Selfish builder trapped me in my own home by parking his van 50CM from my front door… I complained but he didn’t care
A WOMAN has blasted a "selfish" builder for trapping her in her home with his van.
Margherita Mecenero, 47, was flabbergasted to spot the vehicle parked 50cm from her front door - leaving her stuck inside.
The builders were two doors down from where scaffolding work was being carried out in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, Margherita said.
She's now calling on the council to fine reckless drivers who park "everywhere" in her quiet cul de sac.
Margherita told : “I opened the door around 10am to get to my car which was parked in front of the house.
"Right in front of me, I had this van parked on the pavement. I did not know what to say.
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“It was blocking my door so I was like ‘hello’ to see if someone was there because the back of the van was wide open.
"They are scaffolding two houses away from mine. He parked in front of mine and my neighbour's door - there were other spaces to park.
“After a while a guy came down and I was like ‘do you think it’s normal to park your van in front of people’s doors like this?’. He didn’t even care about it.
“There was another car in front of mine so I could not go out. I asked them to move.
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"I eventually managed to go out but it was almost impossible for me to exit."
Margherita said it's not the first time drivers have caused problems in the area.
She added: "Parking is crazy, they just park everywhere.
"People will drive through the pedestrian way if they are going around in order to enter the cul-de-sac.
"There has been a problem with traffic forever.
"We feel like we are not looked after in this area and no-one cares or respects the people who live here.
"This example was really extreme because it’s never happened before where it's right outside the door.
“There should be some signs or cameras to say if you park like this you will get fined.
"The council needs to look after this area a bit better."
As it stands, there is no law in the UK against parking on the pavement - but Brits are urged not to do it.
Rule 22 of the Highway Code says: "You must not park partially or wholly on the pavement in London, and should not do so elsewhere unless signs permit it.
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"Parking on the pavement can obstruct and seriously inconvenience pedestrians, people in wheelchairs or with visual impairments and people with prams or pushchairs."
If you get caught parking on the pavement in London, you will face a hefty £70 fine.