Conference govt02::basingstoke

    
    Jo, 
    
    I agree with  you completely , I have so far NOT seen the 
    car park filled to  capacity , though people  are parking 
    dangerously  at  the end of rows. It makes reversing into 
    a space facing the 'shift parking' fence  very  difficult 
    due  to  the space  restriction and parking forwards into 
    this area awkward to reverse out of . I'm surprised there
    haven't  been  any accidents so far as I have seen others 
    in at least two close scrapes so far .....
                                              
    Sandie.../
    
    

    ....why  not  invest  in  some nice big sticky labels (preferably in 
    Dayglo yellow) with something like "You are parked  dangerously"  on 
    them.  Affix  these  on  the  front windscreen, driver's side of any 
    offender's cars. I bet your problem  would  go  away.  Inconsiderate 
    (and  dangerous)  parking  has always been a problem at Viables, but 
    no-one has  done  anything  about  it.....plenty  have  said  they'd 
    change the layout....they'd bring in rule X or Y....

I was wondering whether or not someone might persuade the 
management team to "have a word with" anyone they manage who
parks dodgily...   if nothing else the manager will start 
getting bored of talking to any repeat offenders and 
might start finding ways of persuading them to stop. 

    Jo,
    
    	I work on the night shift. I have counted, at one time,
    20 cars in the car park and only 5 people working in the building -
    this was at 2 o'clock in the morning. This is not uncommon and my
    colleagues have also noticed this.
    There use to be a list of car registration numbers held in reception
    its probably out of date now - perhaps it needs updating and those
    people who do violate the rules and be mailed together with their
    manager.
    
    
    	Norm

    As a member of `the management team' and as Health and Safety Chair for
    Viables I'll chuck in my two penn'orth.

    I absolutely agree that the practice of `end row parking' is
    inconsiderate, dangerous and, normally, unnecessary.

    I too believe that most of the offenders just can't be bothered to find
    a space; or, as Jo suggests, don't wish to spoil their coiffure or
    couture.  (It has also not escapted my notice that most of the cars
    appear to be Lease vehicles).
    
    It is an extremely rare event for the car park to have no spaces.
    
    So, what I would like all of you reading this to do is to make a note
    of the registration number of the `offending' vehicle; ask at Reception
    (who constantly update their list of registrations!) for the owner's
    name; if Reception don't have it, try Car Fleet; then escalate the
    incident to that person's Manager.
    
    I know that telling tales is not a popular sport, but if _you_ want it
    fixed then I believe that _you_ need to help fix it.  I know I will.
    
    Jon

Jon, 

believe me I had my eyes peeled for end parkers this 
morning... 

There weren't any at that time so (dream on) we might 
hope some of them might have come across this and 
understood better the frustration they cause others. 

    Jon,
    
    	Over the past couple of years there has been a trend whereby people
    have opted-out of the car scheme, also not everyone has a company car.
    If reception only have the registration numbers of people on the
    company car scheme then their list is incomplete - unless reception
    have access to the DLVC database that is. 
    
    	Perhaps the registration numbers of the offending cars could be
    noted in this notesfile :-)
    
    	Norm

    Whilst we're talking car parks, how about a check on the cars using
    the shift car park. When I'm on late shift starting at 2pm I can never
    find a space there.
    
    Royston

    When I joined I was asked for a car registration number.
    
    Mark

    roy,
    I agree with what you say, I know for a fact that some people in
    response are still parking in the shift parking. Also I know this has
    been reported, it ceases for a while & then reoccurs again & again
    Regards chris lewington

    
    I agree with Royston. When I come in at 5pm sometimes there are no
    spaces in the Shift part of the car park. Tom has spoken to Jon Morris
    and I believe there is shortly going to be a message clarifying who is
    supposed to be using the shift spaces (e.g. people who are working
    shift who won't be finishing until after the hours of darkness). 
    
    There seems to be a situation where people who are due to finish at 4pm
    are using these spaces and this doesn't usually cause a problem but when 
    the person gets called away to a meeting or gets tied up doing a
    'project' they seem to forget that the space will be needed at 5pm.
    
    Anyway, let's hope the situation if sorted out soon !
    
    Trevor
    
    P.S. Does anyone know how long 'Avis' have been working shifts here ?

    
    The "late" shifts seem to start at 2/3/4/5 pm, depending on which group
    one works for.
    
    However, the spaces are usually taken up by people whose attitude seems
    to be "I'm a shift worker, therefore I'll park there at any time" or 
    those who do not work shift at all, but for reasons expressed by others
    in this note-string, don't wish to park "properly".
    
    I too, hope that the new regulations solve the problem. 
    
    Dangerous parking is another matter, and with a projected increase
    in the number of Viables staff (In Control Update !!) it is likely to
    get worse.
    
    

    Since Jo brought this subject up I have not noticed any dangerous
    parking at the end of the rows. 
    
    Maybe these folks have got the message.
    
    The comments about shift parking are interesting. I have to confess
    that I park in the shift parking when I have a 7am start (4.30pm
    finish) mainly because its the only shift I do where there are 
    spaces available !
    
    Royston

    
    
    Well , let me just say that I'm about to head off home from our Lates
    Shift ....it is pitch black outisde and my car is at least 2/3 of the
    way down the main car park as there were NO slots in shift carparking
    when I came in just before 2pm. Like Royston ,I park in Shift Parking
    ( Not the ones  that say for Night Shift Only) if I am on earlies and 
    it is dark at 6:45am when we get in . The  shift car  park is from my
    point of view for increased safety , especially as a female, not just 
    a privilege ...
    
    Sandie.../
    

    
    Hi folks.
    
    This is a regular topic in the Health and Safety meetings. Jon
    will be issuing a statement on the proper use of shift parking
    fairly soon. The matter of end-row parking seems to have been
    improved by various means. Please continue reporting any silly
    parking to Reception.
    
    Andy.

>(e.g. people who are working
>    shift who won't be finishing until after the hours of darkness). 

don't forget the *and* who feel they are safer parking within the 
view of a security guard... 

>    Since Jo brought this subject up I have not noticed any dangerous
>    parking at the end of the rows.    
>    Maybe these folks have got the message.
    

Having noticed the same thing I'm hoping the same thing. 

I guess there might just have been some people who didn't realise how 
much it annoys and endangers others who now do realise and are now 
parking neatly at the back in a suitably chastised manner.. 

>	There is a genuine lack of space in the carpark and just because there
>	are spaces when you go out to lunch doesn't mean there was when the 
>	`offender' parked on the row end.


Most definitely not but I've since seen someone park, just after I had, I 
parked in the second half, and walked up, it wasn't even raining, they parked 
on the end of the row and had the pleasure of walking in a shorter distance,
and then the pleasure of walking that distance again back to the car to repark
in one of the at *least* 5 spaces I could see (without my glasses) from the 
building :-)  Oddly enough when the EP arrived reception seemed to know his 
number plate and which row he'd parked on the end of.

I suspect a couple of goes at that and even resiliant end parkers would make 
sure they checked for spaces first :-) 

	The situation is definitely getting worse. At 11:00am today 
	there wasn't a single square inch of spare space. 

	There was a car at the end of every row; the shift customer and
	disabled bays were all taken; the loading area was full and, 
	the crowning achievement, someone had managed to squeeze a 
	Mondeo into the bicycle shed. (That is not a joke, I saw it).

	Perhaps people with 4WD could be more considerate to the rest
	of us and park on the bank at the back?  :-)

	Ian.

	Why don't we all park up at Sainsbury's and get Facilities to organise
	a `Park and Ride' scheme.

    With the advent of more people working at Viables the parking issue
    could well get worse. Some time ago we had the option of using FASTEK's
    car park. Does anyone know if that option is still available?
    
    
    Norm

	When we moved back into the Crescent after the great fire parking was a
severe problem. We even started illegaly to use an overflow car park without
planning permission. Over the last couple of years parking has become a real
pleasure with ample spaces available at all times. Those grumblers in Viables
might like to contemplate the reasons for this:-)

There still appear to be a permanent float of 20-30 cars in the Crescent car
park at any time of day or night. I can only assume that all these Fronteras
etc are lease cars left by departed employees.

Nigel

    OK! OK! ...I admit it I did park in the bicycle shed,
    and let me tell you it was very hard getting my front wheel into that
    metal thing!!!!.
    
    But (excuse time) there were no...none...zero....zilch spaces when I
    arrived and I did tell reception as I entered the building that it was
    my car in the cycle shed. And it was off the road. And I did have and
    urgent call to do.
    
    Also I hear there are more people moving in so I will not be the only
    one in the shed!!!!.  
    
