We have never ever understood why members of the golf club want to repeatedly park in our hotel car parks. If they drive on 100 metres (image below at top, past club pro shop), and the member's car is then parked in golf club car park, nearer 1st tee and 18th green. Straightforward. Park in the golf club car park.
Mapping again, for ease of reference:
None of us working at Balbirnie House has ever seen the very extensive woodland car park areas which are owned by Balbirnie Park golf club, at full parking capacity, and we have therefore always been truly mystified as to why members (and visitors) want to park in our 'Hotel Guests Only' car parks, when they always have their own car parks available.
Over the years we have seen many (non member) visitors to the golf club, parking in our car parks. Perhaps the club can initiate a new system to clarify that all such visitors should be parking in the golf club car park? Our hotel management team have been informed by the installers of new parking signage, that they were unfortunately approached by a member of golf club (two weeks ago), saying ‘we are just going to continue parking in the hotel car parks’ - We very much hope that this does not happen. (Certainly not, as parking charge notices are applicable if users do not pay, or are not digitally permissioned to park)
Some people think that parking charge notices are not enforceable? I mention in passing, that I have myself been on the receiving end of a parking charge notice elsewhere (I was collecting a package, and the car was only in place for 11 minutes), and I can absolutely guarantee you that from the subsequent adventure in debate with the relevant company, that it was fully enforced, and I absolutely needed to (and did) make the associated payment.
Nobody at Balbirnie House wants to see any parking charge notices being issued. Our previous blog stated crystal clear:
If everyone can please just park where they are meant to park, there won't be any future issues. We underline that despite parking problems, we have always had a happy relationship with Balbirnie Park golf club, and stating the obvious we very much wish to proceed into the future with that very same spirit of happiness as well. All best wishes one and all.
INCONSIDERATE ISSUES WITH OUR OLD ELECTRIC VEHICLE CHARGERS
Having installed completely Free to use @Tesla destination chargers ‘as a condition of use, defined for hotel guests’ 5 years ago, we have found that these were getting frequently used by Tesla drivers, who in actual fact were only visiting for the electric charge, and were not our hotel guests.
When we installed @Tesla destination chargers 5 years ago, (free to use for hotel guests), it was debatable if it was worth doing, even at cost of electricity back then. We are now at 31.5p per kW, the tripling of electricity costs is surely rendering free ev charging obsolete.
We have also previously contended with ongoing challenges whereby our previous (free) electric (7kW non-Tesla) vehicle chargers have also been taken over and used on a daily basis, by drivers who are not our hotel guests. New technology changes that as well.
Since installing Tesla destination charging points 5 years ago (we were one of the very first hotels to do so), we have had repeated problems with owners of ICE Internal Combustion Engine cars, mistakenly blocking the Tesla charging bays. New technology sorts that as well 
(Bluntly put, we don't think the owners of ICE cars would be impressed if arriving at their garage to fill up with petrol/ diesel, only to find the fuel fill-up spaces all blocked by electric cars.)
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION
We sometimes receive comments whenever eg there is an emerging driveway pothole? Park users think entire driveway is our responsibility? That is not the case.
Fife Council are obligated to maintain.
Financially:
Fife Council pay 50%
We pay 25%
Golf club pay 25%
GENERAL PUBLIC WHO ALREADY UNDERSTAND WHERE TO PARK?:
Local fitness clubs which understand that our parking areas need to be retained for our hotel guests, always meet in the extensive General Public parking areas which are on the left driving in via the main entrance to Balbirnie Park. Totally straightforward ...
As an example, if we know about it in advance, as we always do eg with organisers of the annual Balbirnie Duathlon (previous recipient Triathlon Scotland national event of the year), we can prepare and make sure that we have parking available for all participants and organisers. We can also deliver free digitalised parking for any such events, at times when we are able to do so. Please do get in touch with any such proposals.
