Forum Topic

Police buying snacks at Harry's Bar

This morning at 10.05 a police mini-van was parked on double yellow lines whilst purchasing food from Harry's Bar and thus preventing traffic from turning into Friary Road.

Maria Pettit ● 5622d21 Comments

You should have called the police.

Colin Carroll ● 5622d

The police are not allowed to flout the law in this way, but it's hard to get anyone to take a complaint seriously.

Susan Kelly ● 5622d

Perhaps they were waiting for any suspect vehicles spotted by the camera parked down the road.

Chris Bell ● 5621d

This isn't a one off.  It happens often.

Sarah Harris ● 5620d

If it bothers people why don't they say something to the officers involved?  Get their PC number and report them?

Jen Morty ● 5620d

I remember warning two men who parked their car illegally that they were risking a ticket, they smiled and said it's fine we are policemen (it was opposite the Police Station in Acton and they were in an unmarked car) they obviousyl believed the rules didn't apply to them.

Maggie Dodge ● 5618d

Ha...bet this is one that wont get a comment from the local PC..

Emily West ● 5618d

I have been told that police are often members of the International Police Association, so their private cars carry an IPA badge, also known as I Park Anywhere.

Chris Bell ● 5618d

Nor will anything change, they - like the Council - have an attitude of the rules don't apply to me.  Makes me grit my teeth when I pay my council tax.  Can't choose to shop elsewhere in either respect.

Maggie Dodge ● 5616d

Good luck to them, Harry's Bar has been there for "donkeys" years and bacon/sausage rolls etc are lovely. Everyone is entitled to a break? or may be not has the case may be here.

Tina Ayres ● 5616d

I don't think anyone is saying they're not entitled to a break, the problem is they park right outside the cafe, on double yellow lines, facing the oncoming traffic coming around a blind corner right on top of a pedestrian crossing.Have the Met never heard the phrase "lead by example"?

Sarah Harris ● 5616d

No-one is saying they don't deserve or not entitled to a break, or that we don't want to see a local business thriving!  This issue is nothing to do with the cafe but the drivers breaking the law of the highway.  Not on at all, even if it were Harrods they were shopping in.I do wish people would stop making this issue a personal one against the cafe.

Angela White ● 5614d

Nor am I - like I said Harry's been there since there was Wall's ice cream factory and the timber merchants were there in Friary.  As for the police, may be they were flouting but then again how many people park there cars near train stations to off load a.n.other or nip into a shop and they are on yellow lines, suppose that's ok.  Whatever.

Tina Ayres ● 5614d

I don't think that's ok either but the police are especially obliged to set an example. Mind you, if we used the Met's example as a way to live in general we really would be in trouble...

Emily West ● 5614d

Possibly but if we live by what certain people in the community does then we would be in trouble then as well... Police dropped a rickett period.

Tina Ayres ● 5614d

Can I please clarify that I have no objection to Harry's Bar at all.  I think the owner has worked hard to make it a thriving business.  He is always updating the outside and I actually think he has brightened up a very dull corner (I don't even mind the giant plastic sausage, burger and cappucino).  However, I object enormously to being held in a queue because inconsiderate people park on double yellow lines (usually lorries and vans) making it very difficult for traffic in both directions.  The problem would not be so bad if they parked further up the road on the single yellow lines - at least they would be away from the traffic lights and pedestrian crossing so less likely to jam up the traffic and cause a blind spot for people trying to cross the road.  As for the police, they should be moving these lorries on and not adding to the danger and chaos!

Maria Pettit ● 5614d

Totally agree with you Maria.  Apologies if you thought I aimed my post at you, that wasn't my intention.  Remarks such as "Harry's has been around for years, good luck to him" etc, miss the point entirely.  It is nothing to do with the cafe but illegal parking.  Police should know better and do.

Angela White ● 5614d

So should the people who park on double yellows too, obviously the police made a mistake. I have seen on this forum complaints about Harry's cafe hence my comments about that.

Tina Ayres ● 5614d

Yes, there were complaints about Harry's cafe, myself included, but those complaints were about environmental issues such as not having a commercial contract for waste collection at the time, lack of planning permission to expand, generally, in my opinion, lack of respect for the area and residents, as well as local council policy.The parking there is a separate issue.  The owner of the cafe had a lot to say about it when we complained about the illegal and dangerous parking as it obviously would affect his business but the two aren't one and the same.

Angela White ● 5614d

I know. This is why I mentioned the two.

Tina Ayres ● 5614d

Doughnuts!

John Pollastrini ● 5613d