Topic ID 2321
This is a polite message to the owner of EJ56CKN parked in Byde Street. Not only have you just bought a vehicle that is becoming more and more socially unacceptable you have parked it in such a way that it could potentially endanger lives. I can only just get my car through the gap you have left. The emergency services would loose valuable time whilst waiting for you to shift it. Please do try and park in a more responsible way in future. Thankyou.
Reply ID 32181
Did you put a note on the windscreen?
Reply ID 32182
No it was raining and I didn't have any paper with me anyway.
Reply ID 32184
Log the problem with the Police - 01992 533000. Posting here won't help.
Reply ID 32190
I was walking to the shops the other day with my lad in his push chair and a large Mercedes had parked across the whole path making us walk in the road, even though all of the houses there have huge driveways. Took a picture on my phone, printed it and gave it to the local police who I am pleased to say took it seriously and issued a ticket. Great Satisfaction
Reply ID 32311
Well done "throwback". If you encounter a vehicle that is obstructing the pavement, a junction or driveway then please contact us with the index number on 0845 33 00 222. I can not guarantee that we will always have resources available to attend and issue a ticket but please don't let that put you off calling. Even if we can not attend at the time, a local officer can contact the registered owner of the vehicle at a latter date and offer them words of advice. Obstructing vehicles can cause a serious danger to perdestrians and road users so please let us know. Regards PCSO Hutchin
Reply ID 32312
Good to know. What about people doing 'works'? a couple of weeks ago I came across a lorry parked in front of the gate to the railway just before the railway bridge. The driver just shrugged at me as I had to push my two children onto the 414 under the bridge.
Reply ID 32317
Dear PCSO What is the situation with cars parked on pavements in Lower Bengeo? If the residents parked on the road - no cars would get through. But you say that parking on the pavement is wrong. What do you recommend they do? P
quote:
Originally posted by PCSO Hutchin
Well done "throwback". If you encounter a vehicle that is obstructing the pavement, a junction or driveway then please contact us with the index number on 0845 33 00 222. I can not guarantee that we will always have resources available to attend and issue a ticket but please don't let that put you off calling. Even if we can not attend at the time, a local officer can contact the registered owner of the vehicle at a latter date and offer them words of advice. Obstructing vehicles can cause a serious danger to perdestrians and road users so please let us know. Regards PCSO Hutchin
Reply ID 32318
And my question is: Is it illegal to park on the pavement at all or does the vehicle have to completely obstruct the pavement?
Reply ID 32326
quote:Taken from the highway code: 218: DO NOT park partially or wholly on the pavement unless signs permit it. Parking on the pavement can obstruct and seriously inconvenience pedestrians, people in wheelchairs, the visually impaired and people with prams or pushchairs. [url="http://www.highwaycode.gov.uk/22.htm"]The Highway Code[/url]
Originally posted by JohnSmith
And my question is: Is it illegal to park on the pavement at all or does the vehicle have to completely obstruct the pavement?
Reply ID 32327
quote:The role of the police is to maintain law and order. They don't make the laws. If vehicles are illegally parked then due process will take place. It is not their role to make recommendations on where people can park (other than the obvious - ie where it legitimate).
Originally posted by Paul
Dear PCSO What is the situation with cars parked on pavements in Lower Bengeo? If the residents parked on the road - no cars would get through. But you say that parking on the pavement is wrong. What do you recommend they do? P
Reply ID 32331
This is the dilemma. If they park on the road it is obstructing traffic, if they park on the pavement it is obstructing pedestrians. No one has yet been prosecuted for parking on the pavement. Would they be more lightly to be prosecuted for parking in the road? p
quote:
Originally posted by Stevequote:The role of the police is to maintain law and order. They don't make the laws. If vehicles are illegally parked then due process will take place. It is not their role to make recommendations on where people can park (other than the obvious - ie where it legitimate).
