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Lucie Mitchell

Sift Media

Freelance journalist and former editor of HRZone

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HR tip: Parking on residential roads

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These questions are being answered by Learn HR, a market leader in the provision of HR and payroll training and nationally-recognised professional qualifications.


Question:

Our premises are on a street that is lined with houses and some of the residents have complained to us that our employees regularly park their cars outside their homes. Our employees in turn argue that the residents have no claim on the roadway outside their houses. How do we stand?
 
Answer:

You should tell your employees that, if the neighbours complain to the police, they may be charged with obstructing the highway and fined. If you are not able to accommodate employees' cars on your premises, that really is all you can do. If the neighbours continue to complain to you, tell them that you have done all that you reasonably can and that their only recourse therefore is to the police.

4 Responses

  1. Some employees are parking their cars on a residential street an
    I completely disagree with the answer given in response to this query. Firstly we must work on the assumption that there are no parking restrictions in place, as these are not mentioned. If this is the case then neither the police or any other regulatory agency has the power to charge the employees with any offence, including obstructing the highway, if the cars are parked in the normal manner.

    The residents do not have any legal right to park on the stretch of road outside their house, but may be considered to have an ethical right by the employer.

    On this basis the employer may well request it’s staff to not park in the road, but warning them that they may be fined is purely scaremongering.

    If I was a resident on the street I would be discussing the parking issue with my local council, especially the planning department to ensure that a planning application for any change of use from residential to commercial required was, in fact, applied for and granted.

  2. Parking Hell!
    How many cars are you talking about?

    Maybe you can do something in return – perhaps you could pay someone to give those who complain a free car wash every fortnight. It would make a great local news story too!

    Also remind them that a busy street during the day means less chance of burglars.

    Perhaps they should pay you to keep an eye out for their property!

    Good luck… I think company bicycles are the answer though…..

    Will
    http://www.shiftfiller.com

  3. Blocking driveways
    The police can only act if a parked car is blocking a car on a driveway (obstruction – see the Highway Code) if there is no car on the driveway then the parked car is not causing an obstruction (I have this problem where I live as its opposite a junior school). Other than blocking a driveway there is absolutely nothing stopping anyone from parking on a public highway (depends on parking restrictions in force, plus whether the car is taxed and insured),

  4. Neighbours Parking
    Would it be possible to ‘rent’ a parking space in the neighbours driveway’s, some of your neighbours might not need their entire driveway for their own parking and might consider renting some spaces to your employees.

    Are there any Free car parking areas near your work but not necessary within walking distance, could your employees take it in turn to park in the Free car park and another employee give them a lift to work?

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Lucie Mitchell

Freelance journalist and former editor of HRZone

Read more from Lucie Mitchell
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