Question: Do councils ever move legally parked cars?
Discussion
Apologies if this is the wrong place for this, but I've got a minor mystery on my hands.
Today I returned to my vehicle after being away for some time, only to find that the whole car appeared to have been moved down the road. It was originally parked at the side of the road on a cul-de-sac, pointing towards but still around 50 meters from the end-point, next to some fenced gardens. When I park it there, I always make sure to leave enough room for a large van etc to get through, but perhaps not enough for someone to perform a three-point turn next to. Usually I'm not the only one that parks there either.
Now, when I got back, the car has moved another 15 or so meters down the road, still parked on the same side, pointing in the same direction. My only clues, some scratches down my drivers side door (this side was facing the road), and a small scrap of paper belonging to the council (Slough...) stating that on the 23rd I supposedly blocked access, ostensibly for recycling? The damage to the car is also most peculiar, it doesn't seem particularly related to my car's mystery journey, but then again it's surely too much of a coincidence? Is it easy to move a car (an old Saab 9-5 manual, with gearbox left in reverse)?
I should say that I have parked there for long periods on many occasions with no issues before this. I have never known a council to move a car for such a reason, and was wondering if anyone has had similar experiences?
Many thanks in advance!
Today I returned to my vehicle after being away for some time, only to find that the whole car appeared to have been moved down the road. It was originally parked at the side of the road on a cul-de-sac, pointing towards but still around 50 meters from the end-point, next to some fenced gardens. When I park it there, I always make sure to leave enough room for a large van etc to get through, but perhaps not enough for someone to perform a three-point turn next to. Usually I'm not the only one that parks there either.
Now, when I got back, the car has moved another 15 or so meters down the road, still parked on the same side, pointing in the same direction. My only clues, some scratches down my drivers side door (this side was facing the road), and a small scrap of paper belonging to the council (Slough...) stating that on the 23rd I supposedly blocked access, ostensibly for recycling? The damage to the car is also most peculiar, it doesn't seem particularly related to my car's mystery journey, but then again it's surely too much of a coincidence? Is it easy to move a car (an old Saab 9-5 manual, with gearbox left in reverse)?
I should say that I have parked there for long periods on many occasions with no issues before this. I have never known a council to move a car for such a reason, and was wondering if anyone has had similar experiences?
Many thanks in advance!
Sounds more like the bin men and/or some residents have 'moved' the car to me.
Over Christmas I noticed on a local Facebook group someone asking if they could track down the owner of a car. It was parked rather s
tely, but in an area without restriction. According to the comments Council didn't want to know.
Over Christmas I noticed on a local Facebook group someone asking if they could track down the owner of a car. It was parked rather s
tely, but in an area without restriction. According to the comments Council didn't want to know.a311 said:
Sounds more like the bin men and/or some residents have 'moved' the car to me.
Over Christmas I noticed on a local Facebook group someone asking if they could track down the owner of a car. It was parked rather stely, but in an area without restriction. According to the comments Council didn't want to know.
Yes this did cross my mind, but the residents are mainly OAP's, seems a lot of work for little payoff seeing how far they managed to get it. Alas I am not on Facebook so it's difficult to know for sure...Over Christmas I noticed on a local Facebook group someone asking if they could track down the owner of a car. It was parked rather s
tely, but in an area without restriction. According to the comments Council didn't want to know.It may have been due to some tool parking the other side of the road to you while you were away and not leaving sufficient gap. 
Happens a lot at this time of year when people visit that 'once a year' by car. And they've now gone.
Your car may have been the easiest to move, but to damage it as well? I suspect that was caused by an attempted squeeze through maybe.
Happens a lot at this time of year when people visit that 'once a year' by car. And they've now gone. Your car may have been the easiest to move, but to damage it as well? I suspect that was caused by an attempted squeeze through maybe.
n3 said:
Apologies if this is the wrong place for this, but I've got a minor mystery on my hands.
