Parking Problems

[motorbiking]

I wonder if anyone has any clever ideas on the following problem. This road is a private road, owned by the houses at the back. I own one of the houses. The main road is in a parking control zone, so lots of people park on our private road in order to avoid buying a permit. Its getting to the point that the same cars seem to be permanently parked there. We've tried no parking signs, but they get ignored and people are usually aggressive when challenged.

I was trying to think of the cheapest way of installing physical barriers. Perhaps some posts with combination padlocks. Would there be any planning requirements for such things? My worry is emergency services access..

 

[DevilDamo]

Between you and the other residents, can you not look to appoint a parking enforcement company and part of which would include formal no parking signs?

Or you could look to install some electronic gates of which only the residents can enter? Gates over 1m high would require Planning approval. However, the rules may be different as they would be gates that serve a number of properties so would require approval regardless of their height.

 

[bernardgreen]

Would a highly visible chain across the entrance be effective ?, just needs to be fixed at one end and hooked on at the other end,. Maybe later a combination lock if people start unhooking the chain.

 

[Mottie]

Its getting to the point that the same cars seem to be permanently parked there.

Perhaps a polite note on A4 paper attached to the front screen and both side windows with jam or honey? Maybe a sign warning them about thefts from cars in that street resulting in broken side windows....

 

[^woody^]

I know a company with a similar problem in their staff carpark. They use A4 size self adhesive signs placed on the windscreen and they place these centre to the driver's sight line, advising of the transgression and asking not to park their again.

The thing is, and I am sure it's intentional, but the signs are made with a strong adhesive that is not water soluble, and the sign won't peel off but breaks into just the piece between your finger and thumb.

These take ages to get off and then require something like meths or alcohol to remove the adhesive. And they seem to work.

 

[motorbiking]

I want to avoid criminal damage.

The idea of a chain across the road is a good one but we want to avoid having to open and close it each time.

 

[Mottie]

I was trying to think of the cheapest way of installing physical barriers. Perhaps some posts with combination padlocks.

The idea of a chain across the road is a good one but we want to avoid having to open and close it each time

How would you open the padlocks without opening and closing them each time? If you don’t want that it’s going to have to be something remotely operated. That won’t be cheap!

 

[big-all]

a fake penalty parking notice on both back and front off all the residence who legitimately park there as it should put most off if every car has been ticketed
along with signs say "no parking private road checks twice an hour" or random frequent checks what ever you fancy

 

[JohnD]

my commercial premises have a car park, and a swing-down pole, which from time to time is lowered and padlocked to prevent anyone claiming they have established rights to use it. We always lock it, and photograph it, over the Christmas holiday. A gallows gate would also do and can be made from a couple of pieces of decking board, brightly painted, which is quite cheap and weather resistant. It does not have to be big enough to block the entire lane. You can place a couple of large, heavy planters to prevent people driving round it. If the padlock is on the inside, people approaching will not be able to tell if it is locked or just shut.

you need to padlock it open, when it is not closed, to prevent vandals having a laugh.

If people are parking for work, you could get one of the early-risers to lock it before they arrive, and sometimes in the afternoon at going-home time. Affix a notice with a mobile phone number of a keyholder. The keyholder is under no obligation to open it quickly, and should avoid the miscreants seeing where he lives. Some retired people get up very early, and can be quite crotchety.

BTW you can get "Fire Brigade" padlocks which have a standard key for emergency access. They are often painted yellow, and can be bought with a chain to prevent them being taken away.,

 

[Tigercubrider]

If you can buy fire brigade padlocks, so can the people parking?
Most fire fighters I know would just drive through a wooden barrier. Or bolt cut a lock

My work uses permits that we pay for. They also employ a parking guy who prints out warning and actual tickets ( they have a shell company that hides the fact that it's actually an internal employee)
So a legitimate looking ticket can be issued first saying that this is a one time warning, details logged.

A private road a few hundred yards from me have a swing gate and posts. Every now and again they close it. Potentially, the residents could issue a rota to warn everyone in the road that it will be locked between certain hours/days. Then people would need to get out of their cars to unlock, but not all the time
If parkers get used to seeing a closed gate, they may choose to go elsewhere.

I grew up in a private street (not entirely sure of the difference) and after we moved, the residents fitted no entry signs at both ends. Dubious legality but they've been there's 20 years.

I assume that joining together and paying for a swing barrier is a no- go? Would there be such a thing as a battery operated unit that could be sited at the entrance but use a lightweight boom?

 

[Tigercubrider]

https://www.barriersdirect.co.uk/ba...er-electronic-battery-and-solar-powered-p5299


https://www.barriersdirect.co.uk/ba...7/automatic-rising-chain-barrier-2-16m-p20647

An enterprising person could create a rising chain barrier for not much money, using simple Amazon remote systems/ garage door parts?

Both linked barriers are around £2k

 

[motorbiking]

The barrier idea looks good, though a swing gate is at less risk of personal injury liability. A gate that risks being closed with a combo padlock might work to deter... I might try some more aggressive signs. But something like this, I recon could be installed.. Could even use wood.

 

[Tigercubrider]

You could fit a warning notice
"This gate may be locked at random times"

And issue all road owners with matching keys.

 

[Alec_t]

How about a prominent notice "Private road. Wheel clamping in operation. Release fee £xx"

 

[Mottie]

How about a prominent notice "Private road. Wheel clamping in operation. Release fee £xx"

Wheel clamping is illegal on private property. Most drivers know that.