Parking

[feebletoe1492]

Hope somebody can help. I live in a university city and very near a popular theatre in Hampshire. When in student term time the residential roads where I live are pretty much everyday full. Forcing me to park where I can. Last night I finished work to find no legal parking spaces anywhere near my house.. So I parked on some doubles at app 20.30 hours with a view to pop out and move it around about 10pm..of which I did but could see no obvious spaces... Went out at midnight.. To find a ticket on my car... I am furious... There is no residential parking... And I fail to see what more I can do apart from not paying the fine. Any suggestions gratefully received. Thanks.

[Old_Geezer]

You could pay the fine. Also park further away or get home earlier. Maybe move to a house with a garage or a drive. Or give up the car and rely on public transport.

[mikey4444]

The fine appears to have been properly awarded, so I can't see that you have much choice about whether to pay it or not.

But there is an obvious problem in your area, which is repeated all over the country. My advice would be campaign for "resident parking" Your local Councillor should be able to help.

[Old_Geezer]

Resident parking isn't ideal. Residents pay for it and visitors have nowhere to stop. First come first served, is fairer. But if a local business, school, university, whatever is causing a problem then they should arrange for the necessary car parking. They and the local council should get together and find a real solution rather than push the issue onto others, for a price, and then wash their hands of it.

[ummmm]

OG - it isn't expensive and you can also get a visitor permit too.

[hc4361]

Pay the fine - you have no grounds to appeal it.
Get pro-active and start the ball rolling for residents' permits.

[mikey4444]

I think I know where Feebletoe lives and he has my sympathy. Resident Parking may be the only solution. At least it gives him a fighting chance.

[feebletoe1492]

Thanks for advice guys although I'm guessing the old geezer isnt surely being serious regarding moving to a house with a garage.. This is a major issue down here thanks to students who just park wherever they please. Not sure why students need a car, or indeed can afford them.

[bednobs]

wouldnt you park wherever you pleased (if you could) just like them? Why do students have fewer "rights" than you? (not that anyone has rights to a parking space unless it is a private space)
What would be the aim of not paying the fine? it will increase till you need to pay more!

[Davemano]

This is a countrywide problem and in many areas is caused by commuters avoiding council car park charges, stopping parking and resident only parking simply moves the problem to another street.

[Davemano]

Meant to add, I can't see any alternative except to pay, which we all know is more than annoying.

[feebletoe1492]

I was living here long before students were an issue. Not many students pay council tax. Or indeed live near me in my street. What am I supposed to do after doing a 12 hour shift to find I can't park anywhere near my house. Some dumbass councillor has suggested giving up our cars if it's an issue or move as somebody else on here suggested.. BTW the councillor in question has a driveway.

[andy-hughes]

I sympathise, but your circumstances will not negate your fine, or your obligation to pay it.

Using the circumstances, annoying as they are, as an excuse to avoid payment will not be accepted - you will have to grin and bear it.

[THECORBYLOON]

If you have a front garden you can pay to have the kerb dropped and park in the garden.

[ummmm]

Still worth an appeal though. I appealed a parking ticket when I parked in a loading bay and got let off.

[david small]

It's a problem that has been growing exponentially since everyone has a car nowadays. My son parked outside my house last winter at around 7pm on newly installed double lines. Somehow he got a ticket on this quite residential road. The thought police found him. I paid the ticket as I'm afraid you must. Got to keep the gravy train flowing for the trough brigade. Life's not fair.

[david small]

Is there not a house near you that you can pay to use their drive?

[ChillDoubt]

Don't know if I can help but as I sympathise with your situation, I'll try.

A work colleague of mine once had a similar situation whereby she was given a ticket after working late and having nowhere to park upon returning home(she works in Theatre). There had been a lot of break-in's and theft from vehicles in the area and she felt it prudent to park on double yellows(not causing any obstruction) until leaving for work the following morning.

The ticket had been issued by a Police patrol at 1.30 am. She wrote to the Chief Constable, pointing out the recent crime wave and asked why Officers were issuing parking tickets at some godforsaken hour instead of looking for criminal acts in the area(whilst laying her working circumstances on a bit thick, granted).

It worked and the CC rescinded the ticket in light of circumstances and events. If yours was issued by a parking officer will undoubtedly change matters.
Whether you have similar circumstances is another matter, but it's worth a try.

[feebletoe1492]

Also the fine is disproportionate to the offence... But thanks for all the tips.

[ummmm]

It's a fixed amount but you pay less if you pay within 14 days...

[bednobs]

"Not many students pay council tax" what does council tax have to do with it? Council tax payment does not entitle you to a parking space does it? in fact council tax has very little to do with roads .
"I was living here long before students were an issue" if "i was here first" is a good enough excuse, then surely the people who are parking in the street spaces you believe to be yours could use it and it would be good enough for them - they were in that space first.
"What am I supposed to do after doing a 12 hour shift to find I can't park anywhere near my house" park somewhere further away from your house (as apparently all the people who've parked in your road have done!)
I get that it's annoying. You live in my home town, and although i don't live there any more, it's surely annoying when i visit my parents and can't park in their road, or the next one or the next one. there is nothing you can do legally, except park further away.