Forum Topic

Loading bays near McDonald

I stopped in the loading bay out side McDonald Sunday 28th to load some heavy items from a shop which I ordered earlier but when I returned back the traffic warden has issued me with pcn and he went on to book the two vehicles parked behind. At the time I asked the traffic warden why was I not allowed enough time to load /unload? His reply was “you parked in commercial loading bay and you not allowed to park there “ but I could understand why? He then advised me write to the council when?  He saw loading my items in my car boot    I was parked no more than 5 minute but on the pcn he noted that he observed my car for 3 minute before he issued me with a pcn.Since I have emailed Ealing parking and enclosed a copy of a letter from the shop manager as proof that I was loading at the time and I asked them to cancel this pcn but they refused to cancel it. The shop manager informed me that he lost so much business because of this new road marking and there are only few parking spaces now available on Acton high street. We been told to support our local shops and our high streets but how can we do so if we can’t park near them on Sundays to pick heavy items from them.

Diane Bardon ● 3966d8 Comments

I agree. If yo are right, keep fighting! Richard kindly advised me on something similar a few years ago. I did pursue it. Went to PATAS as it then was and won. Ealing don't seem to bother to fight it there.

Sara Nathan ● 3963d

From experience , if you know you are in the right and you have evidence, you will still get all the correspondence right up to the last minute... stick with it.

Ros Guthrie ● 3963d

Ealing haven't been convinced that this was a genuine loading operation, despite evidence to the contrary.  I've advised Diane to await the Notice to Owner and try again, and if necessary appeal to the adjudicator at London Tribunals (the renamed PATAS).If a driver parks in a loading bay or on a yellow line for a delivery or collection, it's worth leaving a note on the dashboard to say something like "Loading goods from [name of shop]".  That is evidence of a loading operation which should lead an Enforcement Officer to observe for longer than the minimum 3 minutes, according to Ealing's code of practice.

Richard Jennings ● 3965d

"Ealing stated that I parked for longer than I needed for loading unloading but the warden watched my vehicle for three minutes only before issuing me with pcn ."And you said you weren't there for more than 5 minutes.  That is an absurd reason for rejecting your challenge.  I've sent you a PM.

Richard Jennings ● 3965d

Hi Richard  Ealing stated  that I parked for longer than I needed for loading unloading but the warden watched my vehicle for three minutes only before issuing me with pcn .The shop manger was referring to the  recent road  marking  on the other side  from  single yellow line to double yellow line

Diane Bardon ● 3966d

"you parked in commercial loading bay and you not allowed to park there“ Unless they've changed the sign there since May 2015 (the date of the current Street View image), it is NOT a commercial loading bay.  The sign says "Loading only"; it doesn't say anything about goods vehicles, so any vehicle can park there to load or unload.What were the reasons that Ealing stated when they rejected your challenge?"The shop manager informed me that he lost so much business because of this new road marking"Not sure I understand that, as it was a bus stop before it became a loading bay.  Or is he referring to a more recent change that I'm not aware of?  The key issue is whether the sign at the loading bay says anything about goods vehicles.  If it doesn't, Diane should continue to appeal.

Richard Jennings ● 3966d

Obviously a different situation, but I remember talking to John Martin of Pitshanger Traders' Association about how they have fought for sufficient parking there. Local input is needed or the Council will just apply general policies which don't necessarily fit the specifics of an area. Acton High Street should be part of a Neighbourhood Forum in my opinion, and I have said to Sanya Sheikh of CANForum that they should be focussing on the Central Acton Area including the Hogh Street and Churchfield Road...

Julian Smith ● 3966d

Correction the date this occurred was on the 18th Oct and not the 28th

Diane Bardon ● 3966d