    
    Tracey

    .23
    
    And who says are field service aren't dedicated! :^)
    
    Lynn

	Take away the car and give her a bicycle.

It'd be more than you get if you're unfortunately to be in your first year 
here and happen to lumbered with a degree!

    
     Sorry about the tyre marks on your roof Tracey.
    
    ;-)

Parkings a nightmare again today... Car's everywhere,  But there are 6 spaces
in the visitors allocated parking bays.

    As stated in the communication about the new Reserved Parking bays, the
    issue of car parking space at Viables is being actively worked.
    
    I have four proposals under review / for consideration and will let
    everybody know when we have a solution which we can afford to
    implement.
    
    In the meantime, please be patient and try to find a space before you
    end-row park :-}
    
    Jon
    

If Chris Hall moved his RV, there'd be room for at least 5 more cars !

Rich

    re .30,
    
    I used to think that,  but while walking in from Ralphs yesterday
    I noticed that it only seems to sit in a single bay.
    
    At 10:30 yesterday all the spaces were full and each row had 1 extra
    car tacked on the end.  There were two cars parked in the loading
    area in front of reception.  If I had not been walking in, I guess it
    would have been 3 cars (I wouldn't have fancied the bike shed :-)
    
    Jc
     

    Todays dilemma...
    
    At 11:30 there were no "employee" parking spaces, there were cars
    parked on the end of the rows and in the service bay but all except 
    maybe 2 or 3 "customer" parking spaces were empty.
    
    Guess where I parked???? :-)

The path down the (out)side of the VMS group?

    The roof looked quite inviting!

    As if the car park wasn't bad enough, I got a complaint yesterday that
    the bike shed isn't big enough now!

    Now that gives me an idea ... if everybody was issued a company bicycle
    instead of a company car, we could put a big bike shed in the front row
    of the car park and kill two birds with one stone ... food for thought.

    Jon
    Beleaguered H&S Chair

>    Now that gives me an idea ... if everybody was issued a company bicycle
>   instead of a company car, we could put a big bike shed in the front row
>   of the car park and kill two birds with one stone ... food for thought.


Digital could probably get Sun Alliance to reduce their contribution to 
the Health Insurance on that basis too! 

Extra fit employees!

Now Chris's vans gone we should have one whole space more so that could help. 

Can bus companies do anything if you park in bus stops?

It's just the Viables bus only runs 2 in the morning and 2 in the 
evening from what I remember and I'm sure we could fit at least 3 cars in 
there if we use the pavement/flowerbeds too... 

> re: Note 835.36 by KERNEL::COFFEYJ "The Uk CSC Unix Girlie."
>
>Digital could probably get Sun Alliance to reduce their contribution to 
>the Health Insurance on that basis too! 
>
>Extra fit employees!

	Surely the prospect of all those cyclists, negotiating Basingstoke's
	roundabouts during the rush hour, would be enough to treble the
	premiums.

re   > Can bus companies do anything if you park in bus stops?

Yes. Apparently they put a big stikker on your windscreen that is
almost  impossible to get off. They take the car re. number and you
get a summons for causing an obstruction.

Simon

    Re .38
    
    The only people who can issue a summons for causing an obstruction on 
    the public highway are the police and traffic wardens. However, they
    are certainly allowed to report you to the local fuzz and get them to
    give you a ticket.
    
    Sticking "STIKKERS"!!
    
    Well that's illegal for a start. If anyone sticks a "STICKER" on your 
    windscreen that you cannot get off then you can do them for rendering 
    your car immobile on the public highway without power to do so. (This is
    what those little toe-rags get done for for letting your tyres down our
    slashing them) That is also why clamping by commercial firms is illegal 
    on the public highway (It is being debated whether they should even be 
    allowed to do this on private property.) Mind you if you report them to
    the fuzz then I do not expect they will afford you a lot of sympathy
    when you admit to parking on a bus stop. You might have to resort to
    letter writing to the local big fuzz.
    
    
    Keith

Isn't having at least 12 spaces constantly reserved for customers a waste
of space ? For starters, how many customer visits involve that many
cars ? Surely customers can be asked how many cars they will be bringing
here on a specific day and therefore we could then utilise spare ones.

Rich

Or maybe we could find somewhere there's more parking and run 
a customer visits courtesy shuttle run? 

re .41

>Or maybe we could find somewhere there's more parking and run 
>a customer visits courtesy shuttle run? 

We have oodles of spare parking here at the Crescent now.

Oh woops just remembered we're closing this facility & mostly moving to
Skippetts House with approximately 10% of the car parking space. That is going
to intereting to observe.

Nigel

re the cycling option...

Now,  if I could do the extra 3 hours of travelling in company time, I
would be happy to buy a new set of cycle clips.  I used to cycle into
JWH when I lived in London (and at about 6 miles, it was quicker than
public transport) but now I've nearer 30 miles to go each way and am rather 
older, I think I'll stick to the car :-)

Jc

    
    The end of last week seemed to be particularly bad for parking at
    Viables. On Friday, virtually every line had cars parked on the 
    end, when I came in at 15:00. 
    
    There was only one customer space, but several down at the far end.
    I suppose one doesn't want to walk too far on a nice sunny day !!
    
    Anyone know why we now have around 10-12 cars permanently parked,
    or dumped, or abandoned or otherwise not having moved for over a 
    week. I know, because I counted them at 23:30 each night last week.
    One I know is a fleet car at end of lease, awaiting collection,
    but what about the others, including the ones in the customer bays ??
    If there are other fleet cars, awaiting removal, maybe "Car-Fleet" or
    whoever they are nowadays, could be persuaded to come & remove them.
    

    Friday was bad, because by 9.15 there were no spaces (including the
    ends of rows) except in the customer bays.
    
    Mark

    If I were a crueller man than I am I would probably reply something
    like 
    
    "What are you doing coming in at 9:15?"
    
    :-)
    
    Jon

    Took me 15 mins to find a parking space :-)

    ..and then 5 minutes to walk to the building cos you parked so far
    away...(good excuse that one)
    
    ;-)

    The following message was distributed by mail to Viables residents
    today.  Please, please, before you bite my head off, note the use of
    the word `temporary' in the following......
    
    
    
          THIS MESSAGE IS FOR ALL RESIDENTS OF AND VISITORS TO VIABLES
    
      I have been concerned for some time about the safety of our car
      park.  Anybody who has experienced difficulty recently in
      manouvering past double parked cars will know what I mean.  And a
      further hazard is frequently presented by inconsiderate drivers
      travelling too quickly in the car park.
    
      I have escalated the lack of space in the car park to the highest
      levels in the UK and action is being taken to identify a suitable
      long-term solution to our problem.
    
      In the meantime, we have agreement to use the Crescent car park as a
      temporary overspill.  What this means in practice is that it is no
      longer acceptable to park outside the marked bays, or in the
      Customer Reserved bays between 09:00 and 16:00.  I have asked
      Reception to help ensure that everybody is aware of this decision.
      If you find there are no marked bays available at Viables, then you
      should drive to the Crescent and park your car.  You may need to
      allow an extra five minutes before your work or meeting start time
      in case you end up enjoying the fresh air along Jays Close.
    
      I realise that this is somewhat inconvenient and I will continue to
      press PM&S for a more suitable and permanent solution.
    
      I would also remind all car drivers that we have a 15 mile per hour
      speed limit in the car park.  It is absolutely unacceptable for
      drivers to ignore this limit:  to do so not only displays an
      appalling disregard for the safety of pedestrians, but a clear
      contempt for Digital's agreed policy.  Any observed contravention
      will be reported to the appropriate Manager who will take action.
    
      Please ensure that this message enjoys wide distribution within your
      group as safety should be a primary concern of us all.
    
      Jon Morris
      Chair
      Viables Health and Safety Team

    
    I applaud Jon for trying to do something with the resources 
    available.
    
    However, by the look of the car park today, one has to comment 
    that it doesn't seem to be working, or it isn't being policed.
    
    Almost every row has a car on the end, and all but one customer slots
    are full. There were one or two slots still empty right down the far 
    end of the car park.
    
    Looks like the evening shift people will have to use the Crescent and
    walk over there at midnight to their cars, if they are still there.
    
    I don't fancy that idea very much myself, and I'm sure the ladies 
    would like it even less.
    
    I know that nobody has any right to expect that Digital will provide
    them with a parking space at their place of work, but the plain fact
    seems to be that there are too many people in the CSC for the allotted
    spaces. Does that mean that the building is overcrowded ??

    Hey hang on a minute....
    
    I only sent the building mail out first thing on 07-NOV and not
    everybody is on the building mail distribution list and none of our
    visitors will have heard about it yet.  Give 'em a chance.
    
