17/08/2026
Parking on the Road Outside The Olive Branch
We are aware that a number of vehicles have taken to sounding their horns as they drive past The Olive Branch when cars are parked along the road outside the pub.
We understand that some people may feel that parked cars present a safety concern. However, we believe the actual experience over many years provides different evidence.
I have been at The Olive Branch for 28 years, and during that time there have been four accidents in the immediate vicinity. Significantly, three of those four accidents have occurred within the last month, and all four occurred when The Olive Branch was closed and there were no cars parked on the road.
By contrast, when cars are parked along the road, our experience is that passing vehicles naturally slow down and proceed more cautiously. In the 28 years we have been at The Olive Branch, we are not aware of a single accident that has been caused by vehicles parked outside the pub.
We have discussed the situation on a number of occasions with residents of Clipsham and with the police. Neither has expressed concerns to us about cars being dangerously or illegally parked along the road.
We are also mindful of where vehicles are parked. We ask customers not to park on the bends and, where someone does park in an inappropriate position, we ask them to move their vehicle.
Roadside parking is also used by disabled guests and those with mobility difficulties, as this provides easier, legal parking with more appropraite access to the pub.
We have previously investigated the possibility of providing additional parking in the field opposite the pub. However, we were advised that the council would be unlikely to support planning permission for this.
We therefore believe that the current situation, where cars are occasionally parked legally along the road while avoiding the bends and other potentially obstructive positions, is a reasonable and safe arrangement. Indeed, our experience suggests that the presence of parked cars encourages drivers to reduce their speed and take greater care, rather than creating the danger that some people might perceive.
We are, of course, happy to continue working constructively with the village, the police and the council to address any genuine safety concerns and should anybody wish to pop in to the pub and discuss it with me I am happy to do so.
Thanks for reading
Ben
