Knowing in advance the best way to deal with this parking issue?

Blues_skies

Hi
Our primary school doesn't have a car park and the streets surrounding it, for safety reasons, are double yellow lines and a very busy 'a' road and roundabout just outside the school entrance.

I always walk to school when I can, but on my three working days a week I have no choice but to use the car as otherwise I wouldn't get to work on time (we are on the outskirts of the catchment and its a 15 minute walk each way. This is unfortunately the same situation for many of the parents. I'd love to walk every day, but its just not possible.

The school shares a small cul de sac off the main road with a large chain pub which has a huge car park (guessing 100+ spaces). Until now there has been an agreement with the pub for parents to be able to use the car park for short term drop offs/collections as there are no other options available.

Now a sign has gone up saying that LPS are installing pay and display machines and as of the end of this week, you have to pay a pound every time you want to park there. Users of the pub, spending more than £5, will be reimbursed. So in other words, for the 3 days I have to use the car, I'll need to spend £2 a day for the 10 minutes total I am there.

I can't drop the kids and run, they are too little and actually need taking into school.

I'm livid at the pub. We used to use it but not any more after this! I totally appreciate this is their land and theirs to do what they want with, but they have so many spaces and the reason stated on the signs is that they are 'guaranteeing their patrons easy parking and safety'. Rubbish! its totally non-community spirited which is effectively going to endanger all the children as nervous parents jostle for spaces on double yellows or have to rush over an 'a' road and park much further away. The thing I am most annoyed about is that they expect you to buy a ticket even at 8.30am when the pub is hours away from even being open!!!

I don't understand the enforcement with private car parks such as this. Some of the parents are saying they are just going to ignore the machines and carry on anyway.

What is the opinion on this generally? Just wondering how much they can enforce this? Should we just park there anyway I wonder?

Guys_Dad

If you want to avoid any hassle, POPLA, PPCs, BPA etc etc, then get a few placards printed , get a few mums out to "demonstrate" outside the pub.

Then tell the local newspapers.

They love this sort of thing and it would be most interesting to get the landlord's comments and reasons for putting the PPCs in.

And how are you going to get a refund if you spend £5? How will the PPC know who has spent £5 or not?

All looks very unworkable to me.

bod1467

Guys_Dad wrote: »

And how are you going to get a refund if you spend £5? How will the PPC know who has spent £5 or not?

Perhaps the P&D ticket has a tear-off piece that you submit as a "discount coupon" when paying for your purchases? So it is the pub itself that does the refund, and the PPC doesn't need to know either way?

Guys_Dad

bod1467 wrote: »

Perhaps the P&D ticket has a tear-off piece that you submit as a "discount coupon" when paying for your purchases? So it is the pub itself that does the refund, and the PPC doesn't need to know either way?

Follow that through.

So how does the PPC detect which number plates have spent £5 and which haven't so they know which cars to send NTKs to?

If they are not going to send out NTKs, then OP has no reason to worry, although given the time schools start, any car using the car park then is not likely to be drinking.

Is there no way that you could ask the licensee if he could offer a dispensation at school drop off time as he is not going to be inconvenienced. If he could give parents a 15-20 minute window.

Blues_skies

I've emailed the chain brewery today, but doubt they will budge. The machine are already in and bagged over. Yes I believe its a two part ticket. You display part on your dashboard, and take the other part in for your refund. If you spend a fiver you get your pound back. There will be a warden, and I think sensing trouble the sign also says that at 'high traffic' times there may be two wardens.

I did think about the local paper. Maybe I should check with the school first that they don't object to me doing that!

bod1467

Guys_Dad wrote: »

So how does the PPC detect which number plates have spent £5 and which haven't so they know which cars to send NTKs to?

They look for the P&D ticket being displayed? Whether or not they have spent £5 is irrelevant - that only relates to the REFUND of the £1 parking charge.

Does that "follow that through"?

PS - I am NOT supporting the pub or the PPC. Just clarifying HOW they are planning to implement this. And by the OP's latest reply it seems I was right.

Guys_Dad

bod1467 wrote: »

They look for the P&D ticket being displayed? Whether or not they have spent £5 is irrelevant - that only relates to the REFUND of the £1 parking charge.

Does that "follow that through"?

PS - I am NOT supporting the pub or the PPC. Just clarifying HOW they are planning to implement this. And by the OP's latest reply it seems I was right.

Well it does, as you say. But I am absolutely astonished that the PPC would fund a warden or even 2 for a pub car park. It was so far outside my field of vision, I didn't even consider it.

So the wardens are going to be on call from 8.30 a.m. till chucking out time?

I am amazed.

peter_the_piper

There is a Local Parking Security ltd and a London Parking Solutions ltd, is it one of these or is it LPS? The first 2 are AOS members and LPS is not so won't be able to follow up.

Blues_skies

Thanks all. Its Local Parking Security (LPS) ltd on the signs. Another parent asked in the pub how it was going to work; were there going to be cameras, etc and the reply was that LPS and the chain pub have several pubs in the city and would have a warden who looked after 2 or 3 circulating at key times of 'concern'. The other pubs are town centre ones, but this one, the key times of 'concern' are school drop off and pick up, so that's when the warden will be about.

It's blatantly a money making exercise and nothing to do with the pub customers safety or them getting a space. They know if they swoop at a select time, they are likely to find a non-payer and therefore make money. I just wondered if 60 parents cars all parked at once what could they do anyway? I don't suppose the warden could write out 60 tickets in 10 minutes?!

Stroma

What a good way to lose customers, using a sledgehammer to crack a nut! The best way to deal with this is to get parents to stop using the pub, and ensure you tell the company that you are starting a parents group to spread the word about avoiding using this pub. When it closes for lack of business then you can use the car park.

Blues_skies

Should also add that in my particular case, I drive a company car, so I'm slightly concerned not to get dropped in the proverbial for parking somewhere I shouldn't without due fees being paid. Winging it when the car you are in isn't even your own isn't really sensible? If it was my own car I think I would be a bit more laid back!