Originally posted by Paul
Dear PCSO What is the situation with cars parked on pavements in Lower Bengeo? If the residents parked on the road - no cars would get through. But you say that parking on the pavement is wrong. What do you recommend they do? P
Reply ID 32334
quote:That is not a dilemma, if you cannot park on the road because it will obstruct the traffic, you park your vehicle elsewhere; not on the pavement!
Originally posted by Paul
This is the dilemma. If they park on the road it is obstructing traffic, if they park on the pavement it is obstructing pedestrians. No one has yet been prosecuted for parking on the pavement. Would they be more lightly to be prosecuted for parking in the road? p
Reply ID 32335
If you park on the pavement you can be given a ticket for obstruction. However the police officer would have to use his/her common sense. The thing to bear in mind is - "can a wheelchair or pushchair get passed on the pavement?" and "can a fire engine get passed on the road?"
Reply ID 32336
quote:and very often the answer to both is no..............people don't consider these things unfortunately.
Originally posted by PCSO Hutchin
If you park on the pavement you can be given a ticket for obstruction. However the police officer would have to use his/her common sense. The thing to bear in mind is - "can a wheelchair or pushchair get passed on the pavement?" and "can a fire engine get passed on the road?"
Reply ID 32337
There's a rather sad issue in this thread. Both of the cars in question were large, new and expensive. Had either case been an older car, or a small supermini or something nothing would have been said.
Reply ID 32339
quote:How do you know that?
Originally posted by codek2
There's a rather sad issue in this thread. Both of the cars in question were large, new and expensive. Had either case been an older car, or a small supermini or something nothing would have been said.
Reply ID 32340
quote:The registration number (new) of the first car and the type (Mercedes) of the second car were stated explicitly in this thread.
Originally posted by buzz
[quote] How do you know that?
Reply ID 32341
quote:Good point buzz. What does it matter that the car is new, expensive, or what someone finds 'socially unacceptable'. Parking issues are one thing, the rest is irrelevant.
Originally posted by buzzquote:How do you know that?
Originally posted by codek2
There's a rather sad issue in this thread. Both of the cars in question were large, new and expensive. Had either case been an older car, or a small supermini or something nothing would have been said.
Reply ID 32342
quote:This is complete rubbish and rather insulting. Clearly you must have a very low opinion of your fellow posters if you think they are motivated by envy rather than a concern for the community and the law.
Originally posted by codek2
There's a rather sad issue in this thread. Both of the cars in question were large, new and expensive. Had either case been an older car, or a small supermini or something nothing would have been said.
Reply ID 32343
no, but that was precisely the reply I could have predicted.
Reply ID 32344
Your point?
Reply ID 32345
calm down Steve, chill.
Reply ID 32346
quote:Yes, but obviously purely to identify the offending vehicles. There was nothing in the post to suggest that the poster had anything against new vehicles. The Mercedes might have been a clapped out 12 year old vehicle.
Originally posted by Jobyquote:The registration number (new) of the first car and the type (Mercedes) of the second car were stated explicitly in this thread.
Originally posted by buzz
[quote] How do you know that?
Reply ID 32347
quote:Sorry. I should know better than to feed trolls! [:)]
Originally posted by Ian Holloway
calm down Steve, chill.
Reply ID 32528
quote:I have just picked up on this again and thankyou Steve the comments by codek2 are rather insulting. First of all codek2 I described EJ56CKN as a vehicle not a car. It was brought to my attention not because I thought it was wonderful but because of its size and the fact that it was causing an obstruction. I had to stop and drive through the gap left at a speed less than walking pace. Although my car is low and wider than average it is not as wide as say an ambulance or fire engine. I had less than 6 inches to spare either side of my door mirrors which cost several hundred pounds to replace if damaged. I think an apology is called for codek2. Don't you?
Originally posted by Stevequote:This is complete rubbish and rather insulting. Clearly you must have a very low opinion of your fellow posters if you think they are motivated by envy rather than a concern for the community and the law.
Originally posted by codek2
There's a rather sad issue in this thread. Both of the cars in question were large, new and expensive. Had either case been an older car, or a small supermini or something nothing would have been said.