    We are having signs made up to go at the entrance to the car park for
    the benefit of visitors.
    
    We will give people a few days to catch up with the news that things
    have changed.
    
    And then we'll start policing it.
    
    I am sure we can make things better using this policy if we just
    exercise a little patience.  
    
    Jon

    
    Re .52
    
    Oops ....... Sorry !!
    
    By the way, has any thought been given to using the existing TV camera 
    to observe the car park, or a mirror on the lamp post outside
    reception ??
    
    These might save someone having to go out (in inclement weather, now 
    that winter is coming) to see if there were any offenders.

    Brian,
    
    I go round to Reception about twice a day and use the CCTV to look at
    the park.  Unfortunately, the image quality is not good enough to read
    number plates and that is the information you really need if you are
    going to be able to query why people have parked in the wrong place.
    
    However, all the Receptionists watch arriving vehicles and use the CCTV
    to see where they park and can then ask drivers to move as necessary.
    
    Jon

    On the basis that most people who get into work later than 9.00ish are
    those most likely to "offend" how about some politely phrased slips of
    paper being put under windscreen wipers of those who do offend. That
    way most of the re-occurring offenders would soon be made aware of the
    present policy with out too much effort.
    
    Keith

    Keith,
    
    Great idea.  Would you be prepared to stand out in the wind and the
    rain placing the slips under wipers?
    
    ;-)
    
    Jon

    If you are prepared to answer all my calls, yes!
    
    Keith

when will the policing (sp.) begin in the car park ?

I appear to be one of the few fools who park in the crescent,it's a little
annoying to then walk back to viables and see double parked cars-customer bays
full etc etc

In addition it always appears to be the same cars double parked.

Is there any point continuing this ridiculous parking policy -which very few
people comply with.

Steve.

not double parked at present but will be in the near future.

    Hmmm...I'm with -1...I was in The Crescent this morning, it seemed that
    there were only two cars down there from Viables just before lunch. 
    Walking down to the Crescent, the Viables car park was full of 'end
    of rowers'.  I can see this really falling apart in cold/wet weather...
    
    Mikef  
    
    

    I don't see too many yellow lines in Jays close - while Digital would
    probably not want to promote parking there,  what's to stop anyone
    doing so?
    
    Jc, who doesn't fancy the walk in the rain.
    

    Although I simply do not have time to be a policeman, and was rather
    hoping that we would have some decent common sense and consideration
    displayed by people (some hope), the policing has already started.  
    
    I have a list of names of people who were double parked the other day. 
    I will be contacting their managers and asking them to take appropriate
    action.
    
    However, the policing really is not a high priority for me at the
    moment as, like the rest of the readers here, I have customer problems
    to deal with.
    
    In the meantime I would plead with those of you who are being
    responsible to continue and have faith in my ability to get things done
    - eventually!!!!
    
    Jon
    
    

It has been suggested in UK_Parking, that Digital appoints car parking
"Superusers". Maybe this should be given some serious thought,


Stuart

>    However, the policing really is not a high priority for me at the
>    moment as, like the rest of the readers here, I have customer problems
>   to deal with.
 
Well, there's obviously quite a few people who walk or cycle when the 
weathers good because so far this week the car park has filled up and 
had end parkers pretty consistantly. 

End parking now has another wind-up factor - if you're the one who arrives 
when all spaces are taken it's now even more fiddly to turn your car around
having driven all the way down looking for spaces when there are end parked 
cars blocking the passageway!! Argh ! (Not to mention how annoying it is 
having to drive down to the crescent knowing you're sticking by the rules 
and others who've decided they're above them aren't - I'll be end parking 
myself soon at this rate... 


>    In the meantime I would plead with those of you who are being
>    responsible to continue and have faith in my ability to get things done
>   - eventually!!!!
 

I'll continue only if I feel safe in following the rules... 

This note does have a serious side to it. 

PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE !!!!!!

If we're meant to use the crescent car park can we at least have it lit!!!!

At 6 O'clock Thursday I left the office and had to walk in the cold and the 
rain (still recovering from flu with a bad cough and no umbrella and not 
enough wooly scarves cause I hadn't realised the treck I was going to have)
down to the Crescent, it's a longer walk than it seems when you drive it 
-by the time I reached my neatly parked car I was cold, wet and I must 
admit a little scared, there is very little decent street lighting 
overflowing onto the car park - to get to the car park you have to walk 
through tunnels of dark hedges that are taller than I am where you 
can't see whether anyone's behind it and from a practical viewpoint 
alone I could hardly see where the key hole on my car door was to start 
it.   I'm not convinced this is even taking the slightest responsibility
for employee safety, I'm pretty certain parking on the road is a much 
better idea and would suggest until the evenings get lighter anyone 
who isn't sure they're sound at self defence with good night vision 
consider it too. 

Alternately, Jon, could you arrange for the crescent car park lights 
to be switched on at least until 7:30/8pmish to make us that little 
bit safer. 


Jo. 

 

    Jo (et al),
    
    Please feel free to communicate this to as wide an audience as
    possible.  I will construct and send a Viables-wide mail in the next
    day or so.
    
    Firstly, thank you very much to the honest and decent among you who are
    parking at the Crescent when Viables' park is full.  I have arranged
    for the lights to stay on longer (until 19:00) to enable car collection
    in the glare of the lamps.
    
    Secondly, for those of you worried about collecting your car on your
    own late at night, can I suggest you get one of your colleagues who is
    leaving the building to give you a lift (there's usually a steady
    trickle of departures between 17:30 and 19:00 - I'd be amazed if any of
    them had the effrontery to refuse to give you a lift!).
    
    Thirdly, it looks like we have exhausted all the options other than
    building on our own land; so I've asked the Company Surveyor to get
    down here with his theodolite and start planning the great lawn carve
    up.  
    
    I'll keep you posted.
    
    Jon

    Can't we work out roughly how many more spaces are needed and redesign
    the existing car park. 
    
    I'm sure if we got rid of the flower beds and made the spaces a few
    inches narrower (sorry, Frontera brigade you'll have to park at the
    bus station which provides more adequate parking bays) we could
    accomodate many more vehicles. 
    
    Royston

	If we get clever and remove the `hedges' in the middle of the
	carpark the rows could run the length rather than the width
	of the carpark. Consequently there would be less `end of rows'
	for people to park on.

	Richard

    Well Royston, what a mind reader.
    
    As you will see from the building mail (below) that is the option we
    are currently pursuing.
    
    Jon
    
              This is to all residents of and visitors to Viables
    
                      Please redistribute this mail freely
    
    
      When I wrote to you all in November about the problem with car
      parking space in Viables I promised to update you as matters
      progressed.  Here is the first major update.
    
      I have been pursuing, through UK PM&S, a number of possible
      solutions to our problem (which, in case you hadn't noticed, is that
      we haven't got enough car parking spaces at Viables).
    
      The first was to take some of the land from the field adjacent to
      the building and tarmac over it.  Unfortunately, Basingstoke and
      Deane Borough Council (BDBC), who own the land, have told us that it
      is designated for development and they do not wish to sell or let
      parcels of it for car parking.
    
      The second was to rent or lease some car parking space from one of
      our neighbours in Jays Close.  Sadly, none of them are feeling
      sufficiently neighbourly to consider this option.
    
      So, the third and current option is to change the landscaping around
      the building, within the perimeter fence, to increase the number of
      spaces.
    
      PM&S have engaged a firm to produce an outline design and quotation.
      This can then be taken to the landlords and BDBC for their
      permissions.
      Clearly, getting the relevant permissions will take some time.
    
      Until we are able to resolve this problem, please will you all
      continue to use the Crescent as overflow when all the marked bays at
      Viables are full.  I understand the inconvenience this can cause,
      but the safety of drivers and pedestrians is of paramount
      importance.
    
      For those of you who do have to park at the Crescent, I have
      arranged for the lighting to stay on until 19:30.
    
      Jon Morris
      Chair
      Viables Health and Safety Team

>    I'm sure if we got rid of the flower beds and made the spaces a few
>    inches narrower (sorry, Frontera brigade you'll have to park at the
>    bus station which provides more adequate parking bays) 

I've already got one set of frontera cattle pusher scratch marks down the 
side of my car - I don't need any more! :-) 

Good one Jon, good luck with the redesign ...

have we done anything about shifting handed back lease cars as soon as 
possible too - any little thing to reduce the risk of having to park at the 
crescent ... (maybe we could park them on all on the grass for the time 
being?)

    The PM&S ladies on Reception are very good at hassling Leaseplan to
    collect end-of-lease cars and Hertz/Avis/etc to collect ex-rentals.
    
