Want to be fair to the public - Advice needed

thehullram

Wanted to try and get some advice of the people on here who know far more than I do about the subject of parking fines etc...

I am the manager of a private members sports club with a very limited size car park (45 spaces for 1800 members). We are fairly close to a number of shops and therefore get a number of non members using the car park meaning our members can't get parked.

We have tried a number of different ways of stopping non-members using the car park (parking permits, letters on windscreens, spot checks, manning the car park at various times) without much success. The Board of the Club are now looking at hiring a private company to oversee the car park.

Obviously, by looking at this board, there are a number of these companies that have a horrible reputation and the advice from posters is just to ignore these kind of companies. Is there any kind of company / way of enforcing so that only valid users to use the car park?

Any advice will be appreciated, and while I have much sympathy with a lot of the posts I have read, there must be some alternative to anyone being able to park in private car parks whenever they want for as long as they want, without any repercussinons.

Help???

The_Slithy_Tove

A solution I have seen used, which causes inconvenience to the driver of "offending" cars, but no lasting damage or cost, is to get some No Parking stickers (maybe with some explanatory text) printed onto adhesive paper. I mean the kind of moisten-and-stick label that is an absolute b***er to remove, and requires lots of scraping and water to remove the residue. 2 or 3 of them stuck over the driver's side of the windscreen is a real nuisance, yet the driver can hardly claim it's unfair.

peter_the_piper

You could ask the council if they could help you out, sometimes councils do ""take over"" the private car park. Be sure that you want them first.

esmerobbo

Its difficult but unfortunately it would be some of your 1800 members who would receive the threats from any PPC.
They will come in with promises to sort your problems out, but they will want paying so any and all will receive their charges.
Is a barrier system out of the question?

Stephen_Leak

Use a barrier with key code access. A local marina, whose owner I know, uses one and it works.

SodG24

I've seen the sticker method work very well at a place I worked. A4 size ones - one on the windscreen and one on the drivers door window. Where I worked we had very few parking spaces and any employee not given a space but who used one would get stickered - nobody ever made the mistake twice.

You don't mention if you have an open car park or one with limited access - i.e. one way in one way out. If it's the latter then look at a barrier like a lot of hotels use. If the former could you use some sort of posts that fold down ? Use a PPC at your peril I'm afraid.

Sambucus_Nigra

Or just let anyone use it? I know it's controversial but what the heck...

peter_the_piper

Sambucus_Nigra wrote: »

Or just let anyone use it? I know it's controversial but what the heck...

I think that's what is happening hence his post here.

Sambucus_Nigra

peter_the_piper wrote: »

I think that's what is happening hence his post here.

Yeah - I got that. But I can't see what the actual problem is - apart from non members using it. Apart from installing a barrier and giving people the passcode [but then again, they could pass the passcode to their friends and relatives anyway] - there is no law as we know to allow private parking companies the ability to 'fine' people. And if everyone just ignored the 'Fines' they are no further forward and have spent money on engaging a company and created bad will in the area.

peter_the_piper

45 spaces, 1800 members, inconsiderate shoppers, I can see why he is asking. Status Quo not really an option.

Sambucus_Nigra

peter_the_piper wrote: »

45 spaces, 1800 members, inconsiderate shoppers, I can see why he is asking. Status Quo not really an option.

Why not? If they are still in business then it seems to be working so far. What if members use it for shopping? Or for shopping before or after the gym? For 45 spaces, it's alot of work to do for very little gain.