Reply ID 32586
It was never meant as a personal insult, more of a generalisation, not necessarily aimed at this specific issue. Like someone said, "chill!" <addition> I'm also amused to note Victor making similar commentes on the banners thread about people moaning at the parking of a certain 4x4.. Going by steve's comments, he should also offer an apology! As for emergency service access, what do they do when they get stuck? Pretty much every evening in this area you'd never get a fire engine through..
Reply ID 32592
Apologise for what?
Reply ID 32598
Not that I live up that way, but used to live in the lower crouchfields developement (the Old School) and when we had a fire in one of the flats down there and the Fire Appliance couldnt get through, it just pushed the cars out of the way!
Reply ID 32600
wow, thats an incentive to park carefully if ever there was one! ( of course in addition to the social requirement anyway! ) not sure an ambulance would fare so well tho!
Reply ID 32601
Maybe not! But if you think about it in that light, parking badly could infact kill someone couldnt it?
Reply ID 32636
If a vehicle is parked on a pavement does the law prevent a pedestrian walking over it?
Reply ID 32640
The law of the land or the law of nature or perhaps the laws of physics?
Reply ID 32650
Padestrian's 1st law of motion
Reply ID 32706
In that case no, I dont think so! well not going up Byde st anyway!
Reply ID 34156
Not sure if there is a specific thread for this elsewhere, but has anyone else had scratches left on their car when they have parked in the vicinity of Byde Street. We don't actually park in Byde Street, as we are well aware of the parking issues there and don't want to add to the general clogging up in the street in the morning/evening "rush" hour. However, we do park in a street nearby most mornings, although not always in the same place. A few months ago, we noticed slight scratching along the pavement side of our car. I actually blamed my husband and thought it was him driving too close to trees and bushes in the local country lanes! The scratching was added to a week or so later, and appeared on the boot a week or so after that. Then, last week, we parked in the same place for two days running (still not actually in Byde Street), not in front of anyone's house, drive, path or even front garden, but alongside a long stretch of blank fence. Lo and behold, on the second day deep key scratches were put on every pavement-side panel, and on the roof. Our car was not blocking the road, anyone's access or contributing to the problem in Byde street, but the house we parked outside DID have banners in its windows (several of them, actually). At home our car is parked on our drive, away from the road so we can only assume that some kind person has taken a dislike to our parking there. We have also noticed another car in the same vicinity is now sporting the slight scratching that we first had on our car. We have reported the damaged to the police and have a crime number. Just interested to hear if anyone else has had a similar experience recently? Before anyone suggests that it was a random act by someone walking past, why didn't any of the cars that we assume belong to residents in this road (as we see them at weekends when we go past)have similar damage? There were much newer, flashier cars for someone to "key" if it was a random act of vandalism.
Reply ID 34157
Could it be a possibility that your car was targeted because you are not a resident? Sorry to hear your car has been keyed, it has happened to us before & is maddening.
Reply ID 34158
So what the residents want is no non-resident parking whatsoever for any reason anywhere in or around Byde Street? Do they think they actually own the bit of pavement outside the house as well? I moved to Hertford three years ago, and before that lived in both Inner and Outer London where parking space is at a premium. But I've never had my car damaged like this before. Where we live now we often have people parked in the street who aren't residents, and I don't go out and key their car even if it's right outside my house. I thought I was moving to somewhere civilised when I moved out of London - obviously I was wrong...... The other thing that really gets to me is that at weekends, when presumably most of the cars that are parked in Byde Street and surrounding streets are residents' cars, the way the cars are parked is appalling, and there are twice the number of them. So it's OK for Byde Street residents to block pavements causing people to walk in the road, block access to Emergency vehicles etc, but not for anyone else? And then to put their self-righteous banners up - give me strength!
Reply ID 34159
Which road was it on? Why do you park there? Know some people it has happened to. Very sad.
