8 January - The pavement parking lottery
@tonyofsidcup argued with Bexley Council that they should enforce parking
restrictions on private land if it is to all intents and purposes part of the public
highway. The law is on @tony’s side; Councils can issue a PCN to motorbikes
leaning against shop windows if they choose to. Bexley does not and you may consider
that to be the easy way to avoid conflict and keep most people happy: except of course
partially sighted persons who might come a nasty cropper.
@tony doesn’t do things by halves, he asked every London Council what they do
about obstructions of the highway where it is technically private land.
Bexley’s stance proved to be fairly typical and followed by Barnet, Camden,
Croydon, Enfield, Hammersmith, Islington, Lambeth, Lewisham, Merton, Newham, Sutton, Waltham Forest, Wandsworth and Westminster.
The ignoramuses at Brent, Haringey and Tower Hamlets all say the law forbids it.
At the other extreme Southwark quoted the precedent in law which @tony discovered and applies it as required
while Hillingdon excelled by attaching a copy of @tony’s law. Top marks to both.
Barking and Richmond generally do not enforce on private land but accepts that
there can be exceptions while Ealing, Greenwich, Hackney, Harrow and Havering
are also well aware of the provisions of the law and take advantage of it if the
private land looks like it is part of the highway.
Bromley, Hounslow and Kingston were not very sure; probably not bright enough to read the question properly.
Kensington & Chelsea point blank refused to answer the question
arguing it is publicly available information.
All these different interpretations of the law make off road parking a bit of a lottery. Best not to do it.