Parking News - September 2024 - Issue 444

Page 1


Replace or repair?

Key considerations for maintaining older car parks

Blue Badge enforcement

How to take action against the worst offenders

Parking Scotland Expo

Get ready for this month’s conference in Perth

On the right path

Is the Scottish pavement parking ban working?

More than 170,000 locations, 500 towns and cities, one award-winning provider

Mike Marrs on making good things happen

Gathering of minds

It’s good to be back as Vice-President of the BPA, having spent much of my 2021-22 presidency stuck inside as Covid turned the world upside down. As we all know, there’s no substitute for being out and about, sharing ideas, hearing what others think, and championing the causes we care about.

That’s what I love doing, and I’m really looking forward to the run of autumn events, such as the BPA Scotland Expo this month, the Parking and Transport Wales Conference in October, and the All-Ireland Parking Event and BPA Members’ Dinner in November. Plus, of course, there will be more BPA interest groups meetings, the Women in Parking webinar and, hopefully, a President’s Reception to inaugurate the fabulous Richard Walker in the splendour of the Houses of Parliament, after the July date had to be postponed because of the general election.

It’s a crucial time (isn’t it always!), with local authorities perhaps getting more freedom to shape their own futures and meet the needs of the public they serve. Also for the private parking industry to show that the public can and should have confidence in the service provided, which means that millions of spaces are available each day for those who play by the rules.

“The expertise that you all have in your own fields is what makes the BPA strong”

I’ve always found that surrounding myself with experts is the best way to make good things happen. I note that Keir Starmer secured himself an immediate bounce in public opinion when he appointed his cabinet on the same basis (my door is always open, Keir, should you want any more tips). The expertise that you all have in your own fields is what makes the BPA strong. I can’t wait to tap into that and get your ideas and input into what we do as an organisation to bring about positive change.

If you haven’t already signed up for the Private Parking Code of Practice webinar in September, I’d urge you to do so.

Even if private parking isn’t your bag, I’d argue there’s a lot to be learned from the way the BPA and the IPC have worked together on the new Joint Code of Practice that will deliver real, lasting change – even on the local authority side, because we all know that complaints about parking of any kind tarnish us all, however unfair that might feel.

At a time when the world feels more and more divided, there’s a huge appetite for building consensus and bringing people together. I look forward to working with you to help the BPA continue to move things in the right direction for all of us, and for all those who rely on our services.

And finally...

Louise Parfitt’s last words on the content that matters to you

Wheels on or wheels off? It’s a debate that has been rumbling in all four corners of the UK, and there are different rules governing footway parking depending on where you live.

The ban on footway parking in Scotland, brought in by the Transport (Scotland) Act 2019, became law at the end of 2023. Since then, Scottish local authorities have been introducing enforcement and exemptions in their areas. Sarah Juggins investigates this in more detail on pages 12-14, and asks what is happening in other parts of the UK.

The knowledge-sharing on this topic will continue at this month’s Parking Scotland Expo on 18 September. This is shaping up to be another great event hosted by the Scotland region – turn to pages 24-25 to find out more.

We also share expert advice on tackling Blue Badge misuse, including some exciting news about an initiative to help local authorities maintain the integrity of the scheme – see pages 16-18.

Congratulations, too, to those shortlisted for the British Parking Awards – see pages 28-29.

As you may be aware, this is the last issue of Parking News to be produced by CPL One. I, and the team, have been proud to bring to life and share all the good work carried out by the parking community to make our streets fairer, cleaner and safer. I have loved editing the magazine for the past six years; you have made me so welcome and I have learned so much. Thank you all. With that, we take our leave and wish you all the very best for the future. l Details of the new agency and contacts for Parking News can be found on pages 32-33.

Parking News is published by the British Parking Association

Editorial and design: CPL One 1 Cambridge Technopark, Cambridge CB5 8PB T: 01223 378000 cplone.co.uk

Editor: Louise Parfitt

editor@britishparking.co.uk T: 01223 378053

Designer: Robyn McCurdy

Advertising: James Martin james.martin@cplone.co.uk T: 01727 739185

Circulation and administration: Linda Page linda.p@britishparking.co.uk

Print production: Adam Cushen Stephens & George Print Group, Goat Mill Road, Dowlais, Merthyr Tydfil CF48 3TD adam.cushen@stephensandgeorge.co.uk T: 01685 388888

Photography and illustration: All images: iStock.com

Except pages: pp1 and pp12: Adobe firefly

Sarah

pp28-29: Matthew Walker

pp30-31: Nick Dawson/Smile Photography

We would like to remind our readers that the views expressed by any contributor to Parking News are not necessarily those of the British Parking Association or Parking News, (the editor, the editorial panel or the board). Contributions and adverts are published in good faith and no responsibility or liability will be accepted, either for their contents or accuracy, or for any action taken as a result of anything contained in Parking News.

©British Parking Association 2024 ISSN 1470-8361

New standard for autonomous vehicle operations

BSI Flex 1887, a new guide for operating autonomous vehicles, is now open for public consultation. Stakeholders and interested parties are encouraged to review the guide and provide feedback, to ensure it meets the highest standards of safety and effectiveness.

The guide, titled BSI Flex 1887 –Human Factors for Remote Operation of Vehicles – Guide v1.0, was developed by the British Standards Institution and supported by the UK government’s Centre for Connected and Autonomous Vehicles. It aims to establish good practices for the remote monitoring, assistance and operation of self-driving vehicles.

