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Council Specific & Schunt Reports => Brent => Topic started by: jonesy on 01 June, 2013, 10:52:18 PM

Title: Brent $hunt 1st June
Post by: jonesy on 01 June, 2013, 10:52:18 PM
I managed to get a Saturday off :dancing: :dancing: and met up with BE rode over to Brent to RV with BGB :aplude: having heard about a scam we met with a local resident who explained what has been going on :bashy: :bashy:

I wont bore you with all the details but believe me something is very very wrong with this junction and how the $cars are ripping off motorists. Part time illuminated No right and left turns W:T:F:

Anyway having took some photos chatted to locals and one person who has received a ticket, Boyo then arrived and  we left to see if one of the rats were at a known  honey spot, whilst on our way we spotted one going in the opposite direction :party:... ... We were lead on a merry go round eventually ending up at London Road and some good old fashioned assisting. :aplude:

AS always we were well received by everyone and it was great to get that warm feeling again with loads of support and even getting some drinks bought us by a passer by :aplude: :aplude:

After about an hour we were off and ended back at the pen we had a interesting exchange with some of the staff and some banter with the drivers all 4 $cars wee now holed up 1 soon left with Boyo and BGB and about 10 mins later BE and I followed one ending up  at Cannonsbury tube where we assisted in 100% compliance no penalty :aplude:

 We were off again after about half an hour but by now time was against me and as it appeared the $car was on its way back to the pen we decided to call it a day :(

For me a very enjoyable days $hunting and  finding out first hand what the issues are at the Mortimer Street junction. This little fix should keep me going for while ;D but boy do I miss it.
Title: Re: Brent $hunt 1st June
Post by: kiwi on 02 June, 2013, 07:43:12 AM
Sounds like you had a hoot , nice work all : )
Title: Re: Brent $hunt 1st June
Post by: Pat Pending on 02 June, 2013, 09:18:29 AM
I  am very envious of your day out summer $counting, I have been tied up with family stuff in my free time lately. I think sounds as though it was a good day.  I  hope to be with you soon as I am having withdrawal symptoms.  dr00L
Title: Re: Brent $hunt 1st June
Post by: The Bald Eagle on 02 June, 2013, 10:15:39 AM
A good day, with some very useful intel provided by the locals. ;D

Keep your eyes on this thread as I believe it will be getting quite busy soon. ;)
Title: Re: Brent $hunt 1st June
Post by: Boyo on 05 June, 2013, 10:53:15 AM
Nice write up Jonesy. :aplude: Was a very pleasant day and thoroughly enjoyable.  ;D
BGB and I followed our $car on quite a merry dance until he settled at Mortimer Rd.
One thing that did become apparent was that Brent/Apcoa do use these cars for parking enforcement too. We stopped momentarily at Neasden Lane (small shop-lined arm of Neasden Lane, dead ended by the North Circ, North of Dudden Hill Rd roundabout) and having chatted with the (very pleasant and courteous) driver, he informed me that this was a regular haunt to move people on.

Finally, after I'd decided to call it a day, I got a bit lost trying to get out of Brent - it's a big borough isn't it? Whilst trying to find a road I recognised, I saw a $car enforcing at the A4088 Forty Lane junction with A4140 Salmon Street/B454 Tudor Gardens/A4088 Blackbird Hill, East of Wembley Park. I didn't see what he was enforcing as I rode past, but the $car was parked on the left northbound side of Salmon St ( just before Bruno Place) with the camera facing back towards the junction. I'd assume there's some restriction at this junction as it seemed quite busy.
But that's for another day... 8)
 
Title: Re: Brent $hunt 1st June
Post by: The Bald Eagle on 05 June, 2013, 01:57:26 PM
I Googlemapped it Boyo (and made a new word up at the same time) and the only restrictions I can see concern parking. Maybe he was doing someone for stopping in a CPZ? <_>
Title: Re: Brent $hunt 1st June
Post by: Ewan Hoosami on 05 June, 2013, 04:28:55 PM
Normally, I would have guessed at the bus stop up tudor gardens (https://www.google.co.uk/maps?ll=51.56624,-0.265088&spn=0.005095,0.023797&cbp=12,56.86,,0,5.76&layer=c&panoid=RX9aLOIDQw7g6KzTs7bH7Q&cbll=51.566318,-0.265048&dg=opt&t=m&z=16) but there are no shops nearby to encourage setting down / Pat stopping for his cakes.   (http://www.freesmileys.org/smileys/smiley-eatdrink024.gif) (http://www.freesmileys.org/smileys.php)
Title: Re: Brent $hunt 1st June
Post by: Pat Pending on 05 June, 2013, 10:55:05 PM
Normally, I would have guessed at the bus stop up tudor gardens ([url]https://www.google.co.uk/maps?ll=51.56624,-0.265088&spn=0.005095,0.023797&cbp=12,56.86,,0,5.76&layer=c&panoid=RX9aLOIDQw7g6KzTs7bH7Q&cbll=51.566318,-0.265048&dg=opt&t=m&z=16[/url]) but there are no shops nearby to encourage setting down / Pat stopping for his cakes.   ([url]http://www.freesmileys.org/smileys/smiley-eatdrink024.gif[/url]) ([url]http://www.freesmileys.org/smileys.php[/url])


