"private parking" in a restricted parking zone?

[TheLoraxxZeus]

Street view here

I've been going to the coffee shop here for 4 years or so and it's becoming increasingly more difficult to find a parking space during the day. There is a free car park around the corner and marked bays further up and down the road. These are more often than not taken.

However opposite the shop is what I think is "private parking". I don't think there is any signage in these spots and they are often free, sometimes there is a car parked next to the coffee shop which I'm sure belongs to the owner of the pizza place.

Building opposite:



Next to coffee shop:



These don't appear to be marked and people are parking in them. Thoughts? Go for it and apologise if someone bhes? Steer clear and drive around a few times and wait for someone to leave? Nornally I just park right outside but with the nicer weather the parking attendants are out and about! It is clearly marked as restricted parking unless in a marked bay so I can't be mad if I ever get a ticket!

[skyebear]

I'd say go for it but also don't complain if a bicycle or wheelie bin takes the paint off your car.

[mrdelazouch]

TheLoraxxZeus said:

Street view here

I've been going to the coffee shop here for 4 years or so and it's becoming increasingly more difficult to find a parking space during the day. There is a free car park around the corner and marked bays further up and down the road. These are more often than not taken.

However opposite the shop is what I think is "private parking". I don't think there is any signage in these spots and they are often free, sometimes there is a car parked next to the coffee shop which I'm sure belongs to the owner of the pizza place.

Building opposite:



Next to coffee shop:



These don't appear to be marked and people are parking in them. Thoughts? Go for it and apologise if someone bhes? Steer clear and drive around a few times and wait for someone to leave? Nornally I just park right outside but with the nicer weather the parking attendants are out and about! It is clearly marked as restricted parking unless in a marked bay so I can't be mad if I ever get a ticket!

I doubt that the space next to the coffee shop is meant to be for cars. Why can't you park bit further up the road or around the corner and take a short stroll to the coffee shop?

[Type R Tom]

As the area is made out of the same material, I'd like to bet that parking restrictions apply, as they are usually back edge to back edge. You passed a sign on the way in that states "restricted parking zone at any time except in marked bays".

So no, you shouldn't park there unless you can prove it isn't public highway.

Edited by Type R Tom on Monday 16th June 12:30

[RSTurboPaul]

The local authority may have an electronic version of the Definitive Map on their website, which may have a layer for Highway Boundaries.

If not, you can request a copy for a small sum.

You could also search a map on the Land Registry site and request a copy of the reference number for the sites of interest - both of the locations pictured look to me like areas within land attached to the buildings, and not highway.

[Muzzer79]

TheLoraxxZeus said:

[

Next to coffee shop:



These don't appear to be marked and people are parking in them. Thoughts? Go for it and apologise if someone bhes?

The bike rack and big picture of a bike above it suggests that this is bike parking.

It's also the thoroughfare from the shop to the picnic bench to (presumably) enjoy one's coffee in the sun.

If I were the owner of the coffee shop, I'd be very annoyed if you parked there.

[Trif]

It looks a lot like a parking spot for self entitled people. Park in a proper parking spot and walk the last bit.

[Type R Tom]

Looks like they would have both been part of the public highway before the changes so you would get a ticket for parking there.

[Durzel]

That planter looks like it's there to gently encourage people not to just plonk a car there. That and the fact you would impede people riding their bikes up and into the stand there strongly suggests that it ought not to be considered a parking space for a car.

[Super Sonic]

I feel I may be missing something because it looks like a pedestrian area to me. Not part of the road at all. Tables and bicycle racks are not usually found on a carriageway.

[E-bmw]

I suspect they aren't actually parking spaces as you call them at all, that looks like part of the pavement outside the shop.

[E-bmw]

Trif said:

It looks a lot like a parking spot for self entitled people. Park in a proper parking spot and walk the last bit.

This.

[Yellow Lizud]

Take a flask of coffee with you when you leave home - problem solved!

[Pica-Pica]

E-bmw said:

Trif said:

It looks a lot like a parking spot for self entitled people. Park in a proper parking spot and walk the last bit.

This.

+ another

[Galibier]

And another.

[119]

Astonishing thread.

[TheLoraxxZeus]

Thanks for the input.

I did find it weird that people were parking in these spots, there are actually another 2 spots people park in that are behind the benches across the front of the shop and of course people park a bit further up before the butcher near the old fountain.

To the people that asked why I can't park further away:

I would park further away if there was actually places to park, like I said the free parking area behind here is usually full and all marked bays up the side of the road can be as well. The issue is that I am visiting during working hours, so all permanent parking bays are taken. Sometimes I'll get there in time to nab one at the 1 hour max parking but very seldom does that happen. On the weekend it's usually not bad though.

Yellow Lizud said:

Take a flask of coffee with you when you leave home - problem solved!

??? I'm literally driving here for a coffee on my days off or during lunch. I'm not passing by.

To the other snarky replies, jog on.

[TheLoraxxZeus]

Muzzer79 said:

If I were the owner of the coffee shop, I'd be very annoyed if you parked there.

Just as well you're not the owner of the shop then because you would be annoyed for the majority of the day considering the number of people that park there lol. Whenever the motorbike groups come through that's where they all park.

[ralphrj]

TheLoraxxZeus said:

Thanks for the input.

I did find it weird that people were parking in these spots, there are actually another 2 spots people park in that are behind the benches across the front of the shop and of course people park a bit further up before the butcher near the old fountain.

To the people that asked why I can't park further away:

I would park further away if there was actually places to park, like I said the free parking area behind here is usually full and all marked bays up the side of the road can be as well. The issue is that I am visiting during working hours, so all permanent parking bays are taken. Sometimes I'll get there in time to nab one at the 1 hour max parking but very seldom does that happen. On the weekend it's usually not bad though.

Yellow Lizud said:

Take a flask of coffee with you when you leave home - problem solved!

??? I'm literally driving here for a coffee on my days off or during lunch. I'm not passing by.

To the other snarky replies, jog on.

All the roads leading to that point are signposted 'Restricted Parking Zone' further clarified with 'At any time except in signed bays'. It seems quite clear that you can't park there.

[Countdown]

TheLoraxxZeus said:

Muzzer79 said:

If I were the owner of the coffee shop, I'd be very annoyed if you parked there.

Just as well you're not the owner of the shop then because you would be annoyed for the majority of the day considering the number of people that park there lol. Whenever the motorbike groups come through that's where they all park.

Just because a lot of people PLAC doesn't man it's OK for everybody to PLAC.

FWIW it seems to be a constantly increasing occurrence where, rather than find proper car parking, people just park on any piece of footpath, regardless of who it might inconvenience. In other words you can try chancing your arm.....