Reply ID 34160
I have a horrible feeling that this is a petty and small minded individual, a resident of the road in which you park, who feels that you should not be parking there (since you are not a resident) and has decided to take it upon themselves to make their feelings known in the way you describe. I know that the residents in the area are upset that the roads are now starting to be used as a free car park for the station, in an area where there is limited parking anyway. However, none of the residents has ever suggested that this action is the way to resolve it, nor that there is anything that can be done about it. Nor would any of them want anyone to do this on their behalf. Whoever has done this is a candidate for an ASBO.
Reply ID 34161
Thanks for your sensible words and sympathy. It was in Farquhar Street, and we park there, or used to precisely because we don't want to add to the access problems in Byde Street. Anyway, as I said we have reported it and would encourage anyone else that this has happened to to report it as well. I agree that it is probably just one small-minded individual, but that doesn't make it any easier to swallow. By the way, I've just had a look at some posts on the "Rat Run" site for Bengeo Residents' Association. In one breath, they're complaining about traffic hurtling down Byde Street at speed and being a danger to pedestrians, young children etc and in another they're moaning about the traffic being clogged up back to Bengeo Street. I wish they'd make their minds up! I personally have never seen a car speeding along Byde Street, simply because it is not built for speed, far too narrow and the blind corner at the end prevents anyone getting up any speed anyway along that stretch. Oh, well. Rant over and off to the garage to get a quote for repairs.
Reply ID 34162
I agree & suspect it is one individual who has noticed you are probably not a resident & should not be within the "no access" area as you are parking for the train station (sorry if I am way off here).
Reply ID 34164
quote:Not sure if I've missed something, but I can't find anywhere where Trisha has said this or even implied it.
Originally posted by Willow
...as you are parking for the train station
Reply ID 34165
I know - that's why I offered the apology 'sorry is I am way off here'
Reply ID 34166
Have they ever thought about a campaign for Residents Parking (I amy have missed something) - it is quite amazing when you see how many vehicles reverse back from The Folly when they see the sign (or maybe they just don't like the look of it!)
Reply ID 34179
quote:True, but she did say she lives elsewhere, but seems to be parking in a "access only" area, so I would guess its quite possible that she is a commuter. Trisha, can you enlighten us?
Originally posted by Stevequote:Not sure if I've missed something, but I can't find anywhere where Trisha has said this or even implied it.
Originally posted by Willow
...as you are parking for the train station
Reply ID 34181
quote:It's the reincarnated ghost of the malicious old s*d who used to live in Nelson Street, except his acts of vandalism were against anyone who had anything that he didn't - including owning their own home! I hope for everyone that it stops soon, having been on the receiving end of his behaviour, and seeing the effect it had on others in the street I know that it causes no end of distress.
Originally posted by 2929paul
I have a horrible feeling that this is a petty and small minded individual, a resident of the road in which you park, who feels that you should not be parking there (since you are not a resident) and has decided to take it upon themselves to make their feelings known in the way you describe.
Reply ID 34182
Why is she not supposed to park in the Access Only area? I thought the Access Only sign is there to stop drivers using the roads to get from Bengeo Street to North Road (and vice versa). If she is parking in Farquhar Street then all she is doing is accessing a parking space. Assuming she has paid her road tax there is no reason why she can't park in any of the streets within the Access Only restriction.
Reply ID 34183
quote:You could be right. I think each individual restriction has its own set of rules (made at the planning stage). I'm not sure what the restrictions are at Bengeo, but I know in other areas, "Access only" means you must be a resident or be doing business within the restricted zone.
Originally posted by JohnSmith
Why is she not supposed to park in the Access Only area? I thought the Access Only sign is there to stop drivers using the roads to get from Bengeo Street to North Road (and vice versa). If she is parking in Farquhar Street then all she is doing is accessing a parking space. Assuming she has paid her road tax there is no reason why she can't park in any of the streets within the Access Only restriction.
Reply ID 34202
As far as I know, there aren't any parking restrictions within the access-only area in Bengeo.
