Astrid Cooper, 34, says her neighbour has been leaving notes on her car demanding she stops parking across her new driveway – but Astrid claims the neighbour has no official dropped kerb and insists she is not blocking access
A mum has ignited a heated neighbourhood row after insisting she’ll carry on parking partially across her neighbour’s driveway – despite ongoing complaints and a series of furious notes left on her vehicle. Astrid Cooper, 34, says the friction started after her neighbour transformed a front garden into a driveway roughly a year ago. Since then, Astrid claims that anyone parking outside the property is confronted with handwritten messages demanding they shift their car.
The mum-of-two, from Bristol, posted footage online displaying notes attached to her vehicle, including ones stating “stop”, “stop parking here” and “can you park your car down slightly and not across my drive”. While Astrid acknowledges she is partially parked on the pavement, she maintains she is not genuinely obstructing access to the driveway and says the complaints have become over the top.
She also alleges the driveway lacks an official dropped kerb, which Bristol City Council states is necessary for lawful vehicle access.
Astrid said the matter has split local residents, with some supporting her neighbour while others feel the notes are unwarranted.
“She’s been doing this ever since she turned her front garden into a driveway,” Astrid said, reports the Express.
“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 row emerges as councils throughout England are set to receive enhanced powers to tackle pavement parking following the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill gaining royal assent last month.
Astrid acknowledged she understands why certain people oppose parking on pavements, but maintains the situation is being overblown.
“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 revealed she contacted Bristol City Council in October 2025 to voice concerns about the driveway supposedly lacking the necessary dropped kerb, but maintains she never heard back.
According to council guidance, property owners must install a dropped kerb and vehicle crossover before driving across the pavement onto a private driveway.
Astrid contended that while neither party is “perfect”, she believes the neighbour’s response is excessive because the driveway remains accessible.
“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 dispute has also escalated into direct confrontations. Astrid said tensions rose during one incident while she was attempting to get her children into the vehicle.
“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 continuing feud is harming the atmosphere in what she otherwise characterises as a tight-knit and welcoming 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.
“It’s just disappointing more than anything because we do have a lovely, tight-knit community.”
Her footage has now been watched more than 65,000 times online, with commenters sharply split over who is to blame. Some criticised Astrid for thoughtless parking, with one individual writing: “It’s illegal to park on the footway.”
Another added: “You’re in the wrong!” Others supported her, however, with one commenter maintaining: “You are NOT wrong. You are legally parked.”
Bristol City Council confirmed that dropped kerbs are necessary when transforming a garden into a driveway. The neighbour concerned has been approached for comment.