    I wish we could move them to the Crescent but typically they are not
    insured.  And anyway there really aren't that many.
    
    Jon

    So it appears to be a total free for all in the car park right now.
    
    I've never seen it so bad lately. End of row parking is the daily norm
    as is parking on any verge available.
    
    Royston

Has anyone else noticed the lack of lights on in the Cresent car park, they are
not all on by any means, maybe there will be more incentive to park there if all
the lights were on.

Suzanne

> as is parking on any verge available.

That is really the worse now I think, the other day all row ends
were taken, as was all of the fire engine access area, 
some people had parked on the verge outside the building which 
seems like a safer more sensible option, definately better than 
those (a little black sporty thing in particular) that had 
parked on the verge of the entrance to the building, 
given we nearly had a nose to nose with a car trying to 
leave the car park as we came back from lunch because we were
overtaking the parked black thing I'd not be suprised if it 
didn't have a few extra scratches by the end of the day!

Maybe that'll be what it takes for people to start 
parking where the signs say they're meant to... 

re.72
>Has anyone else noticed the lack of lights on in the Cresent car park<

No lights on tuesday evening,however the lights inside the crescent building
were on.Is this the lighting which will be kept on ?

Steve.

    I'm now 
    
    	1) chasing PM&S about the lights
    	2) getting quotes for both wheelclamping and tow-away services.
    
    I don't want to get mean but I am prepared to.
    
    Jon

    wheelclamping - Way to go Jon !
    
    Royston

I gather we already have volunteers from 
around the building to fit the wheel clamps too!

Since parking on the verges of the road seems to be 
ok I'm suprised no-one's parked actually on 
that sweeping curve of grass yet..   

  Is it worth putting some cones on the end of aisles, so that the ignorant
  can have no excuse.  This leaves the customer parking and loading area:
  with the former, didn't Mike Robinson use to do something each morning so
  that we could see if the bays were required;  as for the latter, these cars
  are clearly in view of an armour-piercing weapon of some sort, fired from
  the front door - just make sure that no one is coming through reception when
  you pull the trigger!


  /Ian

>  Is it worth putting some cones on the end of aisles, so that the ignorant
>  can have no excuse.

Sometimes the simplest ideas are the best... I mean we don't have 
*that* many students in the area who'd get drunk up the GL and 
wear the cones as hats do we? 

As for the loading bay/fire access area... in backdraft (US movie) 
the firemen smash the windows of a car which is parked blocking off
access to a fire hydrant - can't we just have a few fire practices 
and once everyone's in the car park get a fire engine to come 
along and ram all the cars that are parked in it's way - that should 
get the message home quite vividly as to why that space is meant to 
be kept free to those who're involved in parking there.

    I've also checked out towing away.  That was my preferred option as it
    both makes the point to the inidividual concerned and removes the
    problem.
    
    However, I have confirmation that only the Police have the power to tow
    away in the UK (and they won't be interested in parking within the car
    park - now the verges are a different matter!).
    
    So we're checking out a wheel clamping service.  You know, man in
    grubby overalls who fits the boot and demands money before removing it
    again (probably not until the next day and inthe pouring rain).
    
    My hopes are not high of being allowed to do this, but I'll push it as
    far as I can.
    
    Jon

    
    
    Hi
    
    Just my two cent's worth.
    
    Go for clamping. I was so annoyed this morning, I came in on my lates at
    10:00 to watch people turning up still parking on the end.
    
    I drove to the bottom of the car park and found it full, I could not
    even turn around, I had to reverse up, the other morning the double
    parkers made the road so narrow I had to reverse out to let another
    car come up.
    
    If company policy says "DONT DO IT" then I say issue written warnings
    3 stricks and your OUT, we do not abuse other company policies, DO WE?.
    
    I park down the Cresent, and yes am to sometimes worried about
    about walking down there on my own, especially when there is some
    freak in Basingstoke molested MEN, yes MEN, I just see no excuse.
    
    Sorry if this seem steamy but boy do they get to me.
    
    Cheers 
    Lawrence
    
     

	The rumour mill says that the message saying that 18 car parking
	spaces for visitors is for Alan Blank and the board of managers.

	If this is the case then shouldn't they as Digital employees
	fight it out for a normal parking spaces along with the troops.
	Perhaps they might listen a little more to the problems.

	If the spaces aren't required for them, I'm sorry and disregard this
	message.

	Richard

If that is the case there'll be a lot of other 
very unimpressed people... to put it as politely 
as possible... I'm sure if I expressed my thoughts
on that idea completely someone would be not 
happy with it. 

For the time being can't we get some bollards as Ian suggests?  
I'm sure they'd work reasonably effectively ...
There's going to be an accident soon though, 
the same as Lawrence I've discovered not enough space at the end 
to turn around... the tempation to do a 10 point touch parking 
turn was immense!


Surely there must be somewhere you can hire bollards
 - they can't be that expensive? 


...or maybe we should all go up town centre west junction and 
borrow every 5th one ourselves... 

    I agree with Lawrence that each offending employee should be issued
    with a written warning if they keep parking outside of the bays.
    
    I believe that the registration number is taken of every offending car,
    and that the employee's manager is made aware, BUT what if the manager
    fails to act on that infomration?
    IF the manager does act on the information and the employee ignores it
    what sort of manager/employee relationship is there?
    
    I'm getting sick and tired of employee's ignoring the building mails
    AND ignoring the repeated requests for them to park at the Crescent.
    I feel it is time for further action to be taken.
    	
    When I am on 10am to 7pm shift, I park down the Crescent, then take
    10mins out at lunchtime to get my car & move it up to this carpark.
    
    
    Something drastic has to be done, before an accident occurs....or will
    it take something like that to make people sit up and take note?
    
    Pauline Woodcock 
    
    

    Jon, what are your comments about putting cones up. This seems to
    be a simple low cost solution. 
    
    Royston
    
    PS You could also consider issueing Dorothy and Janet with a selection
       of weapons. Might I suggest these for starters - Uzi 9mm, AK 47 and
       not forgetting a Colt 45 with laser sighting.

    
    Royston,
    
    Can I add to your weapons suggestion and submit a plan to place
    landmines at the end of the parking rows. I believe the Serbian army
    have a few to spare.
    
    POL  :>>>>>

    
    Keele University used to deal with badly parked cars by putting a large
    sticker on the drivers window, one which takes a while to remove.  The
    sticker had some official header type stuff and some comments about how
    the car is not parked in the right place.
    
    I think they decided on the drivers window because putting it on the
    windscreen was too dangerous.  The stickiness was such that it wasn't
    easy to remove it completely.
    
    As for the manpower, I'm sure there'd be plenty of people willing to do
    the sticking.
    
    tmp

>    As for the manpower, I'm sure there'd be plenty of people willing to do
>    the sticking.


Those of us who feel strongly could just keep a stock on our passenger 
seat then next time Lawrence is having to reverse up the little gap 
I'm sure he'll be easily close enough to lean out his window and 
slap a sticker on the offending vehicles
.. 

:-)

Getting back to the lights issue.

When are the lights going to be put on in the carpark at the crescent ?

They are still not put on in the car park.There appears to be a random pattern
for putting them on in the building,however yesterday (Monday) the whole
building was in total darkness at 19:00.

How long will it be before the local "joy-riders" find out about this local
Vauxhall parking lot,and begin helping themselves to the cars and
contents,without fear of being detected ?

Steve.

    OK - update as at 11:50 25-JAN-96 .....
    
    Option 1 - Towing away:
    
    This would have been my preferred option because it removes the
    vehicle from blocking whatever it is blocking and makes it painful for
    the employee who put it there (because they have to go to a compound to
    get their car and pay for it).  We can't do this as only the Police
    have powers to tow away.
    
    Option 2 - Wheelclamping:
    
    I don't want to do this because it will lock the car into the wrong
    place and if we have any `difficult' people they will just leave the
    car there until I get so fed up that I end up paying the agency to take
    the clamp off so we can move the car.
    
    Option 3 - Firing the offenders:
    
    I don't have time (nor does anybody else) to go out to the car park
    twice a day to make a note of vehicle registration numbers and then try
    to find out who the owners are and then escalate to the person's
    manager and go through the full blown disciplinary procedure.
    
    Option 4 - Cones:
    
    My belief is that the bu****s will just move them. Besides, if you
    stick them far enough out in the roadway for them to be effective, they
    will cause just as much of an obstruction as the car they are
    preventing.
    
    Option 5 - Nasty sticky labels:
    
    Ah, now we're talking!  This one is cheap, simple and highly offensive. 
    I like it already.
    
    I have PM&S in Reading identifying a supplier of the sticky labels that
    you have all heard of.  My criteria are :  must be big, must be a bitch
    to peel off.
    
