When is a public car park private and vice versa

usignuolo

There is a car park near me, on a vacant plot of land next to an empty office building. It has large signs up saying it is a public pay and display car park. It is however run by Minster Baywatch who have signs around saying there will be a £60 charge if you overstay your paid for time.

It is possible that this is public land (owned by the council) but managed by a private firm or their behalf. There is a lot of redevelopment going on and the council has a policy of making land available for public parking while it is waiting to be developed. If so what rules apply to enforcing fines or penalties or charges or whatever they are called this week?

bargepole

usignuolo wrote: »

There is a car park near me, on a vacant plot of land next to an empty office building. It has large signs up saying it is a public pay and display car park. It is however run by Minster Baywatch who have signs around saying there will be a £60 charge if you overstay your paid for time.

It is possible that this is public land (owned by the council) but managed by a private firm or their behalf. There is a lot of redevelopment going on and the council has a policy of making land available for public parking while it is waiting to be developed. If so what rules apply to enforcing fines or penalties or charges or whatever they are called this week?

If Minster Baywatch were running it on behalf of the council, the council logo should appear somewhere on the signs and tickets.

It sounds like it's a private car park, but you could make certain by telephoning the council,

peter_the_piper

You never know the council may not realise Minster are ticketing there. They don't like others stealing what they consider to be theirs.

Sir_Roger_deLodger

peter_the_piper wrote: »

You never know the council may not realise Minster are ticketing there. They don't like others stealing what they consider to be theirs.

Some Councils, on the other hand, don't mind stealing what ISNT theirs...

http://www.thisisstaffordshire.co.uk/news/FINE-MESS/article-1188937-detail/article.html

usignuolo

No nothing on the notices refers to the council anywhere. But it does say it is a Public car park, in big letters. There is even a large P sign in the main road pointing to it. The adjacent office block is empty awaiting redevelopment of the entire site as a new bus garage.

If site has been sold to a public utility (Transport for London) and is being run for them by Minister while waiting for redevelopment, does that make it public or private?

deano19690

maybe `public` just means that its for use by the general public...
when paying at the meter that is..

as opposed to private car park,
for workers of a certain company only and not open to the general public

juliescot

Sounds as if it is a car park, owned by someone other than the council, which is being "administered" by Minster Baywatch - well known to send out letters containing faslehoods.