How to stop parking?

bazster

ManxRed wrote: »

If you are prepared to unblock her upon request, then I can't see that this is illegal. It would be illegal if you refused to unblock it when asked.

As stated, blocking her in would only be illegal if it's done with the intention of preventing the vehicle's removal. If there is no such intention (i.e. the "blocking" members are merely exercising their right to park on the club's property) then there is no illegality (and no obligation to move the blocking vehicles either).

You could also put up a large, clear sign stating "Parking Charge £100 per hour or part thereof, pay within", and then when they fail to pay apply to the DVLA for the RK details and pursue them for the unpaid hundreds of pounds.

Also, if as you suggested you are willing to go to the expense of solicitors you could seek an injunction to stop her parking there which, if she ignored it, would render her liable to arrest.

LadyDee

Thanks everyone for taking the trouble to reply.

I think I have ideas now to put to the members, possibly forcing her to ask to be let out could get aggravating for her, especially if we happen to be on the green and she is obliged to wait until we finish an end (10mins) each time she wants to get out is the best thing to try first. It is the norm for the members so we wouldn't be treating her any differently.

bod1467

I would make her wait until the game is finished.

bugslet

maninthestreet wrote: »

As previously stated, this would be illegal.

bazster wrote: »

No it wouldn't. Immobilising a vehicle on private land is only illegal if it's done with the intention of preventing its removal.

If the members are merely parking where they are entitled to park, and blocking her car is simply collateral damage, that would not be illegal.

We are a small company with a warehouse with a fenced off yard in front that we use as a car park for our employees. In front of the yard is an area of hard standing that allows access to our yard and that of our neighbour. We are also about a mile away from Man U's ground so as you can guess, parking can be an issue on match days.

We have a sign on our gates asking that people keep the area clear as we need 24 hour access, our staff come and go at all hours of the day and night.

We had trouble when people would park in front of the gates, despite seeing cars parked in the car park. I spoke to our solicitor who said basically, that it wasn't a police matter and that there was nothing I could do about it unless I wanted to employ a parking company or pursue the matter civilly. So I would take it that if you blocked this woman in, then she wouldn't have any recourse - I may be wrong, but that seems logical based on my solicitors advice.

As it happened, the situation sorted itself out when someone took it upon themselves to charge for parking on roads and they kept our gates clear. In the interim though, I shifted a few cars with a trolley jack, put them back in more or less the 'right' place. * whistles nonchalently*:)

fisherjim

Herzlos wrote: »

If it's a private social club, there's no real need for a mobile number as you'll all be in the same bar / lawn anyway. Maybe a note saying "Due to lack of space please double park. Ask at the bar if blocked".

And put a combination lock on the door to the club that only members have the details to so she can't get in!:p

bazster

Incidentally if the entrance to the car park is amenable to being barrier-protected out-of-hours then a simple chain, with a couple of posts and a padlock, would suffice:

http://www.ultrasecuredirect.com/acatalog/No_Parking_Removable_Parking_Posts_Chain.html

Not fantastically secure but it doesn't need to be. Any trespasser breaking it to get in and park would be causing criminal damage and reported to PC Plod accordingly.

Which might be a sensible precaution anyway. Certainly in my neck of the woods any patch of land which is not physically protected is liable to be infested by "travellers" as soon as your back is turned.

Herzlos

You don't even need those posts. A length of chain hanging across the gap at a couple of feet off the ground with a "no parking" sign hanging from the middle would suffice and might cost £10 from a DIY store.

Dublindel

It's also illegal to use a tyre valve removal key on someone else's car which would mean they can't pump them up unless they also have a key. 4 flat tyres. Not legal tho.

bazster

Dublindel wrote: »

It's also illegal to use a tyre valve removal key on someone else's car which would mean they can't pump them up unless they also have a key. 4 flat tyres. Not legal tho.

I suspect most people are too stupid to carry a foot-pump or know how to re-inflate a flat tyre even if the valve core is still in place!

hoohoo

Depending on how busy your members are you (or more properly the land occupier) can take her to court for trespass for each occurrence.

You can charge her a nominal £1 each time, but with court costs it will end up around £100. I'm sure she will get the message after that.

You have already made it plain to her that continued parking is trespassing. Next step is to get her details from the DVLA, then a letter before claim, then a claim.