A mother from Bristol has become embroiled in a bitter neighbourhood dispute after insisting she will continue parking across her neighbour's driveway, despite repeated complaints and a series of angry notes left on her car.
For Astrid Cooper, it is the driveway owner who is in the wrong. She says the disagreement began over a year ago when her neighbour converted their front garden into a driveway. The mum said the dispute has divided local residents, with some siding with her neighbour while others regard the notes as wholly unnecessary.
Notes on cars
Astrid said the neighbour leaves notes on everyone's cars who park in that space. She shared footage online showing notes fixed to her car, among them messages reading 'stop', 'stop parking here' and 'can you park your car down slightly and not across my drive'.
While Astrid concedes that she is partly parked on the pavement, she maintains that she is not genuinely blocking access to the driveway and feels the complaints have become excessive.
Dropped kerb requirement
She further alleges that the driveway does not have an official dropped kerb, which Bristol City Council states is a requirement for lawful vehicle access. According to council guidance, homeowners are required to have a dropped kerb and vehicle crossover installed before driving across the pavement to access a private driveway.
Astrid revealed she got in touch with Bristol City Council in October 2025 to raise concerns about the driveway allegedly lacking the required dropped kerb, but claims she never received a response.
Community divide
The disagreement has spilled over into face-to-face confrontations. Astrid said tensions flared during one incident while she was trying to get her children into the car. 'On one occasion I was getting my kids sorted and I said I'm a bit stressed, this is not the time,' she explained.
Astrid believes the ongoing dispute is damaging the atmosphere in what she otherwise describes as a close-knit and friendly neighbourhood. 'From my side, I have very young children. 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.
Online reaction
Her video has now been viewed more than 65,000 times online, with those commenting deeply divided over who is at fault. Some criticised Astrid for inconsiderate parking, with one person writing: 'It's illegal to park on the footway.' Another added: 'You're in the wrong!' Others backed her, however, with one commenter insisting: 'You are NOT wrong. You are legally parked.'
Bristol City Council confirmed that dropped kerbs are required when converting a garden into a driveway. The neighbour in question has been approached for comment.
