A woman says she has been “living in darkness” after a Spanish lorry was left parked outside her home for weeks.
Mary-Jo Lyons says the “huge obstruction” parked directly outside where she lives in Packham Road, Northfleet, on the morning of Tuesday, December 13.
She didn’t see anyone getting in or out of the lorry and it remained in the same place the entire time – up until this morning (January 15).
Before its departure, she explained: “It’s parked directly outside of my house and only one car can get through that part of the road which basically makes it a single lane.
“I live opposite Shears Green Infant School and you know what children are like, I sometimes worry that they may dart out.
“I keep thinking it’s just a matter of time before something might happen.”
After it appeared, she tried contacting Gravesham council, Kent Police and the DVLA – but she said she was given “little help”.
She added: “The police department told me it was a Spanish lorry.
“Everyone has fobbed me off and no one is taking accountability.
“I’m just getting annoyed at how long this is taking and no one has contacted me, I’m always the one having to chase them up.”
Mary-Jo, who moved to the road from Rochester in 2018, said the view out of her living room window made her feel “really down” over the past month.
She added: “I feel like I’m living in a fish bowl.
“I don’t have my blinds open fully because you can’t see anything. I have a little postage stamp lawn and a hedge, and then the view of that lorry just hits you.
“It was there all throughout the holidays and it really made me feel quite down because I was on my own due to health issues and I couldn’t get out.
“I never let things bother me and I’m a very positive person but I love seeing the colour green and nature.
“Usually I get to see the big green field at the school out my window and at Christmas you can see the lights, it’s lovely.
“But this year I couldn’t see anything other than this huge white block. It feels like I’m living in darkness.”
The lorry was also partially blocking her next-door neighbour’s home and the people who live above them, as well as her upstairs neighbour.
This morning, the lorry was finally removed which Mary-Jo says is a “relief”.
She added: “When I looked and it was gone I was amazed.
“It’s nice to see people walking by and life happening from my window again.”
But she added: “I’m worried it could happen again as there are no double yellow lines.”
A Gravesham council spokesman said it was made aware of the HGV last week.
In a statement before its removal, the council said: “We have been in contact with the Spanish owners, who have confirmed it has not been abandoned and is not parked in an area where there are any parking restrictions.
“As such we have no powers to remove it.”
Kent Police confirmed it was called to the road on December 18 after a report that a lorry had been parked there for six days.
Local officers attended and no offences were identified.
After weeks of waiting, Mary-Jo says she doesn’t know who moved the lorry.
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