Today I returned to my vehicle after being away for some time, only to find that the whole car appeared to have been moved down the road. It was originally parked at the side of the road on a cul-de-sac, pointing towards but still around 50 meters from the end-point, next to some fenced gardens. When I park it there, I always make sure to leave enough room for a large van etc to get through, but perhaps not enough for someone to perform a three-point turn next to. Usually I'm not the only one that parks there either.
Now, when I got back, the car has moved another 15 or so meters down the road, still parked on the same side, pointing in the same direction. My only clues, some scratches down my drivers side door (this side was facing the road), and a small scrap of paper belonging to the council (Slough...) stating that on the 23rd I supposedly blocked access, ostensibly for recycling? The damage to the car is also most peculiar, it doesn't seem particularly related to my car's mystery journey, but then again it's surely too much of a coincidence? Is it easy to move a car (an old Saab 9-5 manual, with gearbox left in reverse)?
I should say that I have parked there for long periods on many occasions with no issues before this. I have never known a council to move a car for such a reason, and was wondering if anyone has had similar experiences?
Many thanks in advance!
Probably best to speak to the council & ask.Today I returned to my vehicle after being away for some time, only to find that the whole car appeared to have been moved down the road. It was originally parked at the side of the road on a cul-de-sac, pointing towards but still around 50 meters from the end-point, next to some fenced gardens. When I park it there, I always make sure to leave enough room for a large van etc to get through, but perhaps not enough for someone to perform a three-point turn next to. Usually I'm not the only one that parks there either.
Now, when I got back, the car has moved another 15 or so meters down the road, still parked on the same side, pointing in the same direction. My only clues, some scratches down my drivers side door (this side was facing the road), and a small scrap of paper belonging to the council (Slough...) stating that on the 23rd I supposedly blocked access, ostensibly for recycling? The damage to the car is also most peculiar, it doesn't seem particularly related to my car's mystery journey, but then again it's surely too much of a coincidence? Is it easy to move a car (an old Saab 9-5 manual, with gearbox left in reverse)?
I should say that I have parked there for long periods on many occasions with no issues before this. I have never known a council to move a car for such a reason, and was wondering if anyone has had similar experiences?
Many thanks in advance!
Chubbyross said:
Happened to me once. The car was moved to another road about 30 seconds walk. I’d failed to see a sign saying some works were occurring and cars needed to move to accommodate lorries etc.
Likewise. Local council was resurfacing the road and all cars were asked to park elsewhere. Those who didn't were moved to another local street. n3 said:
Apologies if this is the wrong place for this, but I've got a minor mystery on my hands.
Today I returned to my vehicle after being away for some time, only to find that the whole car appeared to have been moved down the road. It was originally parked at the side of the road on a cul-de-sac, pointing towards but still around 50 meters from the end-point, next to some fenced gardens. When I park it there, I always make sure to leave enough room for a large van etc to get through, but perhaps not enough for someone to perform a three-point turn next to. Usually I'm not the only one that parks there either.
Now, when I got back, the car has moved another 15 or so meters down the road, still parked on the same side, pointing in the same direction. My only clues, some scratches down my drivers side door (this side was facing the road), and a small scrap of paper belonging to the council (Slough...) stating that on the 23rd I supposedly blocked access, ostensibly for recycling? The damage to the car is also most peculiar, it doesn't seem particularly related to my car's mystery journey, but then again it's surely too much of a coincidence? Is it easy to move a car (an old Saab 9-5 manual, with gearbox left in reverse)?
I should say that I have parked there for long periods on many occasions with no issues before this. I have never known a council to move a car for such a reason, and was wondering if anyone has had similar experiences?
Many thanks in advance!
As it mentions recycling maybe it was "bin day"?Today I returned to my vehicle after being away for some time, only to find that the whole car appeared to have been moved down the road. It was originally parked at the side of the road on a cul-de-sac, pointing towards but still around 50 meters from the end-point, next to some fenced gardens. When I park it there, I always make sure to leave enough room for a large van etc to get through, but perhaps not enough for someone to perform a three-point turn next to. Usually I'm not the only one that parks there either.