    As before, I'll keep you posted.
    
    Jon

Find the persons name and post it here to embarress
them.


Simon

    
    
    
    
    
    Sticking things on cars does not create parking space, it just pisses
    people off. You would probably feel the same and find it difficult to 
    remove 200 stickers off your car John!
    
    Apart from that wouldn't it qualify as abusing company (cars) property ? 
    
    Optin 6 
    
    Employ a car-park attendant. 
    
    Option 7
    
    Move out one or two of the non-essential CSC functions from the
    building, and thus reduce the amount of cars, what this means is
    returning the building and its facilities to the number of personnel 
    it was designed for.
    
    If call-handling resource control and technical support are considered
    essential functions that should remain together, that leaves Managers and
    Escalations, however one could argue there is a need for both to 
    remain in at the CSC ?
    
    Option 8
    
    The other alternative would be to host the Customer visits from 
    Skippets House, and if tours were required they could catch the 
    courtesy bus.
    
    Option 9
    
    Continue to look like a Gypsy site, and hope that the council places
    an eviction order. 
    
    
    For what it is worth....
    
    Ian

    re .90
    >I don't have time (nor does anybody else) to go out to the car park
    >twice a day 
    
    Then how is anyone going to have time to put out sticky labels ?
    
    I think cones would be worth a try first as this doesn't involve any
    policing of the car park. They don't have to protrude out too far and
    could even be anchored in some way.
    
    Royston

Re.90
    
        
<<<    Option 5 - Nasty sticky labels:
<<<    
<<<    Ah, now we're talking!  This one is cheap, simple and highly offensive. 
<<<    I like it already.
<<<    
<<<    I have PM&S in Reading identifying a supplier of the sticky labels that
<<<    you have all heard of.  My criteria are :  must be big, must be a bitch
<<<    to peel off.
<<<    
<<<    As before, I'll keep you posted.
    
    
    It would seem you have changed your attitude since .55/.56, Jon!
    

  Re: .93

  >>    I don't have time (nor does anybody else) to go out to the car park
  >>    twice a day

  >     Then how is anyone going to have time to put out sticky labels ?

  No need, after 9 o'clock in the morning lower an arm, with sticky labels on
  it, over the driveway, and anyone who comes into the car park will get the
  message;  slapped onto their windscreen.  Lets face it, anyone one who
  drives into the car park after 9 doesn't have a ghost of a chance of finding
  a parking space...


  Re: .92

  >    Sticking things on cars does not create parking space, it just pisses
  >    people off. You would probably feel the same and find it difficult to
  >    remove 200 stickers off your car John!

  I'm sure that Jon wouldn't be perturbed by this.  He could always beat the
  `bu****s' (?) to it by sticking the labels onto his car himself.

  >    Option 8

  >    The other alternative would be to host the Customer visits from
  >    Skippets House, and if tours were required they could catch the
  >    courtesy bus.

  I've been waiting for someone to nominate a Park 'n' Ride scheme.


  >    Option 9

  >    Continue to look like a Gypsy site, and hope that the council places
  >    an eviction order.

  I bet the other Viables' companies are impressed by the new face of Digital
  - what is it the PR says, "Solutions Provider"?


  Re: .90

  >    Option 4 - Cones:

  >    My belief is that the bu****s will just move them. Besides, if you
  >    stick them far enough out in the roadway for them to be effective, they
  >    will cause just as much of an obstruction as the car they are
  >    preventing.

  It can't be any worse, and I think we should give it a try;  just put a bit
  sandtex (sp?) underneath them.

  /Ian

    re: .94
    
    Keith - I confess, my patience has significantly reduced since the
    heady days of .55 and .56.  However, we were talking about polite slips
    of paper there and I'm now thinking about nasty sticky labels.
    
    re: .last few
    
    Car Park Attendant - nobody will pay for it.
    
    Cones - I'll see if we can give it a go but I am very sceptical.
    
    Labels - Ian, the idea is to piss people off!  No more Mister Nice Guy.
    
    Park & Ride - the frequency of arrivals is too sporadic to employ a
    mini bus and, as with an attendant, nobody will pay for it.
    
    But keep the ideas a comin' folks.
    
    Jon

    I wonder how many of the 'end of rowers' are regular workers here who
    are just ignoring the request not to park there, or visitors who drive
    in without seeing/reading the notices?  Sticky labels would probably
    succeed in annoying the regular workers, but not so much one-off
    visitors?  
    
    I know that we get a lot of visitors  from abroad also, who may not see
    or understand the notices.  
    
    Come to think of it, I've never actually stopped and read those signs
    myself...maybe they ought to be larger?  Or place more signs at the end
    of the rows themselves? 
    
    The cones suggestion still sounds good to me, even with our large
    student population!  I thnk I still have some of my favourite traffic
    cones in the loft somewhere...
    
    Mikef

    
    
    Option 10
    
    Make a decision 

    I agree with the sticky labels too as they will 'annoy' the people that
    get them in the same what that people that park there 'annoy' the
    people that don't.
    
    It might also disuade people who park on the end of rows just because
    they can't be bothered to walk a few more yards further down the car
    park.  Coming back at lunchtime I passed a silver Fiat estate parking
    on the end when there were plenty of spaces further back, so it still
    happens.
    
    tmp

>   My belief is that the bu****s will just move them.

Yeah but Jon it'll mean getting out of the car and making a 
positive and very concious effort to break the rules... 

> My criteria are :  must be big, must be a bitch
>    to peel off.

the second bit can get you in trouble legally I believe... 

>Find the persons name and post it here to embarress
>them.


I'll agree with that .. 

I believe in many cases peer pressure is working - just lots
of people don't realise it's their colleagues who are 
pushing for this not some management thing.. 


Option 7 sounds good too!   

Posting the names here will probalby help in that the 
current "traditional CSC" view seems to be ... "it's 
all those new Resource controllers who are breaking the 
rules and being selfish all the time and it's just that
their managers can't be bothered to do anything about it"...

If nothing else it will correct it.

>  It can't be any worse, and I think we should give it a try;  just put a bit
>  sandtex (sp?) underneath them.

I had to re-read that ... sandtex(sp?) can be easily 
misread as semtex!

Tin tacks along the edge would become effective quite quickly.. 

I'm sure Ralphs would help remove the vehicles at no charge 
given the extra business it'd drum up for them ;-)



Humiliate the bu***rs in a daily building mail - not everyone 
reads this conference.....     

If some people/groups names keep coming up suddenly people are
goign to find it easier to do something about it... 

Lately I've started to worry about what would happen if a repeat 
offender were drops, as a christian to the lions, into one of 
the smoking rooms when there's a few of us who park 
properly out there are sat considering the situation.

>    I wonder how many of the 'end of rowers' are regular workers here who
>    are just ignoring the request not to park there, 

I'm sure I'm starting to recognise familiar cars for the end... 
if it gets slippy in the snow out there we'll be able to tell 
whether they are for sure by the dents in their bodywork. 

Repainting the road markings and adding double yellow lines might 
make it clear enough - even if they're not legal if you don't 
understand or notice yellow lines you shouldn't be out driving 
a car!!!!!

It means there's no excuse at least!

> Coming back at lunchtime I passed a silver Fiat estate parking
>    on the end when there were plenty of spaces further back, so it still
>    happens.

Number plate trev, number plate - humiliate the selfish person!!!!!!!

    Option whatever.
    
    How about Parking permits ?
    
    
    Option whatever + 1.
    
    End rowers could be identified over the office tannoy and requested to
    move their cars to the Cresent.
    
    
    It was completey mad yesterday afternoon at 14.00, a few of us went to the
    cresent, what makes other people think they can cause health & safety risks
    is beyond me.
    
    Chris.
    
    PS. After this weekends lottery I'll have a helicopter and I'll park it 
    on the roof, for a small fee I'd winch the end rowers up and pop them in 
    the pond :-}
    

    Back in ye olde days of Wimgrove, we had the coloured permit scheme. 
    Blue ones had to park in another building one week, red ones the week
    after...  NOt sure how this would work with people working offset tho.
    
    Mikef

          Imagine being the one without a parking space


                                         Digital putting imagination to work



  /Ian

    Option.latest
    
    "Whatever it takes"
    
    Don't know what it means,  but I heard it in a rather good TV add the
    other night.
    
    Jc
    

    
    
    Wednesday 31st January marks the 1st Birthday of this note, and 
    I suppose, the general issue it discusses - parking space.
    
    One wonders whether the apparrent approach adopted; lets call it 
    "Management by Consensus" has been effective ?
    
    This is not meant to be a attack directed at Jon, and should not
    be considered such, at least Jon has been prepared to listen to the
    arguement in an open forum. 
    
