Council Photographing My Car

peter_the_piper

headpin wrote: »

You do not need planning consent to park in your front garden in normal circumstances. If you are in a conservation area or live in a listed building then you may need consent. Also if you are in rented accomodation or similar you may need the landlords permission.


If you intend to pave over anything in the front of a property (or have done so since 2008) there are new requirements regarding permeable surfacing if over 5 square metres. See the Planning Portal for info or http://www.communities.gov.uk/documents/planningandbuilding/pdf/pavingfrontgardens.pdf

Regarding the photographs put an FoI into the Council asking for anything they have to do with your property and the taking of photos.

I think what the poster refers to with the planning permission regarding the lowering of the kerb to allow you to cross to your drive. Technically you could be contravening some regs by just driving over the kerb to your garden.

chambta

I rang the County Council today and was put through to the highways department. Initially the person I spoke to seemed confused about events and didn't seem to think anyone from there would be doing what I described. She said she was disappointed to hear that they were rather blunt in their manner and said that they certainly should have explained what they were doing if asked by a householder.

I asked her to look into it and call me back and a few minutes later a rather humourless lady called me. She told me that they had been taking pictures of various vehicles on my street (if so not yesterday as they came specifically to my house) and that she was actually looking at the 'offending' pictures at that moment. I asked her what powers they had and what would happen next and she said nothing other to 'wait for the letter'.

She seemed keen to find out how long I'd be parking like that as if it was a new arrangement and seemed put out to find that it's been like that since May 2006 when I bought the house and probably for many, many years before.

To answer your question Neil there is a dropped kerb directly in front of my house. Perhaps I need to have words with my next door neighbour as he has no dropped kerb and uses mine to park at an angle at the front of the his house but without overhanging the pavement. I could do what he does and he would have no access to the front of his then without riding up the kerb. Also the guy four doors down is literally just levelled his front garden to provide an identical sized parking space and he currently uses blocks of wood to get up the kerb! What will they do with him?

I haven't an issue with parking on the road other than paying the £50 for the permit though if we're all prevented from parking as we do there'll be more cars than spaces.

I look forward to getting the letter.

Neil_B

redlooney wrote: »

they would be covered under RIPA regulations re investigating parking offences and YES, they would abuse this excellent piece of legislation in order to pursue matters re parking

Whilst RIPA may indeed be used for such purposes of gathering 'evidence' (such abuse of the purpose of the Act being of some concern to the home Secretary -- as he has stated) I fail to see how the ''YES'' comes into it. They can gather as much evidence as they like but unless a CEO attaches a PCN to the vehicle at the time then there is diddly squat they can do with that 'evidence'.

How did you imagine they could act? OP states that Council say a 'letter' is on the way. Maybe they are just going to politely ask everyone to park appropriately?

chambta

I'll let you know what the letter says when it comes.

anewman

You forgot to get your camera out and take pictures of them and their van!

Neil_B wrote: »

They can gather as much evidence as they like but unless a CEO attaches a PCN to the vehicle at the time then there is diddly squat they can do with that 'evidence'.

Would this not come under the recent legislation change though which means they can issue fines without putting it on the windscreen (if people drive off).

Regarding parking as close as you can to the wall, these are available for garages http://www.topoftheline.com/park-zone-garage-sensor.html not sure if you could install one outside without it being damaged.

chambta

anewman wrote: »

You forgot to get your camera out and take pictures of them and their van!


Would this not come under the recent legislation change though which means they can issue fines without putting it on the windscreen (if people drive off).

Regarding parking as close as you can to the wall, these are available for garages http://www.topoftheline.com/park-zone-garage-sensor.html not sure if you could install one outside without it being damaged.

You know what-if I was in I 100% would have. And been a right ar*e about it too.

Neil_B

anewman wrote: »

Would this not come under the recent legislation change though which means they can issue fines without putting it on the windscreen (if people drive off).

How would that apply here? PCNs may not be served by post if the opportunity exists to issue them at the time of contravention.

Viper_7

If parking partially on the pavement is common and has been for years, say due to narrow roads, then it's highly unlikely there will be any further action. It's soooo common now and there will be no follow up.

If parking ( well technically driving on) the pavement and there is loads of room then yes, can be charged.

scrounger_2

molerat wrote: »

Pavements are for pedestrians, not to park (or partially park) cars on. Just wait till a passing buggy / wheelchair takes a nice big scrape out of your bumper. :rolleyes:

Dont have to park on the pavement for that to happen!

dippy3103

redlooney wrote: »

If the males taking the photographs were from the council, they would be covered under RIPA regulations re investigating parking offences and YES, they would abuse this excellent piece of legislation in order to pursue matters re parking

I don't think that RIPA would apply here- the surveillance is overt (ie blantant) as opposed to overt. Especially if they were taking photos of the bit on the pavement. There would still be a code of conduct as to how the staff should have behaved towards your partner though.