Reply ID 34203
There's no need to offer me apologies for besmirching my reputation! I am travelling from Hertford North Station, but does that make me a bad person? I wasn't aware that there was a no parking rule for non-residents in Farquhar - where are the signs to tell me? It's all very confusing.......but I still say that a note under the windscreen wipers would get the message across just as well (and more clearly) as malicious damage to my car.
Reply ID 34206
Trisha, you are a victim of criminal damage, plain & simple. Even if you aren't supposed to park there (and I can see no reason why you can't) it is not up to the resident(s) of those roads to mete out their own justice. If it were me, I'd park up one day, walk around the corner and wait for the offender to show themselves. If you can get a picture of them, all the better.
Reply ID 34213
quote:I'd be a bit worried that anyone who would do something like this isn't going to take kindly to having their criminal activities photographed! Although it is tempting.......... I'm surprised that someone hasn't asked for CCTV to be installed to catch the "criminals" that dare to drive through/park/breathe in this area - I wouldn't mind that as it would presumably also catch morons like the one who keyed my car.
Originally posted by JohnSmith
If it were me, I'd park up one day, walk around the corner and wait for the offender to show themselves. If you can get a picture of them, all the better.
Reply ID 34214
Can someone let me know where the signs are that say you can't park in Farquhar Street if you aren't a resident?
Reply ID 34217
quote:There aren't any signs because there aren't any parking restrictions.
Originally posted by Trisha
Can someone let me know where the signs are that say you can't park in Farquhar Street if you aren't a resident?
Reply ID 34219
quote:I don't think anyone has said there is a "no parking" sign, but simply a "no access" sign. In other words, there is a good chance you have no right to be there unless you have a resident or business in zone. I'm sure no one here would condone vandalism on your vehicle, but if you are trying to understand who or why someone would do it, you first have to see whether you are causing offence by breaking any local by-laws. I'm not sure where the “access only” zone starts and ends (I avoid the area now because of the blocked pavements), but if Farquhar St is in it, then I think you have your answer.
Originally posted by Trisha
Can someone let me know where the signs are that say you can't park in Farquhar Street if you aren't a resident?
Reply ID 34220
quote:, True, but if its restrictive access, then how did the car get there in the first place? [:)]
Originally posted by Jobyquote:There aren't any signs because there aren't any parking restrictions.
Originally posted by Trisha
Can someone let me know where the signs are that say you can't park in Farquhar Street if you aren't a resident?
Reply ID 34222
To clarify. There are appropriate signs are at every vehicular access point of the residential area that might be defined as "West and Lower Bengeo". The signs indicate no motor vehicles allowed, with a qualifying plate below allowing vehicles that have authorised access. The intention of this is to allow access for residents, their visitors, delivery and service vehicles and emergency services. The signs are up on the following entry points: The Wick, The Avenue, Tower Street, Cross Road and Beane Road (southern entrance but allowing access for the station car park). They were put up about five years ago after a similar campaign by residents to stop the flow of rat run traffic. They have been totally ignored by motorists. They have never been policed but then nor has the illegal parking by the residents. Most people do not even notice the signs. Strictly speaking, if you come into the area and park up and you are not visiting a resident, you have broken the law. There are no parking restrictions for those who have access to the area! My gripe, as a resident, has never been with the volume of cars parked or the volume of traffic coming through. It is with the selfish nature of the drivers who park up in a ridiculous manner making it difficult to manoeuvre and dangerous for pedestrians. And the selfish and impatient drivers who force their way up the road and have not got the courtesy to wait and let others through when it is the most obvious way to get the traffic flowing again.
Reply ID 34356
quote:If someone offends me, I don't generally use physical means to let them know! I do see what you're saying, but I don't even want to try to understand someone with that mentality. By the way, I did have a look at the beginning of Cross Road for a sign, and there was one there. Although it was quite dark, what I could see was a picture of a lorry/van with several black lines through it - and I don't actually drive a lorry or a van! I know that Tower Street has an "Access Only" sign with a picture of a car and motorcycle on it (which is why I never drive through Tower Street in either direction as I understood it was for residents only to gain access to their houses) but the sign at Cross Road is completely different, and I didn't see one at all at the top or bottom of Farquhar Street.
