'I won't stop parking over my neighbour's driveway, it's petty but she's in the wrong'
A Bristol mum has ignited a heated neighbourhood row after refusing to stop parking near a disputed driveway despite a barrage of handwritten complaints.
A mum has sparked a fierce neighbourhood debate after insisting she will continue parking partly across her neighbour’s driveway — despite repeated complaints and a string of angry notes left on her car. Astrid Cooper, 34, says tensions began after her neighbour converted a front garden into a driveway around a year ago. Since then, Astrid claims anyone parking outside the property is met with handwritten messages demanding they move.
The mum-of-two, from Bristol, shared footage online showing notes stuck to her vehicle, including ones reading “stop”, “stop parking here” and “can you park your car down slightly and not across my drive”. Although Astrid accepts she is partly parked on the pavement, she argues she is not actually blocking access to the driveway and says the complaints have become excessive.
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She also claims the driveway does not have an official dropped kerb, which Bristol City Council says is required for legal vehicle access.
Astrid said the issue has divided local residents, with some siding with her neighbour while others believe the notes are unnecessary.
“She’s been doing this ever since she turned her front garden into a driveway,” Astrid said.
“I was actually chatting to neighbours about it, she leaves notes on everyone’s cars. Anyone that parks in that space gets a note on their car.”
The dispute comes as councils across England are expected to gain stronger powers to crack down on pavement parking following the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill receiving royal assent last month.
Astrid admitted she understands why some people object to parking on pavements, but believes the situation is being blown out of proportion.
“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.
“Everyone was kicking off because we already have limited parking as it is.”
She said she contacted 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.
According to council guidance, homeowners must install a dropped kerb and vehicle crossover before driving across the pavement onto a private driveway.
Astrid argued that while neither side is “perfect”, she feels the neighbour’s reaction is disproportionate because access to the driveway is still possible.
“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.
“A lot of people have seen it from my perspective. She hasn’t dropped the kerb, she’s not abiding by the rules.”
The row has also spilled into face-to-face confrontations. Astrid said things became tense during one encounter 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.
“Another time she asked me to move it forward and I just said yes. It got a bit heated and I said ‘I have every right to park here, I’m just trying to deal with my kids at the moment.’”
Astrid believes the ongoing feud is damaging the atmosphere in what she otherwise describes as a close and friendly community.
“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.
“It’s just disappointing more than anything because we do have a lovely, tight-knit community.”
Her video has now been viewed more than 65,000 times online, with commenters sharply divided over who is at fault. Some accused Astrid of inconsiderate parking, with one person writing: “It’s illegal to park on the footway.”
Another added: “You’re in the wrong!” Others defended 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 involved has been approached for comment.
