A mother from Bristol has sparked a neighbourhood dispute by continuing to park across her neighbour's driveway, despite repeated complaints and notes left on her car. Astrid Cooper insists she is not genuinely blocking access and that the neighbour's driveway lacks a required dropped kerb.
The dispute began over a year ago when the neighbour converted her front garden into a driveway. Astrid claims the neighbour leaves handwritten notes on any vehicle parked in that spot, with messages such as 'stop parking here' and 'can you park your car down slightly and not across my drive'.
While Astrid admits she is partly parked on the pavement, she argues the driveway remains usable. She contacted Bristol City Council in October 2025 about the missing dropped kerb, which the council states is necessary for lawful vehicle access, but says she received no response.
Tensions escalated during face-to-face confrontations, with Astrid recalling one incident where she was trying to get her children into the car. She said the dispute has divided neighbours, though some support her view that the notes are unnecessary.
Astrid acknowledged pavement parking is technically illegal but said the issue is being blown out of proportion. New laws expected later in 2026 will give councils stronger powers to tackle pavement obstructions.
