DECADES OF INCONSIDERATE PARKING ARE THE ROOT CAUSE OF NECESSARY PARKING UPGRADES

We introduced phase 1 parking portfolio upgrades across the span of our 50,000 follower social media back in early November. £100,00 investment: 

HOTEL CONFIDENTIAL: EV CHARGING AND PARKING PORTFOLIO MODERNISING FOR THE SUSTAINABLE FUTURE (balbirniehouse.blogspot.com)

After the above blog post had a first 500 readers, there were no comments received at all. So we thought, well that's straightforward then, everyone understands the simplicity of what we are delivering. 

In turn, we have supplemented this with further info as regards what the further future potentials are, defining potential phase 2 and 3 eventual investment totalling circa £350,000 

HOTEL CONFIDENTIAL: 30 EV chargers? Parking Portfolio, future strategy summary (balbirniehouse.blogspot.com)

We have had multiple enquiries over recent days, some members of the general public are certainly somewhat confused, and don’t realise that all related parking areas are 100% in the ownership of Balbirnie House Hotel Ltd.

On that basis I delivered an explanatory Pinned tweet yesterday, with a significant thread of very comprehensive explanation.

Balbirnie House (@BalbirnieHouse) / X (twitter.com)

Today, we take all most relevant points on that twitter thread, and summarise these in one article. At the point of having 1,000 readers over on the twitter thread, there is not one single individual who has disagreed with anything. Understandable, as the facts, are the facts. 

The above ordnance Survey mapping shows all areas in the ownership of Balbirnie House Hotel Ltd. 

GENERAL PROBLEMS WITH INCONSIDERATE PARKING 

Having been asked to define a figure, we can now do so.
At the peak of inconsiderate parking (in summer), up to one third of our circa 100 parking places have been used by drivers who should not be there. Not sustainable when we have weddings 7 days a week, and we need all parking spaces.

We have needed to contend with these circumstances, until we have arrived at the point whereby technology has enabled us to introduce state-of-the-art parking systems which can ensure we retain all parking for our hotel guests, and eg visitors now charging electric vehicles.

It appears to be the case that there are members of the general public who feel that they somehow have some form of right to park in our car parks, eg simply as park visitors? That is not the case. Public parking for Balbirnie Park is located on left hand side of entrance of the main driveway.

With the greatest respect to any member of the general public who has been inconsiderately parking in our private car parks, we do not see eg why any arriving Father of the Bride should be unable to park because of your incorrectly parked vehicle.

Our hotel management team have multiple daily walk rounds of grounds and parking areas, we've seen many circumstances whereby we have pointed out to indiscriminate drivers who are not our customers, that they should not be parking, only to find the very same vehicles returning.

At the busiest times of year, we have over 100 individuals working in the

@BalbirnieHouse

hotel brigade. Many drive. And park. When wedding guests are arriving (usually 7 days per week in peak season) we do not see why drivers who are not our hotel guests, should be occupying parking spaces which (a) they should not ever be parking in as they are not our hotel guests, and (b) the parking space is for our arriving wedding guests. Cannot be any more straightforward.

Inconsiderate drivers? That has been applicable across circumstances such as park running events, rambling events, walking events, individual park visitors, dog-walkers, multiple sporting activities, and so on. Our private car parks, are our private car parks.

Whilst there have always been issues across all car parks, the most frequent problems we have encountered are in all car parks to the north of the Balbirnie driveway, between the hotel and Balbirnie Park golf club. Balbirnie House Hotel achieved planning consent and added all of these car parks (from memory) 2005. Factored to pricing today, the costs alone of creating those car parks, in today's money would be heading £200,000 - we then added 2005 signage saying 'Hotel Guests Only', and we have had ongoing parking problems in those areas ever since.

