Shop blocking a parking space outside their door

dulpit

First off, not sure if this is the correct forum, so apologies if it's not. We live in middle of Cork city, and have on street parking permit for car. Parking can be at a premium around the place, sometimes I have to park quite a bit from our house.

There's a shop down street from us, and there's a row of parking spots in front. They leave one of those long bollards directly outside the door all day and night, and occasionally supplement it with a large barrel to stop people parking directly in front of the shop. The thing is, that with parking being so tight, I've had to hop out of car multiple times to move the bollard out of way so I can park. Loads of other people do this too.

So my question is this: is the shop entitled to place such a bollard outside their business? What rights do they have over parking? And am I doing anything wrong by moving this bollard so I can park my car.

Thanks in advance!

wandatowell

Im thinking loading bay

Cookie_Monster

dulpit wrote: »

So my question is this: is the shop entitled to place such a bollard outside their business? What rights do they have over parking? And am I doing anything wrong by moving this bollard so I can park my car.

no, none and no

dulpit

wandatowell wrote: »

Im thinking loading bay

It's just a normal disk parking zone, usual signs up and everything...

dowlingm

I'd call in for a quiet word at your local cop shop. If they want a loading bay they should make a submission at the council, not make their own.

Del2005

dulpit wrote: »

First off, not sure if this is the correct forum, so apologies if it's not. We live in middle of Cork city, and have on street parking permit for car. Parking can be at a premium around the place, sometimes I have to park quite a bit from our house.

There's a shop down street from us, and there's a row of parking spots in front. They leave one of those long bollards directly outside the door all day and night, and occasionally supplement it with a large barrel to stop people parking directly in front of the shop. The thing is, that with parking being so tight, I've had to hop out of car multiple times to move the bollard out of way so I can park. Loads of other people do this too.

So my question is this: is the shop entitled to place such a bollard outside their business? What rights do they have over parking? And am I doing anything wrong by moving this bollard so I can park my car.

Thanks in advance!

If the shop owner hasn't said anything to you, or you haven't been ticketed, by now then they are chancing their arm to keep the space clear outside their shop. They are the ones breaking the law by blocking the public road.

dulpit

Thanks all, that's what I thought alright. I get the impression the shop owner is just being a bit of a dick. The problem is though that this place could be considered a 'Cork institution' which makes things a little awkward...

anncoates

They should apply for a loading bay obviously and leaving a bollard out is a bit presumptuous as there is no right person in the situation when it comes to public parking.

That said, I myself would just find another spot in this situation myself to preserve neighborhood harmony. It's a lot easier to walk a bit further to your car than for them to to have no loading area for the premises.

Cpoww

I know the area in question and I totallly understand its difficult to get parking at the best of times... And considering this premises is only open for a few hours I don't understand why a space needs to be kept all day and night when the place is closed?! I understand keeping it free for the days the place is open and everyone living around does do this as much as possible...keeping the harmony by walking further to your car like what? R u serious!? Try having kids or a car load of shopping?! And without any of these extras thrown because of the area having such limited parking the next available parking area is most times outside the permit zone we're not talking just an extra couple of steps! So no I don't think moving this bollard is wrong as a last resort when there's nothing else available we pay our road tax to park on public roads we paid for our residence permits to park in this zone so completely entitled to legally park there it's out of courtesy people try not to as much as possible. It just infuriates when this courtesy is mistaken for a right and your threatened with car towing!

Del2005

Cpoww wrote: »

I know the area in question and I totallly understand its difficult to get parking at the best of times... And considering this premises is only open for a few hours I don't understand why a space needs to be kept all day and night when the place is closed?! I understand keeping it free for the days the place is open and everyone living around does do this as much as possible...keeping the harmony by walking further to your car like what? R u serious!? Try having kids or a car load of shopping?! And without any of these extras thrown because of the area having such limited parking the next available parking area is most times outside the permit zone we're not talking just an extra couple of steps! So no I don't think moving this bollard is wrong as a last resort when there's nothing else available we pay our road tax to park on public roads we paid for our residence permits to park in this zone so completely entitled to legally park there it's out of courtesy people try not to as much as possible. It just infuriates when this courtesy is mistaken for a right and your threatened with car towing!

If the bollard is always up it'd be my first resort. The shop owner has no right to hold the spot and by allowing them to continue it creates an acceptance for others doing this.

IMO the Gardaí should be removing all these cones they see and if they find one out again the person should be fined for blocking the public right of way, if there is no law it should be brought it. No one has a right to hold a spot on a public road.

dowlingm

dulpit wrote: »

Thanks all, that's what I thought alright. I get the impression the shop owner is just being a bit of a dick. The problem is though that this place could be considered a 'Cork institution' which makes things a little awkward...

If it's Lennox's chipper then too bad, let it go :D:D

dulpit

dowlingm wrote: »

If it's Lennox's chipper then too bad, let it go :D:D

Wrong side of city..

Victor

Cpoww wrote: »

So no I don't think moving this bollard is wrong as a last resort when there's nothing else available we pay our road tax to park on public roads we paid for our residence permits to park in this zone so completely entitled to legally park there it's out of courtesy people try not to as much as possible. It just infuriates when this courtesy is mistaken for a right and your threatened with car towing!

While you need to pay motor tax to have your vehicle on the public road, it gives you no entitlement to park in a particular place. Even a residents parking permit (again, not a residents permit or even a "residence permit" [sic]) gives you no entitlement to park in a particular place, just that it isn't an offence to park in the relevant zone if you have one.

dowlingm

Impeding the parking of vehicles in a pay-area is a denial of revenue for the council one would think.

rubberdiddies

Turn it into a positive.
If the bollard wasn't there chances are the space would be gone. So in a way they are keeping that space for you as most people wouldn't park there

dulpit

I wonder if the owner of this shop is viewing this thread. Came home today to see this:



2 full spots taken up with his tape and bollard. FFS.

I'll be ringing the council in the morning...

Cpoww

Victor wrote: »

While you need to pay motor tax to have your vehicle on the public road, it gives you no entitlement to park in a particular place. Even a residents parking permit (again, not a residents permit or even a "residence permit" [sic]) gives you no entitlement to park in a particular place, just that it isn't an offence to park in the relevant zone if you have one.

Firstly the area in question is small so parking is very limited to the many residents trying to park vehicles in the evening. So for someone to hold a large space unnecessarily is utterly ridiculous! This isn't about trying to park in just one particular spot ( how sad would that be) this is about finding a space AT ALL! So though the permit doesn't entitle you to a space, placing a bollard on the street doesn't entitle you to one either. However I reckon a permit does trump a bollard in the eyes of the council.

Ps thanks for the spell/grammar check much appreciated even though it really isn't much help with the parking situation :-)