I will have you know these days I eat FRUIT!  :o  yes thats right FRUIT! :o :o
It has to be from Denmark though.......Apricot Danish, Apple Danish......see its all part of my five a day  dr00L
Title: Mortimer Road / Chamberlayne Road Junction
Post by: KensalRiser on 10 June, 2013, 03:13:03 PM
Just thought I'd put up a few pictures of this Junction, which have been taken by residents in the last few months.

the Council are netting a cool £250k from this junction per year, regularly filming from $cars parked in 2 location. This is probably because they do not patrol the junction during rush hour, but spend long periods of time in the afternoons as well as weekends and especially (their favourite time) Bank holidays. On bank holidays they regularly have 2 $cars filming at once for 6-8 hours in the day each.

Needless t say they also chose to park on the double yellows / across the driveways in order to get hidden from approaching traffic rather than parking in legal bays and in plain sight.

To add to this the turning restrictions can be switched on and off and apparently have an ambiguous setting - (is it on or is it off? Who knows!) 
So first picture is of the ambiguous setting...
Title: Re: Brent $hunt 1st June
Post by: KensalRiser on 10 June, 2013, 03:15:00 PM
This one is presumably "ON"
Title: Re: Brent $hunt 1st June
Post by: KensalRiser on 10 June, 2013, 03:15:52 PM
So this must be "OFF"?
Title: Re: Brent $hunt 1st June
Post by: KensalRiser on 10 June, 2013, 03:21:41 PM
So lets look at that ambiguous setting again. There are plenty of examples...
In all of these pictures the no right turn signal is supposed to be ON
Title: Re: Brent $hunt 1st June
Post by: KensalRiser on 10 June, 2013, 03:23:32 PM
The drivers have been notified about the disparity in the two lights by residents on numerous occasions, but Brent appear unmoved.
Title: Re: Brent $hunt 1st June
Post by: KensalRiser on 10 June, 2013, 03:38:17 PM
So what next? 
How about Bank Holidays?
On Easter weekend the $cars were in position on both Mortimer and Chamberlayne Road for 4-6 hours a day each. That's Good Friday, Easter Saturday, Easter Sunday and Easter Monday. Unlike weekdays when they turn up after rush hour to catch drivers unfamiliar with the area (delivery drivers, tradesmen etc), they start before 8am over Easter to help them catch visiting family members.

Here are a few pictures...

Good Friday Holiday:
9:30 am – hiding, parking on a double yellow line and blocking an access (over a dropped kerb) to film an empty junction and passing residents. Mortimer Road.
Title: Re: Brent $hunt 1st June
Post by: KensalRiser on 10 June, 2013, 03:40:13 PM
Good Friday
1:30PM – Maintaining traffic flow during one of the quietest holidays of the year...
Title: Re: Brent $hunt 1st June
Post by: KensalRiser on 10 June, 2013, 03:45:27 PM
Good Friday, Mortimer Road:
1:10pm filming the empty junction for most of the day from 2 positions. Also hiding as seen here.
Title: Re: Brent $hunt 1st June
Post by: KensalRiser on 10 June, 2013, 03:48:29 PM
Cars were in position for 4-6 hours in each position over the weekend too, but no pictures of that unfortunately (have to do some other things with this life!)
Same again on Easter Monday though...

Easter Monday Bank Holiday:
8:50am: Mortimer Rd – starting early, hiding and filming a resident
Title: Re: Brent $hunt 1st June
Post by: KensalRiser on 10 June, 2013, 03:59:54 PM
Easter Monday Bank Holiday:
9.30am: Still filming on Mortimer Road
Title: Re: Brent $hunt 1st June
Post by: KensalRiser on 10 June, 2013, 04:06:50 PM
Easter Monday Bank Holiday:
10.30am – filming the empty junction from Chamberlayne Road - to ‘maintain traffic flow’. Interestingly, the two buses in this picture were unable to pass each other due to the CCTV car. One was required to stop and wait for the other to pass before continuing. Otherwise the traffic was 'flowing'.
Title: Re: Brent $hunt 1st June
Post by: KensalRiser on 10 June, 2013, 04:09:13 PM
Easter Monday Bank Holiday
12:10pm – still hiding and filming the empty junction on Mortimer Road. over 4 hours in this spot now...
Title: Re: Brent $hunt 1st June
Post by: KensalRiser on 10 June, 2013, 04:12:03 PM
Easter Monday Bank Holiday:
12:15pm – still working to ‘maintain traffic flow’? on this empty road. Unfortunately the revenue raised from this activity does not appear to cover repairing the large pothole in the middle of the road, next to the $car.
Title: Re: Brent $hunt 1st June
Post by: KensalRiser on 10 June, 2013, 04:16:20 PM
Easter Monday Bank Holiday:
12:15pm–Chamberlayne Road: 2 Apcoa staff film from the $car on Chamberlayne Road.  One for each of the push-bikes that are the only other vehicles near the junction.
Title: Re: Brent $hunt 1st June
Post by: KensalRiser on 10 June, 2013, 04:20:05 PM
Easter Monday Bank Holiday
2:44pm Chamberlayne Road: approaching 7 hours of continuous $car monitoring of the junction on a quiet bank holiday. Is it even legal to use $cars to film a single location for this length of time without permanent signs?
Title: Re: Brent $hunt 1st June
Post by: KensalRiser on 10 June, 2013, 04:24:54 PM
Just before stepping away from the bank holiday topic.
Here they are spending the day at the junction on the bank holiday Monday at the end of May:

