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Legal matters

Can they ask for this information (sort of parking related!)

6 replies

MrsExpo · 17/10/2019 13:46

A bit trivial compared to some on here, but just wondered ...

I went to a hobby related event at a local village hall last evening. The hall in is a small village, easily accommodates around 60/80 people at meetings/events, but has no parking at all. This means that anyone using the hall has to park on the street. Not surprisingly, the locals get a bit fed up with this as it means the main street and side streets immediately adjacent to the hall can get very congested. The hall is in use by clubs etc most evenings. The situation is made worse by the local pub - about 50 yards away - also having very limited parking.

The hall management committee have now decided to demand that all persons attending events at the hall write down their name, car registration and phone number on an "attendance register" by the hall entrance, so that if any vehicle is seen to be causing an obstruction, the owner can be contacted and asked to move it. They are particularly concerned about the need for emergency vehicles to get past unhindered (which is fair enough, of course).

Whilst I can see why locals might be annoyed by this situation, are they legally entitled to demand that people using the hall provide the information requested as a condition of using the place? How does this sit with data protection etc?

OP posts:
PanamaPattie · 17/10/2019 13:52

They don’t need a register. They can ask anyone causing an obstruction to move by shouting out there reg number. Don’t see the issue. If they insist on the information, ask them how and where it will be held, who has access and who controls the data - but still refuse to comply.

cometothinkofit · 17/10/2019 13:57

I think it is reasonable to be honest. If they do that and a vehicle has caused a nuisance, they will be able to tell the complaining resident whether or not it was someone using the hall. The hall committee may be getting the blame for parking issues that aren't the fault of hall users, and a list will be of help to them. I know what it's like having to deal with these sorts of issues and it is not fun.

PerryMasonsFriend · 17/10/2019 14:08

Whilst I can see why locals might be annoyed by this situation, are they legally entitled to demand that people using the hall provide the information requested as a condition of using the place? How does this sit with data protection etc?

Yes. They can ask for whatever they like. If you don't like it, you don't have to go in. If the hall is privately owned - ie. is not public property - they can impose any conditions they like as a condition of entry or membership whether that is payment, people coming dressed only in green, wearing slippers or providing a car registration number. (Obviously, there would be extreme conditions that would be unlawful - like punch a person before you come in - but barring public disorder or encouraging violence - pretty much any condition they choose to impose is for them)

They will need to comply with data protection law though so typically with sign in registers of that type, it needs to be managed in a way that means that the data isn't openly available to all comers. There are loads of commercially available registers that do this and conceal the last signatory's data from the next one. This type of thing:

www.safetysigns4less.co.uk/Safety-Essentials/Safety-Posters-Information/GDPR-Compliant-Visitor-Book

It's easy to manage in a lawful way if that's what they want to do.

MrsExpo · 17/10/2019 14:41

They will need to comply with data protection law though so typically with sign in registers of that type, it needs to be managed in a way that means that the data isn't openly available to all comers. There are loads of commercially available registers that do this and conceal the last signatory's data from the next one.

Thanks for this. Very useful. I'm not trying to be difficult here, but the "register" comprises a clipboard of photocopied sheets, where everyone who has complied with the request to provide the information is listed, with all the previous sheets still in place and the new ones just added on top. Last evening, there were attendance records going back several weeks clipped onto the board. I presume they get removed from time to time. Each day, a line is drawn and a new date added so that that days new additions can be listed, and a new sheet added when the old one fills up. That doesn't seem to fit with my (admittedly limited) knowledge of the GDPR legislation.

OP posts:
InfiniteSheldon · 17/10/2019 15:25

I would have absolutely no. Problem with this but then again I never park like an arse. Why would you be bothered?

SD1978 · 17/10/2019 16:17

I'd have no issue- seems a reasonable way to deal. If Bob in charge takes calls from peed off locals he can let an attendee know they parked like an arse. I think people get really hung up about alleged and potential GPDR breeches. Trying to find one seems like a most fun pastime for some.

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