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Residents reveal three-year parking war with 'selfish' mum 'who blocks roads with 4X4' on school run

The offending car and residents Ben Broadhurst and Denise Underwood
The offending car and residents Ben Broadhurst and Denise Underwood (Mercury/Caters)

A school run has turned into a battle ground after a three-year parking war with a mum who allegedly blocks driveways with her 4×4 for up to 45 minutes at a time.

Pictures show the mother parking her huge car across driveways when dropping her child off at school — despite living just around the corner.

Enraged residents in the quiet street in Derbyshire say they can’t get anywhere while her enormous white Land Rover Discovery is parked twice a day.

The Discovery blocking a driveway (Mercury/Caters)
The Discovery blocking a driveway (Mercury/Caters)

Former soldier Benjamin Broadhurst, 34, has revealed a series of pictures that he says show how the driver routinely blocks driveways, causes traffic congestion and endangers lives by forcing pedestrians into the road.

When confronted, Benjamin says the driver has been rude and claimed she can park where she likes.

The woman is alleged to have done the same with her old car (Mercury/Caters)
The woman is alleged to have done the same with her old car (Mercury/Caters)

Most shockingly, residents claim that she lives just a few minutes’ walk away from the school but insists on driving her 4×4 to be as close to the school gates as possible.

Police and council have told residents that there is nothing they can do and the school even provide parking at a nearby Asda and a pub.

Benjamin, now a property engineer and neighbourhood watch coordinator, said: “She’s endangering lives. And that’s not an exaggeration. The way she parks for example, other vehicles have to swerve out around her.

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“She has no regard for anybody else other than herself. She’s selfish. She has a bigger vehicle than everybody else so she can park where she wants, the way she wants.

Many residents claim to have confronted the woman (Mercury/Caters)
Many residents claim to have confronted the woman (Mercury/Caters)

“There have a been a few interesting exchanges of words between people. Mainly the people dropping their kids of. I’ve heard people try to talk to her but she just shuts the window and drives off. She has the ‘I can park where I want because there aren’t any parking restrictions’ conversation.

“Her children will see her mouthing off at other people, giving them abuse and they’ll think ‘oh, that’s fine, my mum does it, I can do it’.”

Damage caused when a grass verge was allegedly churned up (Mercury/Caters)
Damage caused when a grass verge was allegedly churned up (Mercury/Caters)

He added: “I’d say to her: Think what you’re doing to other people. Consider other people. We live here.

“And think of the safety of the children who are walking past your car. It’s not setting a good example for anybody is it?”

Nearby resident Jess Howe, 23, claims that the woman continually moves her car about as she agitates those whose drives she blocks.

Jess, who works as a courier, said: “She has no respect. She had been parking across the road from my mum and dad’s house two months before it started happening [to me].

“She was asked to move four or five times before she eventually moved up the road to outside the school where she was asked to move again. Next she was parking outside mine.

A local pub has offered the use of its car park for free for parents dropping kids off (Caters/Mercury)
A local pub has offered the use of its car park for free for parents dropping off kids (Caters/Mercury)

“I went to speak to the head teacher who has told her not to park there so now she is parking outside my brother’s house. He couldn’t get off his drive recently due to her and so he was late for work at his new job.

“It’s not just her, other park like that too but the others leave quickly – she stays for 45 minutes a lot of the time. When you’re blocking someone’s drive, that’s really bad.”

A Derbyshire police spokesman said: “We are aware of parking complaints on the road and other streets in the area, which is down to a number of issues including houses with multiple vehicles and the fact that there is a school nearby.

The car is sometimes parked for up to 45 minutes (Mercury/Caters)
The car is sometimes parked for up to 45 minutes (Mercury/Caters)

“This often peaks in the mornings and afternoons, and police officers from the local Safer Neighbourhood team have been to the area on a number of occasions to see the extent of the issue.

“Officers have not been made aware of any cases where inconsiderate parking has put people at risk; however it is a concern for local people and as such, it is something we will continue to monitor.”

A South Derbyshire District Council spokesman said: “We would urge people to be considerate, particularly at peak times, when parking near schools.

“We will continue to work with the police and our partners to try to alleviate any issues.”