HP Carpark

[Matt de K]

Had a quick scout and couldn't see anything on this but;

Was I seeing things or were there two beefy looking guys taking money off people for parking in the HP carpark for the Liverpool match???
Now this looked a bit dodgy in a couple of ways. Firstly the guys taking money looked more like they were involved in organised crime than organising a carpark; Secondly there were those dodgy looking carpark signs up saying £5 for car park, no official sign.

Also I saw that they had a RangeRover marked up as "security" patrolling the boundries of the old HP site - driving on the top of the hill that runs parralel to the old A33

Did anyone actually park their car in there? Also, since you did, have you found that your car has been cloned yet??

Or was this just the work of the normal yellow coats people, who work the HP gate week in week out - telling poeple that the car park is closed, finally using their initiative??

[Warfield Royal]

I noticed cars were parking in HP too.

Lots of cars are parking on the verges and they seem to come to no harm.

I always arrive about 2 hours before kick off and the traffic is fairly light at that time, does the traffic get much worse in the time up to the start of the match?

[ayjaydee]

I noticed cars were parking in HP too.

Lots of cars are parking on the verges and they seem to come to no harm.

I always arrive about 2 hours before kick off and the traffic is fairly light at that time, does the traffic get much worse in the time up to the start of the match?

Yes, but it dies down considerably the nearer to k.o. you arrive. Been in the habit recently of watching the lunchtime Prem game at the Swan Arborfield, leaving there at 2.30 and geting to the ground in plenty of time (advantage of a car park st).

[TFF]

HP car park was open for the Fulham match.

Is it just a coincidence that the traffic was such a nightmare after the game? Took an age to get out of Green Park.

[One Beer is never enough.]

having spoke to the 'staff' at the HP before the Liverpool game, they are the 'security' company, who have decided to use the car park to provide parking. They told me that they had spoken to the owners and that they have approved the useage.

I doubt this very much with regard tot he discussuion on here before about HP keeping it open for just the parking meaning that they would have to pay rates etc. I can see no reason why if they had permission they would pass this down to third party to run - thus costing them money.

Therefore I would suggest that the use of the car park for parking an matchdays at the moment is certainly not sanctioned by the landowners and will lead to inevitable problems..............

[STAR Voice]

As I understand it, the premises and car park are no longer owned/operated by HP - there is a management company now in charge.

As the club are trying to negotiate with this company to get parking happening again there, it is surprising that this seems to be open. On that basis I'd echo the suggestion that this is someone making money on an unsanctioned basis, so use at your own risk!

[Yellowcoat]

Suspect a number of assumptions may be correct. There was a similar attempt at the old Courages site before RFC staff arrived for an earlier match.

[Physci]

As Gordon Brown has said that business rates will be payable once a property has been empty for more than 3 months it would seem sensible for the car park owners to be prepared to have the car park used and hence generate some funds to offset against the rates bill...

[STAR Voice]

I don't want to drag politics into, suffice it to say that under current regulations rates are not payable at the full rate if premises are being used (rather than being vacant).

The point of discussion is whether using the car park in this way invalidates the rebate for the property being empty.

[Tozy Dart]

i think the reason the traffic was bad on saturday especially heading towards junction 11 to get on the m4 was because the traffic lights were screwed at the junction 11 roundabout as they were again today!!

[PieEater]

The right turn filter at the new lights at Rose Kiln lane were also stuffed.

[Tilehurst Born and Bred]

I parked on the HP grass opposite the Shell station and ended up getting ticketed....parking on a rural clearway...I always thought the land was owned by HP....parked there before and never ticketed.....

TBAB

[premiership_bound]

calling the Basingstoke Road rural seems a bit far fetched.

[Warfield Royal]

I parked on the HP grass opposite the Shell station and ended up getting ticketed....parking on a rural clearway...I always thought the land was owned by HP....parked there before and never ticketed.....

TBAB

As I understand it one of the criteria for issuing a parking ticket is how you gained access to the land and whether you exited the highway at an approved place. This was an issue at a place were I worked because everyone drove over the pavement to park on the verge but the council started issuing tickets.