ASSOCIATED PROBLEMS WITH RUBBISH:

Over many years, further central Balbirnie Park (golf club car park) has had ongoing problems with members of general public parking during the night and disposing of rubbish direct from vehicles. Whilst these are of course areas outwith our ownership, we can assist local Police with future driveway vehicle records, if requested

Over the years we have had ongoing issues with members of the general public (who are not our hotel guests) eg using our car parks to eat Takeaways in their cars, and subsequently leave rubbish thereafter. We will now maintain security records etc

Stating the obvious, we do not see why local wildlife should be endangered by inconsiderate drivers who are not our hotel guests, leaving rubbish in our private carparks.

We consider it to be absolutely unacceptable, for any member of our hotel brigade to have to pick up rubbish thrown out of cars into our private car parks, by inconsiderate drivers who are not our hotel guests. Re Clean Neighbourhoods Act we will pass any future info to Police.

INCONSIDERATE RECREATIONAL VEHICLE DRIVERS:

We also highlight that we have continuously had ongoing problems with owners of Recreational Vehicles (and NB they are not our hotel guests!!!) using our private car parks, to park up and stay overnight, when they shouldn't even be parked here at all.

We have also previously had issues with members of the general public (not our hotel guests) leaving their private vehicles parked long term in our private car parks.

ISSUES SPECIFICALLY WITH GOLF-RELATED PARKING

We convey our very kindest regards to all members over at our park neighbours Balbirnie Park golf club. As The Courier has asked Balbirnie House to detail the historic issues we have had, we have provided the below, which are quite simply the facts of what has happened.

Stating the obvious, we have provided requested information, and are doing so as a direct result of all former inconsiderate parking.

We convey our very best and kindest regards to the golf club, for a successful 2024 season ahead, which most hopefully does not involve anyone parking in our car parks, when they should only be parking in the golf club car parks.

One of the biggest ongoing, daily recurring circumstances of inconsiderate parking has however always been from golfers. Very much hoping golfers can now fully realise that they should only be parking in the club’s very own car parks

@BalbirnieHouse

was previously annually-repeating financial sponsor of 1st hole over at our park neighbours

@BalbirniePark

golf club, our old 2015 sponsor sign Years ago we told club pro we had ongoing problems with inconsiderate parking from club members. Nothing was done. We removed sponsorship.

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

@BalbirnieHouse

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.

FOR THE CONVENIENCE OF THE GENERAL PUBLIC PARKING

We have added brand new signage highlighting exactly where that is. As you enter main driveway on left.

Twitter thread and article delivered by myself, Nicholas Russell MD

@BalbirnieHouse

Should anyone have any further queries in any of these regards please do feel free to contact me direct: E: nicholas@balbirnie.co.uk

Very much hoping that all explanation can enable comprehensive understanding of all evolution.

*Update 17.12.2023* All above information has been supplied yesterday morning at the request of live news editorial at The Courier. Their article published last night.

Should you wish to read The Courier article, here's a direct link:

Balbirnie House begins charging motorists for parking

Image credit: Our sincere thanks to The Kilted Photographer, for the amazing drone image below, as published by The Courier.

In what is now blog two of a Trilogy on new investments, we mentioned:

If by any chance there are any news publications or media sources which would like to use Balbirnie House as a category A listed cultural heritage case study, NB currently sitting with £25 million insurance re-instatement value, please do feel free to contact me direct. 

Our company management team and entire hotel brigade are very much looking forward to the new future across the span of parking portfolio. And looking way ahead into the distant future (year 3 and beyond), when revenue from parking and electric vehicle charging eventually exceeds all costs and investments we have made thus far (and will subsequently potentially add to), if this makes an eventual contribution to the category A listed 1777 national treasure, then that will be wonderful to see as well.

State-of-the-art flexible use parking management, parking absolutely guaranteed for our tens of thousands of annual hotel guests, an epic potential (only at 50% use) to deliver 4 million miles per year of environmentally-friendly electric vehicle driving, and therefore a great new contribution to future sustainability. Onwards we go.

All best wishes,

Nicholas

Nicholas Russell 

MD Balbirnie House