A carpet fitter whose van is too big to fit through the gate to his block of flats has infuriated the nearest house owners by parking it on their street instead.
Sean Downie has become the ‘most talked about person on the street’ and received a string of anonymous notes since he started leaving his silver Volkswagen Crafter outside the neat homes in Chelmsford, Essex.
The notes claim he is obstructing their view and causing a hazard to traffic by parking his two-tonne van in the narrow street.
Some angry residents have even started leaving notes on his girlfriend’s car after working out which one it is, but the 28-year-old tradesman insists he has done nothing wrong.
‘If people don’t like my van they can move houses,’ he said.
Sean has a dedicated space in the car park of block where he lives at the end of the street.
But a bar at the car park entrance is too low to accommodate the height of his eight-foot tall vehicle.
‘It’s been quite frustrating because I’m not doing anything illegal,’ he said.
Sean Downie clashed with his neighbors within days of moving in last summer
His silver Volkswagen Crafter is parked in the smart street for more than half the week because it will not fit into the car park of the adjoining block of flats where he lives
He has found a succession of furious notes plastered to his van by furious householders
‘I’ve literally put it there because it’s the only parking space. There’s not much I can do.’
He sets off with his van at 6am on weekday mornings before returning 12 hours later and parking it overnight.
The first skirmish broke out in July last year when one woman living nearby berated him about his parking as he relaxed on the balcony of his flat.
He moved it to a different spot but began receiving a succession of ‘passive-aggressive notes’ from other residents.
‘I think they’re quite communal here and everyone knows each other because the first lady said I’m the most talked about person on the street,’ he explained. ‘She said she couldn’t see when my van was parked there.
‘One guy told me he doesn’t like it being here but I explained there’s not much I can do.
‘He said his wife struggles to get out, but he’s got a pretty big driveway. A lot of houses down this street do.’
Some of the notes are in angry capital letters with one demanding he park outside his ‘own house’.
The 28-year said he is happy to talk to his neighbours but insists he has done nothing wrong
The notes have ranged in tone from the polite to the aggressive
Others have thanked him in advance for moving his van, informing him that ‘we can’t see traffic coming when we pull out’ and ‘we have a large amount of guests coming’.
Sean leaves his van parked over the weekend and admits some neighbours could reasonably regard it as an eyesore.
‘I get it’s a big van and it’s not pretty, but I’d rather people come and speak to me and tell me they’re struggling to get out. I’d move it,’ he said.
But some neighbours have begun taking pre-emptive action to keep the van away from their homes.
‘Now, I’m not sure if this is being done on purpose, but two more neighbours from across the street with a pretty big driveway started putting both their cars where I was putting my van,’ Sean told Newsweek.
‘They were essentially waiting for us to come home, then ran out to speak to us.
‘They said the van has been outside their mum’s house for too long and that me parking there has upset them.’
Sean has shared his story on TikTok where is has been seen by more than 500,000 people with many weighing in on the row.
‘I’ve just looked at your other TikToks and I’d be fuming if you parked outside my house like that,’ wrote one.
‘If you want somewhere to park.. buy a house with a drive,’ another added.
But his post also received plenty of support from other road-users.
‘Don’t move it,’ wrote one. ‘You’re legally allowed to park as long as you’re not obstructive.
More than 500,000 people saw his story in a week when he posted it to TikTok
And the row split viewers with many sympathising with the householders and others claiming the young carpet fitter is well within his rights
‘If it’s had an MOT and is taxed you can park wherever you like,’ a second claimed.
‘Have you paid your road tax? If yes, park wherever you want (legally),’ added a third.
Sean insists his neighbours are being ‘overprotective’, but wishes they would talk to him rather than stay anonymous.
‘It’s quite passive aggressive to leave these sorts of notes,’ he added.
‘They have been leaving notes on my girlfriend’s car but I’m not sure how they know she’s with me.
‘No matter where I go there’s someone not happy about it. You can’t please everyone.’