Now, when I got back, the car has moved another 15 or so meters down the road, still parked on the same side, pointing in the same direction. My only clues, some scratches down my drivers side door (this side was facing the road), and a small scrap of paper belonging to the council (Slough...) stating that on the 23rd I supposedly blocked access, ostensibly for recycling? The damage to the car is also most peculiar, it doesn't seem particularly related to my car's mystery journey, but then again it's surely too much of a coincidence? Is it easy to move a car (an old Saab 9-5 manual, with gearbox left in reverse)?
I should say that I have parked there for long periods on many occasions with no issues before this. I have never known a council to move a car for such a reason, and was wondering if anyone has had similar experiences?
Many thanks in advance!
I’ve once had a row of legally parked cars moved, the council had forgotten to erect the parking suspension signs for utility works in the footway that I was managing.
Their parking enforcement contractor picked them up and moved them a street over where spaces could be found.
Must have been some confused residents that evening.
Wouldn’t imagine every LA would do it, but Islington certainly did.
Their parking enforcement contractor picked them up and moved them a street over where spaces could be found.
Must have been some confused residents that evening.
Wouldn’t imagine every LA would do it, but Islington certainly did.
Danns said:
I’ve once had a row of legally parked cars moved, the council had forgotten to erect the parking suspension signs for utility works in the footway that I was managing.
Their parking enforcement contractor picked them up and moved them a street over where spaces could be found.
Must have been some confused residents that evening.
Wouldn’t imagine every LA would do it, but Islington certainly did.
If Islington council had their way they’d pick all the cars up, have them destroyed and insist we all use horses instead. But not expensive, showy ones. Their parking enforcement contractor picked them up and moved them a street over where spaces could be found.
Must have been some confused residents that evening.
Wouldn’t imagine every LA would do it, but Islington certainly did.
Edited by Chubbyross on Wednesday 28th December 21:49
Hmm, Slough "council" + parked "for some time". I'm going to take a wild guess at the car being parked in a residential street while the OP jets off somewhere from Heathrow, residents are sick of their street being used as free Heathrow parking and have taken matters into their hands moving them elsewhere, off "their" patch of tarmac. Unlikely that it has anything to do with Slough council. As a former bin truck driver, they are rear steer and can fit pretty much anywhere if the gap is 2mm wider than the truck and it sounds like there was plenty of room.
r3g said:
Hmm, Slough "council" + parked "for some time". I'm going to take a wild guess at the car being parked in a residential street while the OP jets off somewhere from Heathrow, residents are sick of their street being used as free Heathrow parking and have taken matters into their hands moving them elsewhere, off "their" patch of tarmac. Unlikely that it has anything to do with Slough council. As a former bin truck driver, they are rear steer and can fit pretty much anywhere if the gap is 2mm wider than the truck and it sounds like there was plenty of room.
There’s a van parked near my house. I don’t like it being there so I’ll tow it further down the street. Thanks for making my proposed course of action feel ‘approved’.Not related to the above, but a guy in our hall of residence at Uni in one of the shared rooms had a room mate who every few days would use his car keys to either turn the guy's car around but leave it in the same place, or move it 2-3 spaces over from where it was.
Went on for months with the car owner convinced he was going mad.
No one has access to your keys and a "sense of humour" do they?
Went on for months with the car owner convinced he was going mad.
No one has access to your keys and a "sense of humour" do they?
r3g said:
Hmm, Slough "council" + parked "for some time". I'm going to take a wild guess at the car being parked in a residential street while the OP jets off somewhere from Heathrow, residents are sick of their street being used as free Heathrow parking and have taken matters into their hands moving them elsewhere, off "their" patch of tarmac. Unlikely that it has anything to do with Slough council. As a former bin truck driver, they are rear steer and can fit pretty much anywhere if the gap is 2mm wider than the truck and it sounds like there was plenty of room.
If there are no parking restrictions then there is very little residents can do though. They might not like it but tough st as long as vehicle is taxed, insured etcGassing Station | Speed, Plod & the Law | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff