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Grrrr... get awf my land!

I have office premises in town with a long drive with walls either side. It's enough for two cars side by side and - at a real push - perhaps 3 cars deep.

Today, I left the car at home and ran to work. My wife was going to park at my work later in the day, in order to take our 2 boys to an event in town. My work colleague was driving in, but running late.

Unbeknown to me (I was in the office and don't have a view of the drive), two idiots had parked side by side at the end of our drive nearest the road, blocking the entire access to the rest of the drive. :mad:

My staff couldn't get in and couldn't park anywhere nearby. My wife and children couldn't get any access either. Clients couldn't get access. I can't believe people are so selfish sometimes.

I have clamped people in the past (invariably more hassle than its worth due to the abuse I get and the interruption it causes to my daily working routine) but stopped doing so when new legislation was introduced a few years back and I would have to buy an annual license for the best part of £100.

What's my best means of tackling this? Buying a license? Can I get someone to just tow these vehicles away if I put up a suitable sign? (not sure that would work as the cars aren't usually there for longer than 20-30 mins at a time, so a good chance they'd have gone by the time anyone arrived to town away). Anything else I can do?

It doesn't happen often but when it does it's a real pain.
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Comments

  • Short-term I can't help - sorry.

    Long term - can you put in one of those lockable/removable bollards? Or a key-fob operated barrier? Not cheap, though
    Warning ..... I'm a peri-menopausal axe-wielding maniac ;)
  • Trust_2
    Trust_2 Posts: 369 Forumite
    causing an obstruction, tow them out of the way!,(If you can!) I have done it a few times, but make sure you do not damage the vehicle!

    Of course phone local police first and advise them what you are doing and why you are doing it!

    The law is weird with this as physically they are not committing a traffic offence!
  • mymatebob
    mymatebob Posts: 2,199 Forumite
    Are there any markings on the road to indicate it is an entrance? A dropped kerb.
    It may be that you can the local cops to come and remove them if they are causing an obstruction.
  • altyfc
    altyfc Posts: 788 Forumite
    Short-term I can't help - sorry.

    Long term - can you put in one of those lockable/removable bollards? Or a key-fob operated barrier? Not cheap, though

    That's a possibility. However, the street is a cul-de-sac and I have the widest drive on the street. Therefore I am the most popular point for three point turns. It'd be inevitable that someone wouldn't damage it and drive off. Has already happened to the wall on a couple of occasions.
    Trust wrote:
    causing an obstruction, tow them out of the way!,(If you can!) I have done it a few times, but make sure you do not damage the vehicle!

    Of course phone local police first and advise them what you are doing and why you are doing it!

    The law is weird with this as physically they are not committing a traffic offence!

    As I understood it, the police are uninterested as it's a private matter. Tried phoning them on one occasion previously and I think this was pretty much the sentiment given. As for towing them out of the way, not sure how easy that is, but the only place I could really tow them to is probably out into the road. Parking is limited (which is why they're going on my drive!)
    mymatebob wrote:
    Are there any markings on the road to indicate it is an entrance? A dropped kerb.
    It may be that you can the local cops to come and remove them if they are causing an obstruction.

    Yes, there is a dropped kerb and there are double yellows across the entrance to the driveway.
  • altyfc wrote: »
    As I understood it, the police are uninterested as it's a private matter.

    Correct - it's trespass which is a civil matter. I don't think you can simply tow the vehicle either. Oddly, I think you have to "give notice" and give the owner the opportunity to remove the vehicle!

    Do you have a friendly solicitor? Five mins will confirm your options, which I fear are rather limited. It can only get worse over the next few weeks with Christmas/Sale shoppers!
    Warning ..... I'm a peri-menopausal axe-wielding maniac ;)
  • altyfc
    altyfc Posts: 788 Forumite
    Are there some friendly solicitors out there? :);) Sadly, I don't know any... no. But will keep my eyes and ears out, thanks.

    And yes, we're just around the corner from the middle of town, and have a Premier Inn being constructed across the road (so lots of works vehicles around), so I think it's going to get worse before it gets better.

    Oh well.
  • Conor_3
    Conor_3 Posts: 6,944 Forumite
    altyfc wrote: »
    I have office premises in town with a long drive with walls either side. It's enough for two cars side by side and - at a real push - perhaps 3 cars deep.

    Today, I left the car at home and ran to work. My wife was going to park at my work later in the day, in order to take our 2 boys to an event in town. My work colleague was driving in, but running late.

    Unbeknown to me (I was in the office and don't have a view of the drive), two idiots had parked side by side at the end of our drive nearest the road, blocking the entire access to the rest of the drive. :mad:

    My staff couldn't get in and couldn't park anywhere nearby. My wife and children couldn't get any access either. Clients couldn't get access. I can't believe people are so selfish sometimes.

    I have clamped people in the past (invariably more hassle than its worth due to the abuse I get and the interruption it causes to my daily working routine) but stopped doing so when new legislation was introduced a few years back and I would have to buy an annual license for the best part of £100.

    What's my best means of tackling this? Buying a license? Can I get someone to just tow these vehicles away if I put up a suitable sign? (not sure that would work as the cars aren't usually there for longer than 20-30 mins at a time, so a good chance they'd have gone by the time anyone arrived to town away). Anything else I can do?

    It doesn't happen often but when it does it's a real pain.

    Chain across the drive with a padlock with the 4 digit codes on. Give the code to all the staff.

    Big notice on saying that it's private property, private parking and if people who aren't authorised park on it, it is trespassing. There's a £100 release fee.

    Next time someone parks on the drive, put the chain on and leave it. When they come into the office to complain, it's £100 to get their car out.
  • altyfc
    altyfc Posts: 788 Forumite
    Conor wrote: »
    Chain across the drive with a padlock with the 4 digit codes on. Give the code to all the staff.

    Big notice on saying that it's private property, private parking and if people who aren't authorised park on it, it is trespassing. There's a £100 release fee.

    Next time someone parks on the drive, put the chain on and leave it. When they come into the office to complain, it's £100 to get their car out.

    Don't you have to have a license to do that?
  • markelock
    markelock Posts: 1,735 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture Combo Breaker
    I think the sign would be a decent deterrant? What about the threat of monkeys?

    they'd do some damage to tyres and wipers I would imagine.

    if you parked behind the offenders, would you still be on your land?
    Remember the time he ate my goldfish? And you lied and said I never had goldfish. Then why did I have the bowl Bart? Why did I have the bowl?
  • MX5huggy
    MX5huggy Posts: 7,074 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    Just put some signs up. Could go for something complicated but, No Parking, Clamping in Operation will probably be sufficient.
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