    However, the fact is; this problem is still here one year on and yet 
    there seems no effective (working) measure in place to deal with
    the shortage of paking space.
    	
    It is not a simple matter to deal with, however one does wonder how 
    much longer it will go on ?
    
    
    Ian
    

>        Good grief, so it does. I wonder if Jo has had a reply to
>        her mail yet!  :-)


I'm sure I did... well, actually thinking about it I think 
I was verbally pointed at Jon :-) 


Another near miss 1pm today, tall call end parked so no chance 
of me in my acclaim seeing the metro/polo coming down the aisle as I 
was about to pull out into it.  Not quite bumper to bumper but it's 
not going to be long. 

I reckon we'll have our first actual collisions when it's 
just getting light as people are leaving the carpark at the 
end of the day - no headlights to help you spot the oncoming cars 
from behind the other cars... 

>    Despite my reservations, I have asked PM&S to obatin cones for the
>    end-of-rows.  If they work I will gladly eat humble pie. 

You're going to have those who suggested cones concreting them 
into the road just to prove they do now I suspect.. 

    I've checked with PM&S why the Crescent lights are not on at night: 
    apparently most of the bulbs in the lamp standards at the front of
    building are blown.  All the lights round the back are on (not that
    this is any use!).
    
    They are coming in on Saturday to change all the failed bulbs and
    promise me they will be working next week.
    
    Jon

Well, I personally think something is working (that or we've 
just made half the building redundant) the message is getting 
through!    Since the only new thing is comments in here 
I'll just mention the *only* end parked car (as of 13:50ish) 




SILVER PEUGEOT	 plate number  ? 7 7 2 P V C 


We now have 100% of reported cars showing as silver ones, 
I say make all silver cars park down at the crescent :-) 

Jon,

    On an insurance issue, as the car park is on private property and
    DIGITAL assumes no responsibilty, how do employees/visitors stand if
    there is an accident in the car park?
    
    
    Norm
    
    
	Cars end-parked at 12:45 31-Jan-1996
	====================================

Colour		Make & Model			Registration #
------		------------			--------------
Blue		Peugeot 306			N160 UDU
White		Vauxhall Astra GTE		D999 EBK
Grey		Vauxhall Astra Estate		M590 DHU
Blue		BMW				L931 FMO
Red		Vauxhall Frontera		M431 RJB
Blue		Peugeot 309			E352 XHR
White		Ford Escort XR3I		F788 TPF
Grey		Peugeot 306			M772 PVC

	Cars illegally parked ( not in marked bay at end of car park )


White		VW Polo				C278 TPH   Parked on grass
Red		Ford Fiesta			F368 FDP
Grey		Peugeot 306			M237 FRW
Green		Vauxhall Cavalier		D147 WPF

	
	Perhaps we need larger signs!!, sorry Jo no Silver cars
    
    

    Wonders what colour Norm will classify my car as.  Berkshire Mud has a
    nice ring to it,  but it is flecked with Hampshire brown and Wiltshire
    ooze on a Peugeot white backdrop.
    
    As the man from ATS once said to the Hertz person on the phone while
    getting permission to change a tyre...
    
    	"It used to be white"
    
    Jc
    

    re: .112
    
    Don't know Norm, I ain't a legal / insurance expert.
    
    My guess would be that the driver's insurance kicks in.
    
    Jon

In the spirit of bonhomie this note has engendered may I offer a couple of
solutions myself.

	1. Let the offenders tyres down
	2. Throw a brick through their windscreen
	3. Put a banana up their exhausts

and if all else fails find out who they are and 

	4. Crap in their headsets

regards
Adolph

    Re. 112
    
    As a general statment of law the phrase "(DIGITAL) assumes no
    responsibilty" is a meaningless one. No person or body of people are
    allowed to abrogate (good word, huh!) their responsibility under law 
    by making it. EVERYBODY, under law, has a DUTY OF CARE to everybody else
    and their property and if they are negligent, in any way, then they are 
    liable. It does not matter how many there are, how big they are or how 
    they are worded notices of the above type are completely ineffectual. In 
    other words ignore them. As DIGITAL maybe being negligent in providing a 
    safe area for parking and car manoeuvering (You may need to argue this 
    point) then they are probably on very dodgy ground as to any claims. 
    (Jon Morris sweat on!)
    
    Keith

    Keith,
    
    
    	Many thanks for clarifying the insurance issue, lets hope there is
    no need to test the statement. 
    
    
    Norm

    Alright, alright, time for the facts...


    The simple truth is that there is a feeling, up on high, that
    employees' time-keeping is poor;  and with the sense of corporate
    vision and the recognition of each individual's genius, the edict came:
    fix it or you're out!  In order to avoid an adverse reaction i.e., an
    ever decreasing level of morale - does anyone remember morale? - the
    management team made a decision (?) to fill-up the car park with old
    bangers (sorry Jo), thus encouraging everyone to get in before nine
    o'clock;  they appointed Jon to keep us off the trail and to make it
    look as if someone was trying to do something about it.  Unfortunately
    they didn't consider the following points:  if everyone comes in before
    nine, the car park will be full-up earlier;  the fact that the managers
    don't always get in before nine;  the poor b******s on shift.


    /Ian

Here is the list of End-parked @ 12:50 1-Feb

Colour		Make & Model			Registration #
------		------------			--------------
Maroon		Vauxhall Cavalier		M729 CEU
Green		Vauxhall Cavalier		N743 UGM
Green		Vauxhall Calibra		N85  VRD   
White		Ford Fiesta XR2i		G43  CPK
Black		Vauxhall Cavalier		E959 CDP 
White		Ford Escort XR3i		F788 TPF  < PERSISTANT OFFENDER
							    WAS ON YESTERDAYS 	
							    LIST



  
							

    Back to Digital's responsibility bit. If stupid/selfish/lazy people
    insist on parking outside marked bays and there is an accident how can
    it be the company's fault ?
    
    Royston

    Mike,
    
    Thanks for acting as Car Park attendant yesterday:  can I have a
    volunteer for today please?  Meanwhile .... none of the names of the
    owners of the vehicles you list are on the Reception database.  I'll go
    and check with Car Fleet.
    
    If any of you can positively identify the owners, please let me know
    either here or in confidence.  I am updating the Reception database as
    we get new information and will escalate the issue to that person's
    Manager.
    
    Jon
    

    One of the cars parked on the end of a row, N743 UGM, was left there
    by an employee who left Digital on Wednesday - obviously some kind of
    statement!
    
    It has now been moved to a space specified by reception.
    
    I'm sorry the ex-employee did this but like a lot of company car users
    - he doesn't care about it!
    
    As penance for not realising this car had been left there, and the guy
    was in our group, I will do the list of end-row parkers this lunchtime.
    
    Lynn  
    

    re responsibility of accidents...
    
    I doubt if you could actually blame the parked car for the accident.
    
    Remember the rules say you should drive such that you can stop in the
    distance of your visibility.  If you are driving in and you can't
    stop in time for a car coming out of a (albeit concealed) space,  you
    must (both?) be going to quickly.
    
    Jc
    
    (Who actually had an accident in his own drive once while stationary.
    I'm sure the insurance folk didn't believe it because there were no
    other cars/people/dogs involved.  The gate swung in the wind and
    smashed a light cluster :-)
    
    

    As promised, car park attendant duty done... here's the end-row parkers
    as of 12:50 today..
    
    F788 TPF  XR3i White
    D147 WPF  Cavalier Green (Mr Barron I believe!)
    GJB 993N  Mini Beige
    F497 NRX  Uno Blue
    K403 XJM  Clio White
    E914 WAS  Peugeot White
    L989 EMO  Saab 900 Black
    
    The following car was parked on the grass verge at the end of the car
    park... I had to get really close as the number plate is so dirty I
    couldn't read it....   it is:
    
    F74 RRK (I think!)  Peugeot  Black (including number plate!)
    
    A couple of persistent offenders in that lot.
    Lynn 

            F788 TPF  XR3i White	<< THIRD OFFENCE.  SACK 'EM!!
        

    F788 TPF  XR3i White is Barbara Pinchen in Response
    D147 WPF  Cavalier Green is Jon Barron in Focal Call
    GJB 993N  Mini Beige 
    F497 NRX  Uno Blue 
    K403 XJM  Clio White is John McNulty in Unix
    E914 WAS  Peugeot White 
    L989 EMO  Saab 900 Black is John Simpson in European OSS
    
    Furthermore, checked after lunch and found the following extra
    offenders:
    
    F74  RRK Black Peugeot 205 (Bob Smith in Borland?)
    A943 MBW Red Fiesta
    A586 KFC Black Escort
    M58  NRX Calibra belonging to Chris David in VMS
    E347 XBM Volvo 9?0 Estate 
    M921 WJO belonging to Charles Stewardson
    F302 SJM
    M968 PTF
    N686 ANP
    
    Please would anybody near these people have a go at them. 
    
