, 20 Nov 2019 - 12:12
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QUOTE (DancingDad @ Wed, 20 Nov 2019 - 09:57) *
Likely to find that if they remove a vehicle containing, they would end up footing the bill.

Yes; about 50p/kg just to dispose of it, and that's after it's all been carefully double-bagged by a licensed operator working away in a hazmat suit for several hours, and before the interior is thoroughly cleaned.


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mickR
post Thu, 28 Nov 2019 - 20:36
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QUOTE (Fredd @ Wed, 20 Nov 2019 - 12:12) *
QUOTE (DancingDad @ Wed, 20 Nov 2019 - 09:57) *
Likely to find that if they remove a vehicle containing, they would end up footing the bill.

Yes; about 50p/kg just to dispose of it, and that's after it's all been carefully double-bagged by a licensed operator working away in a hazmat suit for several hours, and before the interior is thoroughly cleaned.


Depending entirely on the grade of asbestos of course. Bearing in mind some doesnt require that at all.
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DancingDad
post Thu, 28 Nov 2019 - 22:29
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QUOTE (mickR @ Thu, 28 Nov 2019 - 20:36) *
QUOTE (Fredd @ Wed, 20 Nov 2019 - 12:12) *
QUOTE (DancingDad @ Wed, 20 Nov 2019 - 09:57) *
Likely to find that if they remove a vehicle containing, they would end up footing the bill.

Yes; about 50p/kg just to dispose of it, and that's after it's all been carefully double-bagged by a licensed operator working away in a hazmat suit for several hours, and before the interior is thoroughly cleaned.


Depending entirely on the grade of asbestos of course. Bearing in mind some doesnt require that at all.


Holy Thread resurrection!

From the recovery company's point of view, they will not know without expert advice (obtained at their cost) so why would they take the risk?
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