Forum Topic

Ealing Broadway station drop off

I know there's been a lot of discussion/problems re this.  Can anyone advise where it's safe to stop near the Station to drop people off. Thanks.

Pat Kingham ● 5819d9 Comments

Pat,It is perfectly safe to pick up and drop off on the double yellow lines outside the station.  As a rule you may pick up and drop off on any single or double yellow lines irrespective of whether there is a loading ban.  You may not do so on red single or double lines.  The bays outside the station are privately owned and the owners of the business have contracted with Park Direct to police them.  You are likely to get photographed and clamped by them if you stop for any time on these bays.  Park Direct's methods are unattractive to say the least but the parking spaces are no use to their owners if you park in them!

Phil Taylor ● 5819d

Thanks Phil. Just to confirm its the bays that are the problem not the roadway ?

Pat Kingham ● 5819d

I have seen the cowboys and cowgirls watching people who stop on the double yellow and timing them and taking photos so i do not know whether that bis part of their scams. Apperently Phil had previously informed us thay any ticket they send to you is not legally enforceable and apparently in another thread people were ignoring the threats. it would be good to know whether there has been any further update on these.

Peter Chadburn ● 5819d

Yes

Phil Taylor ● 5819d

Peter,The Park Direct lot only deal with the bays so you are mistaken.  They have no authority to do anything else.  The PCN style letters they issue with photos are unenforceable and I have never had anyone tell me that Park Direct has successfully pursued them beyond the odd letter.  They are a try on.  Their tenuous legal basis is that by stopping on a bay you formed a contract with them and they are due a payment as agreed in that contract.  To pursue you they need to raise a small claim against you and get the judge to agree with them.  They would be extremely unlikely to succeed and if they did the worst that would happen is that you paid and that would be the end of it.  You only get a CCJ if you don't pay when the judge asks you nice.

Phil Taylor ● 5819d

phil i did see them taking a photo of someone on the double yellow so maybe they have expanded the unenforceable??

Peter Chadburn ● 5819d

Park Direct tickets are enforceable against the driver of the vehicle. Park Direct need to prove who was driving the vehicle to have any chance of enforcing their ticket through the courts; simply refusing to say who was driving the vehicle at the time the ticket was issued makes enforcing it nigh on impossible. The use of clamping to enforce parking on private land is a reflection of the difficulty of enforcing fines once the vehicle is no longer on the land.Council tickets are issued against the owner of the vehicle (who was driving it at the time of the offence is irrelevant) which makes their enforcement much easier.

Vlod Barchuk ● 5819d

As it happens I collect and drop clients about 6 times a week without problems. On the forecourt only, and on the yellow lines adjacent the pavement. If I have to wait a few minutes I get minor hassle sometimes from network rail or somesuch jobsworth who I remind that I have beeen called to collect one of their clients!The idiots from Park direct are currently wearing a "uniform" of similar colouring to the rail people so Confusion can arise there.

John Perkins ● 5817d

I've watched several times of late the tactics of the clampers at Ealing Broadway.The spaces are more often than not occupied by thier own vehicles or that of the police either met or BTP.What I cannot seem to understand is how often the clampers get full assistance from Police . BTP police seem to spent more time chatting with them and dealing with clamped motorists than doing what they are there to really do.It is high time this space was compulsory purchased and  made into a proper setting down point and cycle park as well as allowing a better bus stop facility.

Oliver Gregan ● 5813d