Car parking limitations when shopping etc in town

[MostlyFineActually]

I live in a small town with limited parking options - the best being the local supermarket with 3 hours free parking. Other than that, there are very limited bay/meter parking options on the high street.

I want to have my hair done - a real treat, long overdue - cut, colour etc and have been advised by the salon that the process will take a little over 3 hours - my options for parking are going to be dadh out half way through the process and move between supermarkets/bay parking ..... its putting me off getting my hair done.

What do other people do in this instance?

No wonder the high street is withering!

Park on a residential street with no restrictions? Find a car park further away? Use public transport? A taxi?

Ask the hairdresser?

The mantra for as long as I can remember (so going back last century) has been to use public transport.

@MostlyFineActually
I kinda have the same problem.
My hairdressers is on a main road with double yellow lines, DP's is on a little highstreet with no parking, both are the otherside of town to where we live.
I wfh sometimes so can drop DP off, my dsis drops me off, I drive to hers and leave my car.
The alternative is the bus but to get to mine I have to get two buses, into town then out again.
Its a pain as in the car it takes 10 mins.
Is a bus an option for you (I hate getting buses) 😄

Drive/park/walk or public transport and walk

A bus "could" be an option, but I have a car for my convenience - if i want to visit other shops afterwards, do a quick supermarket shop etc then I'd rather not have to lug it home on the bus in all honesty. Waiting for a bus to decide to turn up also is a royal pain.

Surely less of a pain than leaving the hairdresser mid appointment to move the car?! Have your hair done on a dedicated trip into town and do your shopping on a separate occasion...

Is the restricted supermarket parking actually enforced? Are there cameras?

It’s deliberate to try to force you on to public transport

Park away from the town centre somewhere where there are no restrictions. Walk to the hairdressers.
Get hair done.
Walk back to the car.
Drive to the supermarket and park the car.
Go to the shops.
Go to the supermarket and spend enough to get free parking, nd make sure you don't overstay.

Yes, supermarket is anpr controlled.

If i take the bus option then my haidresser appointment could well turn into an entire day trip, taking into account waiting time for the bus which isnt wholly reliable at the best of times.

Park out of town and walk, yes of course i could do that but again, takes away the convenience of having the car - the only pay and park are a handful of pay meter bays along the very small high street.

I either need to move - not viable, or find a hairdresser i like with better parking options, or somehow try and beat the supermarket anpr system - neigh on impossible.

have you tried one of those websites where people rent out their driveways? that may be an option. alrhough uf you're in the sticks it may not if nobody does it there. but worth a look just in case?!

@MostlyFineActually , the car is not convenient. Your unwillingness to park your car a walk away is the issue.

About me so scroll if not interested:
I live 2 miles or so away from the town centre and have a choice:
Walk in (about 30 mins unless I dawdle)
Walk to the station and get the train or bus. (about 30 mins if I time it right)
Drive and park in a carpark on the outskirts then walk in. (depends on how bad the traffic is)
Drive and park in the convenient multi-storey (always very nearly full, nightmare).

I walk in unless I'm getting something too bulky or heavy to carry. It's a nice walk, I get to see flowers and wildlife, and I walk past some nice shops.

Try leaving your car behind and find another way to get there. These days parking is a hassle wherever one goes.
That, or find another hairdresser. Maybe one who will come to you?

Just use the walk as your daily exercise then it’s not wasting time

Surely we're only talking the street behind the high street or similar for parking?

Or again, speak to the hairdressers - do they have off street parking? Or can they recommend a location.

First world issues really. Get a taxi from a certain point?

We always park out of town as we enjoy a walk anyway and it saves parking charges. I think it's a case of working out what gives you enough freedom for your treat.

Just park as nearby as you can and walk. I have a car for convenience, which means I don’t need to deal with terrible rural buses but I still have to park a distance away from some places and walk. It doesn’t remove the convenience. Why are you being so difficult?

Park out of town and walk, yes of course i could do that but again, takes away the convenience of having the car

I think you’re going to object to all posters’ (sensible) suggestions because “convenience”. Well, tough, you can’t park your car wherever you want. Get over it.

Where do people working park? There must be all day parking available for a fee.

Well in our town they park in a car park that is slightly further away - less than 5 mins walk - and still complain

Download bus app too see when one is due.

Don’t you have any friends or family that could drop you off and pick you up?

most first world problem ever. if you are that long in a hairdresser then you are already paying over £100 so just get a taxi or ask someone to pick you up. you can get a bus there

No one can magic up a flying carpet to get you there. Due to a mix up with my GP my limited driving licence was revoked so I was without one for six weeks until I got it sorted. I managed by walking and public transport. Sure my trip were longer but I had no choice. Come on now surely you can put up with a little inconvenience?