4 days ago
I transformed my council house garden into an extra parking space to help neighbours but people pointed out same issue
A DAD-OF-12 has revealed his freebie garden makeover after converting it into an extra parking space - all to stay on his neighbours' good side.
Ben, 50, and Zoe Sullivan, 46, and their bumper brood make up one of Scotland's biggest families.
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The pair are parents to Elizabeth, 20, Olivia, 18, Noah, 15, Eva, 13, Toby, 12, Agnes, seven, Joseph, six, Flo, three, and two sets of twins, Charlotte and Isabelle, 17, and Leah and Erin, nine.
They live in a six-bedroom council house in Burghead, Moray, where they regularly document their hectic lives on their YouTube channel.
After buying a Fiat 500 as a "runaround car" for their eldest daughters, the couple were worried they were taking too much on-street parking away from their neighbours
They already have two people carriers for ferrying around the whole family on day trips and holidays, and only had room for one car in their driveway.
And they feared that having two cars parked on the street could create an issue.
Ben said: "Since the girls have now got their car, the issue with parking is raising its head.
"We don't want to take the mickey. We don't want to take up too much space outside because obviously it's a cul-de-sac.
"There's lots of houses and most homes these days have cars and some two cars and it's just creating a bit of a traffic jam out there.
"What we don't want to do is just to overtake an entire road with cars."
As a solution, they decided to sacrifice their spare front garden space and converted it into another parking spot instead.
I'm fuming after nosy neighbours left note on my car asking my 'plans for parking', despite having a four-car driveway
Ben said the decision "improves curb appeal and makes their council home more functional".
In a recent video, he documented his one-day transformation of the front garden - and it didn't cost a penny.
Alongside sons Noah and Toby, Ben removed the front garden fence, digged out the deep fence posts and filled the holes with mud and stones that were already in the garden.
Their job was made easier as the council had already removed half of the fence to accommodate for sewage works.
And Ben "got the green light" from officials to remove the rest of the fencing too.
Showing off the finished results, the delighted dad said: "That just leaves the little runabout just parked near to our house so it just saves a lot on space.
"We're not taking up too much space and we've actually got a place to park."
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But after sharing the transformation on social media, people were quick to point out a potential issue.
"You need a dropped kerb now putting in which is an expensive job", one person said.
Somebody else chimed in: "I guess if the kerb isn't dropped you run the risk of being blocked in if someone parks there?"
And a third added: "Some jealous eejit will report for not having a drop kerb and removing the fence/posts."
But Ben insisted that: the kerb is "partially dropped already" and added: "It's fine for now."
"I put an application in with the council, plus it was the council who removed half the fence for us in the first place ️
"People will always try and trip us up unfortunately there are little bullies everywhere."
Social media support
Other people, however, were full of praise for the savvy dad's DIY project.
One said: "Wow, I bet it will make a huge difference getting the cars on the drive! Much easier for you all... easier to load up... and safer off the road. Great job all."
Someone else wrote: "Great job on the driveway, hopefully will make a difference especially now with the girls car. Well done to your helpers too."
"Nice you can park on the drive now. So considerate of you as you have three cars", chimed in a third.
A fourth agreed: "Front is looking good, much better use of the space in the front, and leaves the street less crowded."
"Great job converting it into a driveway!! Looks really good!!" gushed a fifth.
And a sixth said: "That's a great idea parking the two bigger cars in the driveway and the wee Fiat on the street it would be lovely if more neighbours were thoughtful like this and considered others."
The garden renovation comes after the Sullivans were forced to hit back at trolls who claim they're jobless spongers on benefits - insisting they couldn't be more wrong.
Zoe was faced with hateful messages after revealing she spends £400 on the weekly food shop.
Opening up about the hate, Zoe said: "There is this assumption that number one, we don't work and number two we bring in mass incomes on benefits and then spend it all on rubbish.
"People seem to be so angry at large families, [they] just assume you have children and you suddenly become a sponge on society.
"We pay our taxes, we pay our bills, we pay our council tax, we pay our rent, we pay all that stuff."
"Obviously getting us by, there's 14 of us, it takes quite a lot of money. But we budget, we make ends meet."
