Forum Topic

Don't drop off at Ealing Bdwy Station - legalised theft by our Council

I had to drop my partner off at Ealing Broadway last week. She had warned me that she'd heard that if you enter the little service road running past the station, that was an instant fine.So I stopped on the main road without pulling in to the service road. Nobody was inconvenienced. The road was quiet. We were stopped for around 10 seconds.£50 penalty notice arrived today.Legalised theft.What exactly do they expect people to do when departing from the station with awkward luggage?

Mark Vale ● 5596d8 Comments

True unless you really know your stuff then the place is a nightmare. note that the parek direct tickets are not legally enforceable

Peter Chadburn ● 5595d

Yes, by about 2 feet. After having done a great deal of research, I now know the answer appears to be to pull in to the service road and stop on the double yellow, blocking the road, because if you do the sensible thing and pull into a bay, for even a second, Park Direct will attempt to fine you £160.If the service road is bollarded off, yellow lines opposite the station can be used for drop-off.However when one arrives to contend with buses flying in all directions, and your passengers train looming, it's not so easy to do the right thing.

Mark Vale ● 5595d

Did you park on the white zigzags? I suspect you did. Instant fine for obstructing a pedestrian crossing. I'm glad the police are hot on this because it really is a danger to pedestrians. Sorry you didn't know this though.

Darren Halford ● 5595d

Once again you realise that Ealing Council is being run for the benefits of its employees rather than the resident of Ealing!. The lay-by in front of the station was built to allow people to "drop off" by car (that may even be in the original planning requirements--has anyone checked?) but has been over-ridden by the greedy shop landlord that owns Ealing Broadway station (is it known as Network Rail now, it used to be British Rail?). As we know neither Transport for London or Notwork Rail actually LIKE their customers so why should they help them at the busiest station and interchange in Ealing? Furthermore, Ealing Council has a whole bunch of Traffic Planners in the Planning Department who are tied up on far more important projects than integrated transport interchange at the busiest station in Ealing. One would suspect that there might be a Duty of Care and Health and Safety Requirement on Ealing Council to enable the safe interchange between rail, road and pedestrian users of Ealing Broadway Station however such a concept will sadly fall on deaf ears in out famous Planning Department which is busily issuing (uneccesary) legal development notices (when they can work out how to use the spell checker!).

Eugene Wroblewsi ● 5595d

Once again you realise that Ealing Council is being run for the benefits of its employees rather than the resident of Ealing!. The lay-by in front of the station was built to allow people to "drop off" by car (that may even be in the original planning requirements--has anyone checked?) but has been over-ridden by the greedy shop landlord that owns Ealing Broadway station (is it known as Network Rail now, it used to be British Rail?). As we know neither Transport for London or Notwork Rail actually LIKE their customers so why should they help them at the busiest station and interchange in Ealing? Furthermore, Ealing Council has a whole bunch of Traffic Planners in the Planning Department who are tied up on far more important projects than integrated transport interchange at the busiest station in Ealing. One would suspect that there might be a Duty of Care and Health and Safety Requirement on Ealing Council to enable the safe interchange between rail, road and pedestrian users of Ealing Broadway Station however such a concept will sadly fall on deaf ears in out famous Planning Department which is busily issuing (uneccesary) legal development notices (when they can work out how to use the spell checker!).

Eugene Wroblewsi ● 5595d

In addition to yellow lines here, there are zig zags around  the crossing. Is that where you stopped? If so, your claim re legalised theft for here would be a fantasy.

George Knox ● 5595d

TVM. Wise after the event! I did exactly the wrong thing - should have pulled into the service road and stopped on the double yellows.I actually thought hard about what would be the least obstructive under the current conditions... but when did logic ever come in to it.This must be a massive cash cow as I've found countless posts on this very subject going back ~ 4-5 years.

Mark Vale ● 5596d

"It is OK to drop off on the double yellows inside the private station forecourt.  Also the Highway Code is clear that you can drop of on both single and double yellow lines.  There are double yellows opposite the station where you can drop off.  Your passenger can then cross on the pedestrian crossing."quoted from Phil Taylor about this problem on an earlier thread which I have bumped for your info. 

Nick Jenkins ● 5596d