Originally posted by Dudequote:I'm sure no one here would condone vandalism on your vehicle, but if you are trying to understand who or why someone would do it, you first have to see whether you are causing offence by breaking any local by-laws.
Originally posted by Trisha
Can someone let me know where the signs are that say you can't park in Farquhar Street if you aren't a resident?
Reply ID 34357
quote:I quite agree. Perhaps you could speak to some of your neighbours?!
Originally posted by 2929paul
My gripe, as a resident, has never been with the volume of cars parked or the volume of traffic coming through. It is with the selfish nature of the drivers who park up in a ridiculous manner making it difficult to manoeuvre and dangerous for pedestrians.
Reply ID 34371
I don't know if this is of any help, but there is free parking just behind Windsor Drive and at the end of Hawthorne close up Sele Farm. Not to far from the station and both car parks seem to be empty most of the time.
Reply ID 34385
Ah, yes. But then from where we live we would have to drive THROUGH the Access Only area in Byde Street, which as I have now been told is a no-no according to the residents. And that is precisely what I wanted to avoid in the first place. I thought I was doing what the residents wanted by not contributing to the rat-run, by actually stopping short of Byde Street. If I drive to Sele Farm from where we are, I have to go along Byde Street, which will make matters worse by adding another car to the jam! The trouble as I see it is that lots of people who use the car park at the station come from Bengeo and northwards, and the only route across the river for miles that way is Beane Road. Which means accessing via Byde Street. There is no other way, or am I being particularly girlie and not able to read a street map!
Reply ID 34390
Bengeo Street, Cowbridge, Old Cross, St Andrews Street, North Road, Welwyn Road (Sele Hill) Windsor Drive. Very Girlie!
Reply ID 34394
Bengeo Street, Sacombe Road, Vicarage Lane, North Road, Bramfield Road, Windsor Drive.
Reply ID 34395
So the residents of Byde Street will be happy, but then no doubt I'll have the environmentalists on my back for emitting three times as many carbons (or whatever it is that they object to about car journeys)for the longer journey! I'll try it............
Reply ID 34396
quote:Hell of a long route though, even if the current legal alternative and already well used by vehicles going elsewhere. Before the signs went up and the barrier in Port Vale, nobody would have even considered such a daft detour.
Originally posted by Victor Meldrew
Bengeo Street, Cowbridge, Old Cross, St Andrews Street, North Road, Welwyn Road (Sele Hill) Windsor Drive. Very Girlie!
Reply ID 34397
quote:But the signs and the barrier are up.
Originally posted by shuntquote:Hell of a long route though, even if the current legal alternative and already well used by vehicles going elsewhere. Before the signs went up and the barrier in Port Vale, nobody would have even considered such a daft detour.
Originally posted by Victor Meldrew
Bengeo Street, Cowbridge, Old Cross, St Andrews Street, North Road, Welwyn Road (Sele Hill) Windsor Drive. Very Girlie!
Reply ID 34404
They are indeed. The law, sir, is an ass!
Reply ID 34442
Nope, still couldn't see a sign (the same as the one at the Bengeo Street end of Tower Road) at the entrance to Cross Road! Apart from the one with the lorry with little black lines diagonally across it. Can someone enlighten me as to what these "No access to anyone apart from residents" might look like? Are they a picture of a car with key scratches all over it?
Reply ID 34457
Trisha, These are small minded individuals. We live in an area of Hertford with strict parking restrictions but no way would I ever condone criminal damage. Sounds like 'Passport to Pimilco'
Reply ID 34458
Is this thread still going on? Why not lobby your Councillor, or write and campaign to Hertfordshire Highways. If you want restrictions, demand it and prove it through photos! I did, 2 x yellow lines on both sides and parking attendants patrolling for a month in March in my street!