    If you know the names of any of the missing owners, let me know.
    
    Jon

     Ah er well ahem.. fair cop guvnor. I promise "I" won't do it again.
    
    John Simpson

>to fill-up the car park with old
>    bangers (sorry Jo),

You'd better only mean my car or you're going to discover 
levels of pain you never thought possible before Mr Ring. 



Anyone got a list today yet? 

I'll try to remember to check at lunchtime... 

  > You'd better only mean my car or you're going to discover 
  > levels of pain you never thought possible before Mr Ring. 

  Of course my dear, what else could you possibly infer?  :-)


  /Ian

    
    Seems we are not the only ones suffering from parking problems
    
    
    
    DIGITAL Notes Conference
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Note 3018.80             rumors du jour -- MRO for sale?              
    ALFA2::ALFA2::HARRIS 					     80 of 80
    			-< Overflow parking on the South 40 >-
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    
        HLO1-2-3, in my opinion, are jammed to the gills.
    
        
    	M

>  Seems we are not the only ones suffering from parking problems

Non-Basingstoke parking issues are also discussed in the UK_parking 
conference... 


Today's solo end parker (at 1pm) was 


L 508 JJH a bright blue Frontera 

   Re the "subtitle" to this conference (about John Arlott)

    He left because there was no where to park :-)
    
    Jc

Well, apparently if todays "I can't see the white lines because 
of the snow so I'll park where-ever I feel like it" is anything 
to go by he should just have double parked someone else into 
place :-) 

    Re .120 and Digital's responsibility
    
    Simple really. It is within Digital's power to stop people parking in
    a dangerous fashion. (Something Jon is attempting to do without exerting 
    any authority and only by persuassion - and embarassment!). If one was 
    to argue in court that Digital are negligent in their responsibility in
    ensuring a safe parking system on their property then you have your
    case. 
    
    This may be being a little fanciful but it happens all the time in
    other circumstances. At the moment Digital (Jon) are saying they
    cannot ensure a safe parking system because it would cost them a lot of
    money (This is based on the only real solution of providing a Security
    Watch [As they do in our large establishments] and then enforcing  a
    strict,  managerial backed, parking regime. However, it will cost them
    an awful lot more when the family of some unfortunate sues the arse of
    'em. 
    
    If you do think I am being fanciful just think about the amount of
    money being spent on security in hospitals after a series of incidents,
    baby snatching for example, around the country that hospital trusts are 
    now being sued heavily for and they do not want it to happen again. They 
    were deemed negligent and are paying for it. I just hope it isn't my - 
    or your - family who does the suing!!!
    
    Keith

    I think we should get out there today and make a 'Snow Jon Morris' to
    scare people into parking at the Crescent...
    
    Mikef
    

    With purple hat?
    
    Jon

    
    
    Now that would crowd out the car park!!
    

    Where's the grit then ?
    
    
    Chris

    As the snow has melted, in the car park, and the white lines can be
    clearly seen there is no excuse for end-rower's.!!!
    
    Here is the list of End-parked @ 12:55 8-Feb-1996
    
    
    Colour          	Make & Model            Registration #
    ------		------------		--------------
    White		Renault			D538 DOT
    Grey		BMW			F233 PRD
    Blue		Vauxhall Calibra	M507 SJM
    Silver		Renault 19		L709 XFB
    Red			Vauxhall Cavalier	J756 WWC
    
    
    The following cars were parked at the end of the car park & not in a
    parking slot.
    
    Colour          	Make & Model            Registration #			
    ------		----------		------------
    Blue		Nissen Sunny		L356 ULW
    Red			Ford Fiesta		E368 FDP
    Red			Vauxhall Astra est	E617 SSJ  (Parked on grass)
    

    And the offenders are:
    
    White		Renault			D538 DOT  Unknown
    Grey		BMW			F233 PRD  Steve Burke
    Blue		Vauxhall Calibra	M507 SJM  Alan Crooks
    Silver		Renault 19		L709 XFB  Unknown
    Red			Vauxhall Cavalier	J756 WWC  Unknown
    Blue		Nissen Sunny		L356 ULW  Unknown
    Red			Ford Fiesta		E368 FDP  Unknown
    Red			Vauxhall Astra est	E617 SSJ  Unknown
    
    If anybody can shed any light on the identity of the unknowns, let me
    know or reply here.
    
    Thanks
    
    Jon

    
    Well this is really doing the trick, isn't it!!!!
    
    
    
    NOT!!!!  :-)
    
    Go on Jon, be ruthless.

    Lets be honest - there are very few people with lives sad enough to
    read a notes conference all about Basingstoke...;-)
    
    I think Jons gonna have to open a can of spinach and get mean...
    
    Mikef
    

    Maybe we're not given end of row parkers a hard enough time or
    something.  Today's selfish end of row parkers at 12:50 were....
    
    J231 AWR	Escort		White
    N611 GRK	Clio		Red
    J756 WWC	Cavalier	Red
    
    Lets give these mentally challenged folks a hard time - it's our cars
    and our lives they are risking.  The people who can do the most about
    these idiots, is us  - confront them, tell everyone else who cares about
    their cars (ie readers of this conference) who they are, and we can all
    give them a hard time.
    
    We could form a group of vigilante car park attendants  ;-)
    
    So name the above end-of-row parkers and we'll call in Charles Bronson
    for Death Wish Parkers at the CSC!
    

  Why is it that reception can't produce a list of owners associated with all
  these car registration numbers:  is it because no one has asked them to, or
  because they don't have this information?  If its the latter, doesn't this
  constitute a very serious security risk - and I'm not talking about tricky
  driving manoeuvres.  Do new hires still have to register their details with
  Property Services Management?

  Actually, it would be a shame to fix this, as I'm sure that everyone
  likes nothing better than a good old `1MKY MSE has left their lights on'
  mail message.


  /Ian

    Ian,
    
    Reception can't because the individuals have failed to register their
    registration numbers.
    
    I have on-line access to Reception's database and will look up any
    numbers posted here.  Furthermore, if the number is a potential lease
    car (currently K, L, M or N reg) I contact Leaseplan and update the
    database.
    
    So the offenders are:
    
        J231 AWR    Escort          White 	Margaret McKenzie
        N611 GRK    Clio            Red		Not known
        J756 WWC    Cavalier        Red		Not known
    
    Jon

    re .143 >lives sad enough ...Basingstoke
    
    Mike I know you are just joshing but why is it sad to want to keep up
    to date and discuss issues regarding Viables and the area in which we
    work. Frankly its a shame this notesfile isn't used more to communicate
    information instead of the endless stream of building mails that we get.
    
    Royston

    I wasn't really being all that serious...
    
    
    mikef

    So whats the update (Jon?)
    
    Cars are still dangerously parked. There is no evidence of cones or
    stickers being used. Its a waste of time putting names in here as only
    a few (sad) people check out this conference. I doubt that unit
    managers are bothered about following anything up with staff ignoring
    the parking restrictions.
    
    How about some timescales ? What about a building mail to say things
    are going to get heavy. Otherwise you may as well say there is no
    resource to police the car park therefore its a free-for-all.
    
    Royston

    >> a few (sad) people check out this conference.
    
    I was only joking!!!!!!!!!!
    
    Mikef$head_hung_in_shame

    
    
    The following note is my final address to the building, I have resorted
    to entering it here as authorities refused to send this type of mail via
    the @FOLKS/@ALL system. 
    
    It seems when it comes to priorities; farewell messages or sensible
    parking facilites there is only one clear winner !
    
    Best wishes
    
    	Ian
    

	FOR SALE: 
	
	10 years old, one careful owner, standard size accommodating any 
	vehicle. This highly valued Viables parking space is in demand at a 
	premium in today's market place. Available form 1st March 1996. 
	Offers accepted circa #1.95 (or equivalent). Please ring X3815

		*	*	*	*	*	*	*

	If you didn't know, I leave the CSC this coming Friday with mixed
	emotions to join the Production Systems Group, Reading. It's been
	extremely enjoyable working here, and at times more challenging 
	than expected, testing my interpersonal skills and stress levels to 
	the limit, as some of you will know!

	I have to admit, regrettably, I will not miss the one thing that has 
	NEVER changed; - that constant, reliable, and predictable denominator;
	The Customer. They telephone in, have a technical problem, which needs 
	answering. A simple task really!

