I wonder if you can throw any light on the definition of 'parked'? I recently pulled off the road and had my two nearside wheels on the paving area outside a factory in Perivale, whilst I consulted a map to try and find my bearings. There were no parking restriction applicable where I stopped. During the ensuing interval of some three minutes I was caught on camera and summonsed by Ealing Council for parking on the pavement. I never left the vehicle and proceeded after consulting the map.

In my area, Oxhey Hall near Watford, it is common practice to park unattended for any length of time with wheels partially on the pavement to ensure emergency vehicles have no hindrance. Ealing Council say it is not its policy to allow wheels on the pavement when parked which leads me to ask: when is a car parked? It seems ridiculous that to drive from one borough to another in this country you need to find out the local by laws.