A mother of two has sparked a fierce neighbourhood dispute after declaring she will keep parking partially across her neighbour's driveway, despite receiving repeated handwritten complaints. Astrid Cooper, 34, from Bristol, says the conflict began around a year ago when her neighbour converted a front garden into a driveway. Since then, anyone parking near the property has been confronted with notes demanding they move their vehicle.
Notes and Tensions
Astrid posted a video online showing several notes left on her car, including messages such as 'stop', 'stop parking here', and 'can you park your car down slightly and not across my drive'. While she admits to parking partially on the pavement, she insists she is not blocking access to the driveway and believes the complaints are excessive. She also claims the driveway lacks an official dropped kerb, which Bristol City Council requires for lawful vehicle access.
According to Astrid, the neighbour has been leaving notes on all cars that park in that space. 'She's been doing this ever since she turned her front garden into a driveway,' Astrid said. 'Anyone that parks in that space gets a note on their car.'
Legal Context and Council Powers
The row comes as councils across England are set to receive enhanced powers to tackle pavement parking, following the recent English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill. Astrid acknowledged that parking on pavements is technically illegal but argued that most drivers have done it at some point. 'I totally get that by law you're not supposed to park on the pavement, but I would love to meet a single person who's never parked on a pavement in their life,' she said.
She contacted Bristol City Council in October 2025 to raise concerns about the driveway lacking a dropped kerb but says she never received a response. Council guidance states that property owners must install a dropped kerb and vehicle crossover before driving across the pavement onto a private driveway.
Community Split and Personal Impact
The dispute has divided local residents, with some supporting the neighbour and others feeling the notes are unwarranted. Astrid believes neither party is 'perfect', but argues the neighbour's reaction is over the top because the driveway remains accessible. 'We're both not perfect, it's not necessary to put post-it notes on cars when she can still get on and off the driveway,' she said.
The conflict has escalated into direct confrontations. On one occasion, while Astrid was getting her children into the car, tensions rose. 'I said I'm a bit stressed, this is not the time,' she recalled. Another time, the neighbour asked her to move forward, and she agreed, but the exchange became heated.
Astrid, who has a toddler and a five-year-old, said the feud is damaging the community spirit in what she describes as a tight-knit neighbourhood. 'If I can't park in that place, I have to park much further away, and it makes it really difficult to go in and out of the house with a toddler and a five-year-old,' she said. 'It's just disappointing more than anything because we do have a lovely, tight-knit community.'
Online Reaction
Her video has been viewed over 65,000 times online, with commenters sharply divided. Some criticised Astrid for thoughtless parking, with one person writing: 'It's illegal to park on the footway.' Another added: 'You're in the wrong!' Others supported her, with one commenter stating: 'You are NOT wrong. You are legally parked.'
Bristol City Council confirmed that dropped kerbs are necessary when transforming a garden into a driveway. The neighbour has been approached for comment.
