Are Paper "no Parking" Notices Threatening Penalties Valid ?

[CW1]

Hi,
The petrol station close to the local football ground is regularly used as car parking for people going to a match. For the last 2 weeks the staff have posted paper signs in various areas in the forecourt saying No Parking & there'll be a fine of £250.
Is this enforceable ? If so, by who ?
Cheers

[murraymints]

Not enforceable as parking fine..but are you causing obstruction ? Are you on private land....? Would think they could tow you off if you are....

[jeffa]

I suggest you remove one of the paper signs, take it to the local police station or CAB and ask for their opinion. Highly unlikely that a petrol station could be considered as private property.

[murraymints]

Health and safety rules will apply to parked cars where petrol pumps are in use !risk of flammables etc..

[CW1]

Thanks both, jeffa I'll do that.
In the main, no vehicles cause an obstruction. Obviously there are a few who push it a bit but we certainly don't do that. There's no restriction to park on the inside of the kerb either and there are a couple of "proper" metal No Parking signs with threats to clamp, but have never seen a vehicle that has parked there for the football clamped. As I suspect I think, all bark and no bite ;)

[Maydup]

All bark and no bite now, but if they are unhappy about their petrol station being used as a free car park, expect them to find a proper solution eventually.

[north star]

CAB will be useless about this and the police will say that it's 'civil law'

Post here for a considered opnion.

http://forums.pepipoo.com/index.php?s=d59af116af136d8db3339b6eacc66b8b&showforum=60

[CW1]

Maybe they will find a more permanent solution, who knows. But meantime I would imagine they're putting potential customers off visiting the shop or atm on non match days too if the very few Customer Parking Only bays are in use.
Thanks for that link north star, have done that. Looks a useful site :)

[factor-fiction]

If it was my petrol station I'd block them all in until 12 hours after the match

[factor-fiction]

In theory you are entering into a contract by parking there when the charges are displayed but clearly a £250 would be deemed unreasonable. I would advise the garage to charge something more reasonable such as £15- in that case a court may uphold the charge, although they may feel it's not worth the cost. If the cars are causing an obstruction they should close the area off on matchdays

[CW1]

Haha factor-fiction *thankful you DON'T own it* although they'd be losing out on legit customers if they blocked cars in or closed the areas off ;)
A reply on the other forum has said "outside the BPA recommendation of £100 max" so doesn't sound like £250 would be legal, plus it's just occurred to me, if the Customer Only bays threaten clamping, it would've made more sense to threaten that rather than a fine.