Parking In Front Of A Fire Exit & Delivery Gate

[LiluK]

Hi!
I just saw someone has parked in front of our Delivery Gate which is also a Fire Exit (has parked on the pavement and private property). That person has locked his/her motorbike on the gate, so it can't be removed.
Is it illegal to do that or aloud?

[Old_Geezer]

A marked fire exit ? I'd not have thought that legal.

[Jennykenny]

I would think it was highly dangerous and stupid.
Ring the local police station?

[fiction-factory]

Could the gate still be opened adequately in the event of a fire?

[mikey4444]

If the Police are no help, and they may not be, call the local fire station !

[Peter Pedant]

yes it is unlawful
I am not sure what you can do about it
( you cant smash their windows for example)

[Peter Pedant]

// Could the gate still be opened adequately in the event of a fire?//
actually I would have thought this is irrelevant
it is whether access is restricted and having chained a m/c to it I wd think the answer to that was 'yes'

[murraymints]

I'd have the police contact the owner to remove it with a smack hand

[albaqwerty]

go to local d-i-y shop and buy bolt cutters to remove their lock from your property?

Personally, I'd phone the local fire station and ask for their advice.

[fiction-factory]

Posh bike if it's got windows, PP....
but if it became necessary to open the gates, maybe for a drill, and the bike sort of got bumped a bit, would the company who owned the gate be liable for repair costs for unavoidable damage?

[murraymints]

fire services would have more clout in getting the police to take action right enough, although they , fire , might come and remove chain the owner would need to be traced

[fiction-factory]

>it is whether access is restricted and having chained a m/c to it I wd think the answer to that was 'yes'
It may be 'yes', but it could be 'no'- I can picture a situation where it is a big heavy gate and a smallish m/c makes no significant difference to the weight/ease of opening- which is whiy i asked the question.
Anyway, I agree that asking the Fire Brigade is best

[fiction-factory]

Is there clear signage on the gate/close it enough to it to make it clear that it must not be blocked?

[Maydup]

Has it gone yet liluk? If not ring the police but not 999 and report it. In the meantime make a temporary evacuation plan that eleminates that blocked exit and let all staff know.

If the police are not able to help being private property then you will have to contact a private company who can remove it lawfully for you. Vehicle recovery firm.

[mikey4444]

liluk....let us know the outcome of this please....we like to see conclusions here on AB !

[LiluK]

The owner of the bike has removed it.
The still could be opened on one side.
The exit is only marked inside as an fire exit, not outside on the gate.
That's why I wasn't sure if it is illegal and to call the police.

I know that the police doesn't remove vehicles from private property, I had that problem in the past.

[Hopkirk]

Signage outside needs to be organised, I would have thought.

[Old_Geezer]

I think that extra information would have been useful to answering your query (which was why I said marked in my response). Glad the bike's gone; I would agree with Hoppy about getting signage sorted.

[Maydup]

Pleased its sorted. As well as signage, its worth looking at whether the gate or gatepost can be modified to remove the ability to lock a bike to it, and also add some yellow hatching to the floor in front for increased visability, remembering that the general public' s ability to read a sign is pretty low!