People parking on my land & blocking access to my Business - What Can I do?

Mrs_justjohn

Right guys I need to pick your brains.....

I own a commercial premises and the access to it is via an 'alley/private drive'. We are not talking a massive alley, it is approximately 2 car lengths, and you can see my premises, so they would know they are blocking access. The alley/drive runs between two commercial premises and the staff working in those premises have taken to parking in the alley/drive, thus blocking our access. We need access to our premises at ALL times and do not work 'regular hours'.

Now here is the important part .... I OWN THE ALLEY/DRIVE !!

Twice this week I have had to hunt for the driver of a car ...losing possibly 2 hours 'worktime'.

Now legally what can I do about this? I believe 'No parking' signs are not enforceable and I am guessing they wouldn't stop people who already know they shouldn't be parking there from doing so. I know that I can't clamp them (I am in Scotland). I also know I can't damage their cars. So what can I do?

Can I concrete in a 'lockable bollard' (not sure what they are called?) and should anyone park there use it to block them in? Or is that breaking a law?

Thanks for any help :T

Coupon-mad

You can't block in a car with a bollard as that counts as immobilisation (illegal in Scotland and soon to be illegal in England and Wales too).

You could park across them by accident, blocking them in 'by accident'...!

Could you instal a gate there?

Or you could use a couple of lockable posts to block the alley and only unlock & briefly put them down to drive the cars in that you want. They cost under £50 last time I googled them for a PPC troll who was insisting they cost a fortune.

And/or I would go for signs saying 'private property, no parking except for xxxxx business.' And drop a friendly note into the neighbouring business explaining that the alley is private and that due to rogue parking you are going to start enforcing tickets (even if you are not!). Staff there will at least think twice when they see a sign or bollard going up as well.

Then maybe look at this thread where there have been lots of suggestions including stickers on side windows, even self ticketing although I am loathe to suggest that as it's a rip-off if any stupid people with more money than sense actually pay:

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/3885091

The situation in that thread is different but some suggestions may be useful.

s_b

a parking barrier at the entrance would be my solution plus it gives you extra security on a night

interstellaflyer

Mrs_justjohn wrote: »

Right guys I need to pick your brains.....

I own a commercial premises and the access to it is via an 'alley/private drive'. We are not talking a massive alley, it is approximately 2 car lengths, and you can see my premises, so they would know they are blocking access. The alley/drive runs between two commercial premises and the staff working in those premises have taken to parking in the alley/drive, thus blocking our access. We need access to our premises at ALL times and do not work 'regular hours'.

Now here is the important part .... I OWN THE ALLEY/DRIVE !!

Twice this week I have had to hunt for the driver of a car ...losing possibly 2 hours 'worktime'.

Now legally what can I do about this? I believe 'No parking' signs are not enforceable and I am guessing they wouldn't stop people who already know they shouldn't be parking there from doing so. I know that I can't clamp them (I am in Scotland). I also know I can't damage their cars. So what can I do?

Can I concrete in a 'lockable bollard' (not sure what they are called?) and should anyone park there use it to block them in? Or is that breaking a law?

Thanks for any help :T

If the offenders are staff from other business premises next to you, can't you have a word with the owners/managers of those businessess, if they have any amout of decency, they would put out a memo to all staff telling them they must not park down your access road, maybe backing it up with the possibility of disalinary action.

interstellaflyer

s_b wrote: »

a parking barrier at the entrance would be my solution plus it gives you extra security on a night

Why should it take the OP to pay out for a barrier to stop this inconsiderate behaviour, that makes it sound like it's his fault people block his access, why not do as I suggested in previous post and have a word with the culprits employers.

Mrs_justjohn

interstellaflyer wrote: »

If the offenders are staff from other business premises next to you, can't you have a word with the owners/managers of those businessess, if they have any amout of decency, they would put out a memo to all staff telling them they must not park down your access road, maybe backing it up with the possibility of disalinary action.

I have spoken to both owners and whilst one was very helpful the other was not!

His attitude was that he couldn't/wouldn't get involved in what his staff did, and that was between me and them! To be fair before we bought the premises he used to park there all the time as the property was empty, but as soon as he realised it was back in use he stopped parking there. However he doesn't feel it's his job to police his staff

Coupon-mad

Mrs_justjohn wrote: »

I have spoken to both owners and whilst one was very helpful the other was not!

His attitude was that he couldn't/wouldn't get involved in what his staff did, and that was between me and them! To be fair before we bought the premises he used to park there all the time as the property was empty, but as soon as he realised it was back in use he stopped parking there. However he doesn't feel it's his job to police his staff

So do as I suggested and pick your plan of action - a gate, or signs, bollards, stickers, nasty notes on each car - your choice really. None of these solutions should cost more than £50 and nasty notes are free! As is parking 'accidentally' across the car or right up against their driver's door.

Have you looked at the other thread I linked, yet? Some good ideas on there.

interstellaflyer

Mrs_justjohn wrote: »

I have spoken to both owners and whilst one was very helpful the other was not!

His attitude was that he couldn't/wouldn't get involved in what his staff did, and that was between me and them! To be fair before we bought the premises he used to park there all the time as the property was empty, but as soon as he realised it was back in use he stopped parking there. However he doesn't feel it's his job to police his staff

Whilst they are at work he has duty to ensure his staff are acting apropriatly during work hours, and this would include not parking on other peoples property and not blocking access to other properties.

vax2002

Get a sign made :
Parking £15 per day
Tickets must be purchased from xxxxxxx
Contracts available.
Vehicles parked with no ticket will be pursued for the parking fee of £15.

tescobabe69

I certainly would'nt leave a carelessly discarded length of floorboard with one inch nails hammered though it lying around.

Half_way

Gate with padlaock/combination lock.
if you have a combinatin lock you cna grant access to those that need it easily.
as mentioned above, you can also try removable bollards, if the bollards are blocking the space then they cant park there.
Signs requesting No parking access required at all times parking tickets may be issued( although not enforcable its always polite to ask)
Fake/joke parking tickets, as mentioned above, coupled with some sort of letter saying that the person parking has incured a non obligatory parking charge of £10, of which payment should be made to X ( ie a local charity) and the letter posted to your buisness address