	What has been interesting and sometimes amusing, has been meeting
 	this challenge, the constant merry-go-round, occasional recurring 
	feeling of de-ja-vu, when the ebb and flow of echelons, management 
	structures and organisation ask "How can we do this better ?" 
	The concept of inventing the wheel occasionally springs to mind!

	One thing I will miss is being part of the organisation that is
	technically THE BEST, nowhere else in the Company (to my knowledge) 
	can any question, on any product, be answered so quickly, and well.
	You deserve more credit than you get.


	I hereby invite you all to the Pub on Friday to relax over drink and
	no doubt share some abuse, a card will be behind the bar, just order 
	yourself one and ask for the tab of Tom Scuffham.

	Regards

	Ian		

                                             

re join the Production Systems Group, Reading.

Welcome to Reading PSG. Who will you be working for and where?

Simon

        Well no problems at the moment, there are no cars on the ends 
        of rows or otherwise badly parked. The managers would have been 
        very pleased, what a pity they are all out today.
        
        Hmmmmm....??
        
        Ian.  :-)
        

    I have just asked my Secretary to send the following building mail....
    
    Jon
    
      Ladies and Gentlemen,
    
      I am absolutely delighted to be able to announce that we have a
      solution to the car parking problems at Viables.
    
      We have agreed with ITW Fastex (the site to the West of Viables)
      that we will be able to use up to thirty of their car parking spaces
      as an overflow.
    
      PM&S are working with ITW Fastex this coming week to identify which
      spaces and arrange for signs to be erected showing which are the
      Digital overflow bays.
    
      PLEASE DO NOT PARK AT ITW FASTEX UNTIL YOU HEAR FURTHER FROM ME.
    
      This solution, using a car park which is adjacent to our property,
      lit at night and covered by surveillance cameras, is an appropriate
      low cost, long term solution.  Once we have agreed the details with
      ITW Fastex, and erected signs as necessary, we will cease using the
      Crescent as overflow.
    
      I will send you more details as soon as I can.
    
      Regards
    
      Jon

    Are we allowed to park in fastex car park yet ?
    
    If not when will this be  ?
    
    Royston

    Royston,
    
    No.
    
    Soon.
    
    Jon

    Are we waiting for a sign?
    
    mikef

    Mike,
    
    Several actually!  Debbie Walsh now cringes every time she sees me (no
    jokes please!) and says "I know - Car Park Signs".
    
    I've already chased her today.
    
    Jon

  So, all systems go then eh?  All we are waiting for is Debbie?


  Oh dear    8-/


  /Ian

    
    Well, it seems that now the Dangerous and inconsiderate parking
    problems have been resolved, we have dangerous and inconsiderate
    driving problems in the viables car park - you know who you are, light 
    green metro driver who wants a red peugeot 405 estate as a bonnet
    mascott.  
    
    This stupid a$$hole was driving so fast into the carpark that they cut 
    across the whole of the exit lane, nearly ploughing straight across the 
    bonnet of my car.  If I had not stopped this would have been very nasty.
    
    FLAME ON:
    
    JUST BECAUSE YOU WERE A FEW MINUTES LATE BACK FROM LUNCH DOES NOT GIVE
    YOU THE RIGHT TO MAKE ME PERMANENTLY LATE!!!
    
    SLOW DOWN BEFORE YOU KILL SOMEONE YOU PRATT!
    
    FLAME OFF:
    
    Have a nice day!
    Sharon
          

    Sharon
    	
    I confess it was me, who almost ploughed into you this afternoon.
    So here I offer my public apology. I am sorry for the alarm I caused,
    and hope that you never again, have to be a victim of my poor
    judgement.
    I took the corner a little too fast not anticipating your car being
    there. Which was, of course, where I should not have been.
    
    Eating humble pie
    
    Steven F.
     

    
    Steven
    
    Although my heart nearly had an attack, if it digs deeply, it can
    probably forgive you - just slow down - be mellow in future!  Getting
    back to work isn't that important, surely - is it???
    
    Sharon
    

	Sharon,

	I fully appreciate your anger. Steven ran me completely off the 
	road last week and I was livid. I know he did the same to several
	other members of the comms unit.

	Admittedly this was on a kart track at Goodwood, but I don't think
	he can get out of the habit.

	Ian.

    Somehow I just can't picture Steve in a habit...
    
    :-}

    It seems my driving has become the topic of discussion today. 
    
    I wonder why??
    
    I was actaully an hour early comming in today, but I was late for the
    pub. Whci I did not want to miss. Sorry folks
    
    Steven F.

    re. -1
    
    >   It seems my driving has become the topic of discussion today. 
    
    Oh, `driving', is that what you call it?
    
    ;-)
    
    Jon

    
    Hahahahahah....More like low flying!!!!
    
    Perhaps he feels that he needs to go really fast and scare everyone to
    death because he only has a tiny one!
    
    
    
    Car that is!!!!!!!!!

    All I did was turn into the *&#%@@$ right hand lane. I really do not
    see the what all the fuss is about.
    
    Have you people not got anything better to do than complain about my
    driving?

    
    Not wishing to get into a slagging match here but perhaps that's what all
    the fuss is about - that you do not see the point!
    
    Its a carpark not a motorway!  If someone had been stood there, perhaps
    a maintenance man/gardener etc, you could have easily hit them or if my 
    car had been a foot closer to the junction, you would have hit me.
    
    Now, I accepted the apology and hope that you will be more careful next
    time and perhaps we'd just better forget the whole thing now eh!
    
    Sharon
                                 

    
    Did I say the parking situation had been resolved??? Well I must have
    been dreaming - it's worse than ever today - not helped by someone
    taking up THREE parking spaces!!!
    
    Did we ever get a car parking attendant??? Jon???
    
    Sharon ;-)

               
    Just a note, (all be it a long one)
    
    I remember a few years back when I lived in another mews type road, 
    we were standing talking to some friends and a car came racing into 
    the road mounted the curb and killed a 5 year old boy who was waitng
    at his back garden gate while his dad loaded the car ready to go on
    holiday, the car was only doing 20mph on impact according to the coroner.
    
    Just trying to say, "Don't think it will never happen to me". It Will
    
    I think speeding is as bad as drink driving. and no I am not saying I
    have never broken the speed limit, but since the cmpains on TV etc
    I am made aa effort to stay within the speed limits, it also saves my
    petrol (more bucks for me).
    
    My greatest fear is this sort of thing happening to my children, so 
    yes I agree very strongly that if people want to speed and be 
    dangerous then point them out.
    
    You are given car car license because you are seen capable of driving
    with due care and consideration for others plus other motives,
    
    It is said children under 11 years (I think) cannot tell if a car
    is moving or is stationary, so the ownous is on the Parents to
    control a child near the road, but it is also the drivers
    responsability to ensure he can control his/her car in all conditions
    presented to them.  
    
    I say just think about what you are doing, here in death park every
    where you look are photo's of children killed by speeding cars, with 
    a caption "DO YOU REMEMBER ME". 
    
    My grandfather was also killed by a speeding truck do 50mph in a 30mph
    zone, so along with the child we say mowed down I feel very strongly 
    about speed and peoples attitudes to driving in general.
    
    Excuses don't bring back lives.
    
    My two cents worth.
    Regards
    Lawrence.
    

    All above points taken on board.
    
    A few points of my own.
    
    * I was not speeding when I turned into the car park. I was doing 30
    mph. 
    
    * I took the corner at 30 mph.
    
    * I was in the right handlane, because I was turning early to avoid
    having to wait for a car traveling in the opposite direction to pass.
    
    * I can appreciatte the consequences of speeding, and can count on
    fingers and toes incidents recounted back to me by family and friends
    of speeding related deaths. 
    
    * I do not need a continued debate about my driving ability, because I
    happended to pull into the carpark, a little to early and in the wrong
    lane.
    
    * If anyone who is now reading this wishes to take the matter further,
    or offer any further "opinions" on the matter then come and see me. You
    all know where I sit, and I would be glad to waste further time
    discussing issue to until the cows some home.
    
    As far as I am concerened everyone makes mistakes, JUST BECAUSE MINE
    WAS UNDER YOUR NOSES DOES NOT MEAN YOU OR OBLIGED TO DO THE GOOD DEED
    OF THE DAY, AND CONTINOUSLY HASSLE ME ON MY DRIVING ABILITY. 
                              

Be round in a minute steve.

By the way - what driving ability?

    
    Sorry if this has already been answered - I've not got time to
    read the previous replies...But...Did anyone seea a green Metro
    going a bit fast into our carpark the other day. I normally would
    not mention it but....
    
    ;-)
    
    Warm today, isn't it ?
    
    A/.

    
    
    		              Q E D !