Title: Re: Brent $hunt 1st June
Post by: KensalRiser on 10 June, 2013, 04:38:16 PM
 :ot:
And just for good measure on the public holidays. A note on Brent/Apcoa's tactics on Mortimer Road when it comes to parking...
The residents bays are patrolled on a day to day basis by a single CEO on a moped who covers a large area. Possibly this is to keep costs down when the pickings are scant.
Guess what? That changes on New Year's Day morning when, even thoughthere are plenty of empty bays because residents are away, it is apparently worth sending 2 CEOs to spend the entire day on Mortimer Road. I shot this picture after they had been sitting on the same wall for 2 hours, but they had been giving out tickets up and down the road from first thing in the morning...
Title: Re: Brent $hunt 1st June
Post by: BGB on 10 June, 2013, 04:47:28 PM
Those CEOs who issue lots of PCNs are rewarded with the opportunity to work on a bank holiday at double time.  They must be given something to do to fill their time.  Issuimg lots if PCNs pays their wages.  Everyones a winner (except the residents/visitors)!

Purely speculation of course.
Title: No Left Turn?
Post by: KensalRiser on 10 June, 2013, 04:58:41 PM
Brent give 2 reasons for the existence of the no left turn:

1. it's an unusually tight turn
2. a left turn on the green light would clash with the green man on the pedestrian sequence.

First, the tight turn. It's more than 90 degrees which makes no tighter than any of the other 4 turns at the crossroads. None of the other turns have any restriction. Here's a picture so you can decide for yourselves:
Title: Re: Brent $hunt 1st June
Post by: Ewan Hoosami on 10 June, 2013, 05:11:41 PM
Those CEOs who issue lots of PCNs are rewarded with the opportunity to work on a bank holiday at double time.  They must be given something to do to fill their time.  Issuimg lots if PCNs pays their wages.  Everyones a winner (except the residents/visitors)!

Purely speculation of course.
Speculation my hairy (http://www.freesmileys.org/smileys/smiley-fc/moon.gif) (http://www.freesmileys.org/smileys.php)

If it looks like a duck, swims like a duck, and quacks like a duck, then it probably is a duck. Consequently, if it behaves like a weasel.................

Good Friday, Mortimer Road:
1:10pm filming the empty junction for most of the day from 2 positions. Also hiding as seen here.

The Long Good Friday was a 1980 british film where the main characters were criminals trying to make their activities look legitimate.

....................on New Year's Day morning when, even thoughthere are plenty of empty bays because residents are away, it is apparently worth sending 3 CEOs to spend the entire day on Mortimer Road....................

Happy new year from the council.

(http://www.animated-gifs.eu/ps-smilies-pirates/0009.gif)
Title: No Left Turn: Mortimer Road into Chamberlayne Road
Post by: KensalRiser on 10 June, 2013, 05:14:33 PM
So what about the second reason for the no left turn?
2. a left turn on the green light would clash with the green man on the pedestrian sequence.

Here's how the sequence goes:

Pedestrian phase
Pic1: Green man is on, traffic light is red
Pic2: Traffic light changes to red & amber. Pedestrian light is already red.
Pic3: Traffic light is green, pedestrian light is still red.
Pic4: Pedestrian light appears green after traffic light has returned to red.

Fact: the ‘conflict’ the council describe does not exist.
Title: Hiding
Post by: KensalRiser on 10 June, 2013, 05:29:43 PM
Right. That will have to do for now, but why not finish off with a few shots of the $cars following the Sec of State's guidelines to act as a visible deterrent...
The 3rd one is my favourite - it's from Google Earth and he's parked on a double yellow (of course) but also across a driveway which is not permitted...
Title: Parked across a driveway...
Post by: KensalRiser on 10 June, 2013, 05:36:13 PM
They are allowed to park on double yellow lines, but their permits do not allow them to park across driveways. This does not appear to make any difference:
Title: Re: Brent $hunt 1st June
Post by: Ewan Hoosami on 10 June, 2013, 07:52:06 PM
Sometimes they park on the driveway, and the pavement, sometimes two up.

(http://www.standard.co.uk/news/article6453288.ece/ALTERNATES/w460/Spy+cars)