Roffle NOW WITH ADDED ROFFLING!!! An Englishman's home may be he castle, but his driveway can't be used as a (alleged) forecourt.

[Dick Cheeseburger]

Neighbours. Either they're fantastic, or utter bellends - there doesn't seem to be an in in-between. I'd be inclined to agree with Bollox - a polite acknowledgment expressing your agreement that you'll see what you can do (but no specifics). In the meantime, I'm aware of the website 'mailbait' for spamming e mail addresses - is there an equivalent to get a load of shit dropped through your neighbours letter box on a daily basis? I'd at least get a load of seedy catalogues sent direct to the person in question.

[Jim Bell]

Everybody needs good neighbours. With a little understanding, we can find the perfect blend.

[DSdriver]

Neighbours are fortunately an incidence of geography which can be altered. Unlike family.

[Dick Cheeseburger]

Neighbours are fortunately an incidence of geography which can be altered. Unlike family.

Incorrect. Everything can be altered.

If you have enough money

[oldcars]

Buy more, job done 

[chodweaver]

Aside from the legal and moral issues here, have you considered something akin to the Lancia Y10 shiter scheme to improve matters temporarily?

 

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[anonymous user]

Just to chuck my two-pennyworth in; You will note that the Council says that it "could" serve an enforcement notice, not that it "would" serve an enforcement notice. I am very familiar with how to word non committal letters.

 

As said by everyone else, send a reasonable response, along the lines that you note their concerns and regret that your pursuance of your hobby as a Fiat enthusiast has caused any perceived breach of planning legislation.  add that whilst you, yourself, do not believe the number of vehicles to be in excess of that which could be deemed reasonable for your personal domestic enjoyment/use, you recognise that others may have a different opinion. 

 

Give your assurance that you will give consideration to reducing the number of vehicles; however, you would wish the Council to acknowledge that you do not wish to hold a "fire-sale" to dispose of them quickly and thus be considerably out of pocket by the experience; therefore you would not wish to be tied to any short timetable, particularly in view of the impending Christmas period where any other interested Fiat enthisiasts may well have other calls on any available funds.

 

Keep it polite, keep it non-committal, if they did get as far as serving an enforcement notice, which I very much doubt will happen, both sides will have to produce any correspondence at the appeal.

 

It is interesting to note that the stance appears to have changed from "you are running a business" to "you have too many cars". It would be interesting to see if your local Councillor/MP would be on your side if you were to find that the perceived persecution by the Council was contributing towards stress, depression and anxiety.

[They_all_do_that_sir]

Tarmac your garden, buy more fiats. Done.

 

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[3VOM]

Been a long time since I read The Good Soldier Schweik. I am curious about the actual situation in the established case and the situation here. The only argument I can see being possible to make is that there are so many cars there isn't much room for anything else. In the case in Aylesbury I assume the case was made that there was a lot of stored cars and not much remaining garden. I don't know the situation at FFS's but suggest that if there is a drive and hardstanding with cars on them, but there is still lawn, borders, planting, hedges etc. the council will be struggling to make a case. If the lawn now looks like Arthur Daley's there is much less of defence. Further arguments and comments: Human Rights Act must somewhere allow for you to have a hobby that is free from interference by others and government. Local press would probably be interested in why the council is spending so much time and money on this when they don't have any money. It would be interesting to find local upmarket houses with small gardens and measure the cars to sq m of garden ratio - you know what I mean, the sort of development of town houses with handkerchief sized gardens but the owners have two cars.

[They_all_do_that_sir]

There is a family up the road who have grown up kids still at home. Both parents drive, each of the kids have a car and the father has a work van. So 6 vehicles in total, not all of which fit on the drive. Usually at least 2 on the road. Seems then they are 2 cars over what's allowed, do they pick 2 children to leave home?

 

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[captain_70s]

When I lived with my parents there were five cars at the household at one point (three of them were mine...), no driveway, one garage. No complaints but many dirty looks from neighbours!

[Guest Hooli]

We have an annoying as hell neighbour who keeps reporting us to the council and police for imaginary things. Annoying as hell aren't they?

[chaseracer]

Haven't heard that one for a few days... 

[For Fiats Sake]

It is bloody annoying, I'm doing my best not to get too upset about it.  I'm taking the weekend before replying to the letter, AU has provided me with an excellent template to embellish.  I'm probably a bit too upfront and straightforward in my letters usually so being a bit more guarded is a good idea.

 

No I don't really want to be forced to get rid of any of them though I realise that it's going to take time and money to get all the cars to the standard I want and will take a lot of time to happen too. 

I am going to ask around for some temporary storage and it strikes me that the old lady next door has nothing on her drive at all!

