Parking for certain jobs

[cornish_crofter]

This is an issue that doesn't raise its head very often where I am but it has on a couple of occasions.

In a nearby town I was asked to refit a new shower cubicle including tiling etc. The only parking within sensible distance was allocated parking outside the house. I was warned that the parking enforcement officer could be quite strict and issue tickets. However the job passed off without a hitch. It may have been something to do with the fact I parked in an unallocated space and it was obvious that I was working there.

Again in the same town, a few months later I had to park on double yellows to load the best part of 4 tonnes of shillet (slate/rubble) from a wall I'd demolished into my trailer. Then deliver 1/2 a meter of concrete into the trench. I contacted the council who understood my concern and the following day the parking enforcement officer came by who simply asked how long I needed to be there, gave me the thumbs up and went on his way.

So it seems that communication is the key here.

[Mouldy]

In my experience PEO's do not use any comon sense. I have been issued three tickets over the past four years and in only one of these cases was I parked in a place that could be described as illegal, (front wheels were inside a designated painted bus stop).

Van is written up with phone numbers and in two of the three cases there was a sign board outside the property that was within spitting distance of the van.

To be honest in the first instance I think you were lucky!! Even the second indicated luck! When I have contacted councils before now they either a/ show lack of interest or b/ say that notice has to be given and also fee's paid. In either case they say that they will not contact the PEO's.

Numpties all!

[Alan.P]

I've had good and bad experiences with parking enforcement, communication is the key, special dispensation /s can be bought for certain cases etc, my bug bear is the meter signs and road signs, they do not make it easy and are sometimes just down right misleading.

[faithhealer]

Only time I had to be careful, got the customer to phone my reg no as soon as i parked up, by the time I went back to the van to unload, the warden was there writing a ticket. Only a minute in it lol

[cornish_crofter]

In Richmond where my sister lives there is a temporary permit scheme, which is rigurously enforced. You can either park morning, afternoon or late morning to mid afternoon. She is limited to buying a certain number of permits per year. They have an annual residents permit in their car even thought they have off road parking. That way they canpark on the road if they have people to stay.

Mind you, better that than having the road full of out of town commuters who choose to use it as a free car park.

More recently in Kinston, My father and I were picking up his wife from a charity shop she works in. We were also dropping something off there. I wasn't supposed to park there, but father and his wife were faffing about something rotten.

There were no less than 3 traffic wardens walking around. I was doing my nut. One of them looked at me and smiled - jisticulating that he would give me a few minutes to drag people out etc. The others werent' bothered. Anyone of them could have issued a ticket, none of them did!

[doug boardley]

As mentioned, communication is the answer, ring up the authorities and get a dispensation ticket, they even email one to you. Although one of the reasons I packed in doing hotel/b&b jobs in The Lakes was the lack of parking available.

[cornish_crofter]

In my case the Highways Authority just contacted the local guy with my name, reg number and location. The following day he came to see me and asked how long I would likely be. We agreed on a timescale and I suggested that I phoned his office if it changed and he agreed. Job done.

If it is clear that there is a tradesman working they tend to cut a bit of slack anyway.

Moving parking control from the Police to the LA was a good move IMO, not that the Police were unreasonable in their approach but the move definitely improved communications. I don't know if it's nationwide or not but Cornwall Council took over this role about a year ago.

Lets face it, no one likes to be hung out to dry for making it difficult for the small man to earn a crust, so it's good PR for them as I actually intend to write to the local paper about it. It's about time they were seen to be thanked for a common sense approach.

One other golden rule. Always send a letter of thanks to those who have helped you. They remember that

[tfs]

Edinburgh is a night mare and apparently is 2nd to London in temrs of Turnover made for parking ticker revenues (not suprised!)

Have a had a few tickets. Hate the way they try to make it look like they do you a favour if you pay within 7 days.

Read up on the rules and you may get away without having to pay the fine. There are all sorts of restrictions on when they can issue tickets and various procedures/protolcol must be adhered to.