ENHANCED SECURITY
There have previously been circumstances (eg recent robbery https://thecourier.co.uk/fp/news/fife/4331677/jewellery-stolen-markinch/…) whereby local Police have asked us to supply driveway vehicle footage, but we have been unable to assist. Into the future, new security cameras are now in place.
FINANCIALS
Some members of the general public apparently think that new parking arrangements and EV charging are a 2024 licence to print money? Well folks, sorry to disappoint you, but here is your financial reality check.
And this reality check is delivered today, amongst what are very obviously the toughest trading conditions ever being experienced by the entirety of the hospitality and tourism sectors. Or as I have just read as stated even more succinctly on twitter (whilst taking a break from writing this blog) owners of Ceredigion restaurant in Wales, with UK's most in-demand Head Chef Nathan Davies, announce restaurant closure stating 'Due to the unprecedented challenges of the current financial climate'.
In context, and at the point of going live with all new parking systems, we are currently budgeting financially for combined revenue from parking and brand new EV charging, to equate to circa 1% of all existing (year 1) Balbirnie House revenue.
As destination mapping increases, and general knowledge of new electric vehicle charging capabilities accelerate, in year 2 we might be budgeting for circa 1.5% of annual revenue @BalbirnieHouse
Unless new revenue exceeds all expectations, on this basis, it will take our company at least 2 years to recover our phase 1 £100,000 investment, let alone considering any potential further phase 2 or phase 3 investment.
As we then progress year 3 and onwards, we very much hope that this will perhaps bring more meaningful potentials as highlighted on new signage. This is very obviously, a long term consideration.
In the meantime, whilst we continue to fund the original £100,000 investments, we do envisage capabilities to make some minor direct contributions in and around Balbirnie House. From a commemorative perspective we allocated the first £1,000 raised, directly to driveway re-surfacing repairs.
With weekly costs 'to open the front doors' now above £100,000 per week, any small marginal improvement we can make is very relevant indeed.
COMPLIMENTARY PARKING
At the point of all new parking systems going live, we have enabled complimentary parking via digitalised passports, for all couples (and all their guests) holding dates for weddings in 2023, 2024, 2025, and 2026.
As well as complimentary parking for all those future reserved weddings, we have also enabled complimentary parking for all guests attending Celebrations of Life, Milestone Anniversaries, and 6 months+ complimentary overnight parking for Local Corporate Clients on Local Privilege Rates. The latter (as does everyone else) now has the further benefit of ev charging capabilities.
Update 18.12 We have had a specific request from a local charitable organisation, asking if our state-of-the-art parking systems can align complimentary parking for future hotel charity events? Yes indeed. All best wishes Charity event bookings E: katy@balbirnie.co.uk
IMPROVEMENTS FOR DISABLED PARKING
Circa 2013, we installed new paving to deliver better ease of access from two specific Disabled Parking spaces. These now aligning for two disabled EV charging bays. This is the first time we have been able to offer this, in this location.
We are also now going to double spaces allocated for designated Disabled parking, so as to create parking for Disabled access, without electric vehicle charging. This is an additional £5,000 investment, and we hope to complete in mid January 2024.
Please bear with us, as we now set out to deliver access from two additional brand new Disabled Parking spaces.
AESTHETICS
Our own entire previous parking portfolio signage was looking tired, and was also totally mismatched. As part of all investments we have renewed, and delivered a new total design, with a view to enhancing all round presentation.
The new parking portfolio signage has been graphically bespoke-designed, to reflect the aesthetics of parkland setting, and Georgian symmetry of category A listed @BalbirnieHouse The parking info has also been designed to align to the above.
Our car parks to north-east frequently have edging damaged (as is the very case today) by drivers mistakenly driving over grass, instead of using stone-chipped access. We are awaiting delivery of £5,000 of wooden posts, which should resolve this, and improve all presentation.
FUTURE SPECIAL OCCASIONS
We are now adding detail to all info for special occasions defining that one reason why we have delivered parking portfolio upgrades, is so that we can ensure that parking spaces are always available for guests attending those special occasions. 