 

I've spent a few hours in the garage making a start on trying to get another car stored inside it, though it was possible before all the crap from the last house landed in there, it makes it really difficult to access any stored stuff as the cars are hard up against the shelving.  Getting rid of a car or two gives me literally more room to manoeuvre, puts more of the fleet undercover (three can sit under the car port) and will hopefully get the municipal monkey off my back.

 

Still the Uno gets used regularly, it's great for anything that needs a bit more room in the back as it has a massive boot but still retains the go cart feel of little Fiats,  I'd be happy to put it out on a trusted shiter loan scheme if no one fancies taking it on permanently. I spent more than I paid for it getting the brakes properly sorted out.

 

The Parade, twin sun roofed panda that I bought and had a head gasket failure on the way home is fixed and runs well, it needs (well I would do it though it passed it's last mot as is) a small amount of welding as the last owner didn't quite finish the job.  I only noticed this when I reversed the car and took the back bumper off.  It has again cost me quite a bit to put right so far but would escalate if I got it properly sorted.  I only bought it as I wanted one to drive daily and not worry about getting car park dinks whilst left at work.  This too could be loaned out, though I would want the welding doing and some dinitrol splashed about if it were to  be run in winter.

 

The Y10 GTIE is staying with me (hopefully going to be fettled soon) I've really spent so much on it already I can't let it go without having a go at getting it running properly and giving it the thrashing the little beastie deserves.

 

I'm in two minds about the ex auto panda, it has a 1108cc engine and it makes it a faster standard car with the manual box fitted but mot expired and it's been back of th queue for attention.  On balance I'd like to keep it.

 

The parts car is just waiting to be stripped down (clearing garage space to house the bits) and shell made into a piece of art to be placed on a plinth in the garden.....

[DodgeRover]

Bury the shell upright in the garden ala cadilac ranch style. Your whole street will love* you for it.

 

I look forward to the debate with the council, "What is Art?"

[robinmasters]

I'd be parking all the cars outside the complainer's house. But I'm a bitter, petty man, quite happy to cut his nose off to spite his face. 

 

More constructively, I'd be very careful not to make specific promises either in terms of numbers or timescales, just in case this ever does go any further. 

[chaseracer]

Bury the shell upright in the garden ala cadilac ranch style. Your whole street will love* you for it.

 

I look forward to the debate with the council, "What is Art?"

 

 

[plasticvandan]

Just on the flip side,I would probably get peeved eventually if someone next door had 12 rotting Fiats,and that's got nothing* to do with the fact thed Panda I had was the worst car I've ever owned.

I have been in a similar situation having previously had 5 Reliants and 24 bikes at one point,in the end I got rid of most a for money and b because I was just looking at work all the time,most were broken,I didn't have time or money to fix them all and just got depressed looking at them all deteriorating.

[Mr_Bo11ox]

^know the feeling

[Dave_Q]

That's AS in a nutshell, but I do think "Your motoring is our concern" is catchier.

[oldford]

Surely if the excess were advertised on a free medium, at let's say around £ 10k each, then you could demonstrate that you are making efforts to reduce the fleet.

 

Obviously if none sell then you can't be blamed for the prevailing market conditions.

Even better get some professional looking price boards on/in them and the windscreen plastered in stickers showing what desirable features the car has.  You can make it look like a bomb site car traders, whilst being seen to follow the councils instructions.

[chaseracer]

Bunting.  That's what's needed here.

 

And a dag.

[Parky]

And a shitty old caravan acting as the office

[Chas4545]

• "Please let me know whether, or not, there is a realistic possibility of you reducing the numbers of vehicles kept at your property to no more than 4 within the next 3 months ?"

The above question  is an attempt to get a commitment from you in writing. 

 

 If you make a commitment to change but don't, they may issue an enforcement notice.

If you do not make a commitment to change they  may issue an enforcement notice.

 

Heads or tails they win.

 

Your choice is to fight this, and absorb all the hassle, stress, etc, or comply - Gallic shrug time.

 

 Is it possible that you can refine your interest to more suit what is seen as "acceptable" by those complaining,  in a way that will enhance your enjoyment of your hobby, so you get a "win".  i.e if some cars have to go,  you leave yourself with a vehicle or three that you really love. Install a pit in the garage so that you can enjoy them more. etc  etc.

 

Modern life, we are like too many rats in too small a cage.  Comply or get attacked by the others.

[chaseracer]

^ Hmmmmm..... 

[Tamworthbay]

Location for a Shitefest Christmas bash?

[chaseracer]

   

[Des]

If you do decide to comply with whatever quantity of cars is considered reasonable, do make them stretch limos and yank tanks.

[Noel Tidybeard]

good call on the biddy with a drive spare- she may be happy having one or more cars rotating between your drive and hers to re-enforce the fact that someone is "in"

[eddyramrod]

If you do decide to comply with whatever quantity of cars is considered reasonable, do make them stretch limos and yank tanks.

Or resto-project lorries.  May I suggest starting with an Austin FG? (or three...)