‘Bullying’ Council Installs Bollards To Stop Family Parking On Their Own Drive

A family have accused their local council of “bullying” them after they installed concrete bollards in front of their home to stop them parking on their own drive.

Joanne Bogans and husband Desmond paved their front garden to use as a driveway but they have to rolls over a small grass verge to reach their driveway.

But Bromley Borough Council have taken a dim view and told the family that the verge was being damaged every time they drove over it.

After sending a security firm to the family’s home to warn them they could be fined for the damage, a meeting was arranged to discuss the situation.

But the council cancelled the meeting and installed the bollards to block entrance to the drive altogether.

Joanne, 53, said it was probably a matter of mismanagement rather than malice, but objected to the “bullyboy tactics”.

Blocked: The council installed the bollards to stop cars being parked on the drive (SWNS)

She said: “I spoke to the man putting the bollards in and they said there is supposed to be a notice of works and a meeting before anything is done.

"A lot of the grass verges on our road are damaged because when the driveways were built, cars were a lot smaller.

"I feel like we’re being picked on - the man from the security firm looked like a bailiff.

"We got a letter two days later but you expect that before they send someone who looks like a heavy.

"It’s the bullyboy tactics I object to.”

Bullying: The family have accused the council of bullyboy tactics (SWNS)

The family are now unable to park their cars on their street thanks to the yellow lines painted outside the house a few years ago, supposedly to stop commuters parking there - despite it being a 25-minute walk to the station.

Joanne, who insists the family offered to pay for repairs to the verge, added: “I hold my hands up - the damage outside our house is quite extensive.

"But their reaction is completely and utterly unreasonable and all my neighbours are turning round and saying ‘get the bollards out’.”

Councillor Colin Smith, executive councillor for environment at Bromley Borough Council, defended the move, saying: "Whilst the council would obviously far prefer not to have to take such measures, it will not stand by and see requests to desist ignored and watch both the grass verges and pavements being churned up by vehicles illegally crossing raised kerbs, with the inevitable expense for repairing the damage being borne by council taxpayers.”

Top pic: SWNS