For more information and to participate in the consultation, see moredetails.uk/PNSept24IS

Parking (Code of Practice) Act 2019 update

At the end of July, the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, Angela Rayner, was asked whether it is her policy to publish a statutory code of practice under the Parking (Code of Practice) Act 2019. Alex Norris MP replied that the government will set out the polices in due course.

■ The BPA is holding a webinar to update members on 10 September. See moredetails.uk/Sept24CP

Discussions under way on vehicle-compliance legislation

The BPA is working with the National Persistent Evader Database (NPED) to bring forward legislation called the Vehicle Compliance Management Act.

NPED’s research indicates that up to 10 million vehicles in Great Britain are non-compliant with various regulatory requirements. These include vehicles without tax, insurance or a valid MOT, not registered with the DVLA, using cloned number plates, or persistently not paying parking, congestion or toll charges.

The BPA and NPED are currently in discussion with the new government, members of parliament and representatives in the House of Lords, and a working group is being formed to progress this much-needed legislation. A parliamentary roundtable is expected later this year.

Sarah Greenslade, BPA content

and research manager, said: ‘To have workable regulation to enable our sector to tackle vehicle non-compliance would be a major achievement. Unquestionably it is needed, and will have huge benefits for everyone – improving road safety, our environment and wider communities. This is why the BPA has supported this campaign, led by NPED, from the outset and will continue to do so.’

Alan Wood, NPED CEO, said: ‘The yearon-year growth of non-compliant vehicles in our communities is becoming a serious issue, often associated with anti-social behaviour and possible criminal activity. ‘A new government presents a window of opportunity, and we are working hard to ensure that the sector is provided with the tools it urgently needs to manage the vehicle community, protecting the lawful motorist.’

Framework published to support Welsh councils on 20mph

New guidance to help highways authorities when making decisions on local speed limits has been published.

It has been co-developed with highways authorities, the Welsh Local Government Association, and the County Surveyors’ Society for Wales, following a National Listening Programme led by the Cabinet Secretary for North Wales and Transport, Ken Skates.

From this month, highway authorities can apply the new framework to assess speed limits on roads where a change is considered appropriate. The numbers of roads reviewed is expected to vary considerably depending on the volume of feedback received by each highway authority. As a result, the timescales for delivering change will vary from one local authority to another.

The guidance provides a framework that prioritises 20mph limits where pedestrians and cyclists frequently mix with vehicles, unless evidence supports that higher speeds are safe. Councils will be invited to submit bids for funding to make speed limit changes in line with the guidance. An additional £5m has been made available for this financial year.

See moredetails.uk/PNSept2420

SWARCO wins major service and maintenance agreement

SWARCO UK & Ireland, the intelligent traffic solution and technology business, has been awarded a new long-term service and maintenance contract for traffic signals and signage. The contract covers Bedford Borough Council, Cambridgeshire County Council, Central Bedfordshire Council, Luton Council and Peterborough City Council.

It follows a successful collaboration between five local authorities that began in 2016, when the first contract was awarded to drive efficiencies with shared cost and effort. Because of the success of the collaboration in giving taxpayers better value, the authorities continued to work together in the same way when tendering the new contract.

Scheduled to begin this month, the new contract covers a combined 825 traffic signals, and includes all equipment service and maintenance (with 24-hour emergency cover), technology supply and installation.

In addition, SWARCO will supply and install new traffic signal systems, including controllers, signal heads and signage, across all council-led projects.

The contract will also deliver on social value specific to each authority area, providing effective stewardship of the environment and assisting with meeting the net-zero target.

Unity5 announces customer service results

Enforcement and compliance management software company Unity5 has revealed outstanding service performance statistics for the first quarter of the year.

■ 97.2 per cent satisfaction score: clients’ high satisfaction underscores Unity5’s dedication to excellence

■ Average time to first response: Unity5’s rapid engagement with customers resulted in an average response time of just 22 minutes, and 50 per cent of tickets had a response within an hour

■ 70 per cent of tickets solved within 24 hours: Unity5 has built a reputation for swift resolution processes, with 61 per cent of issues being resolved within five hours

■ 55.6 per cent one-touch resolutions: more than half of the tickets were resolved with a single response.

Oli Pelliccio, director of implementation at Unity5, said: ‘We are incredibly proud of our customer service team for their outstanding performance this quarter. Our

exceptional service statistics are a direct result of their efforts, and we couldn’t be more thrilled with their achievements.’

■ Unity5 has also announced a significant enhancement to its flagship platform, Zatpark, with the integration of lower-cost, consumer-grade cameras. This is a major step forward in making advanced bay-monitoring technology more accessible.

By incorporating these lowerpriced options, Unity5 is removing financial barriers, and enabling more businesses and enforcement providers to benefit from high-quality monitoring without significant upfront investment.

Mark Wilson, chief commercial officer at Unity5, said: ‘We are excited about the potential to offer even more businesses a chance to enhance their monitoring capabilities with cost-effective and high-performance options.’

Award and new clients for NPED

The National Persistent Evader Database (NPED) has welcomed its first tranche of local authority and private operator clients: Vale of Glamorgan Council; Swansea City and County Council; Sevenoaks District Council; North Essex Parking Partnership; Liverpool City Council; and Parking Control Management UK. The first software providers – Atria, Imperial, Chipside and Farthest Gate – are in the final stage of integration. This means penalty charge notices issued by the NPED-registered councils and operators can be checked against NPED’s database to highlight and record instances of persistent evaders, as well as vehicles without MOT, insurance or vehicle excise duty, or that are not registered with the DVLA, so that further action can be taken.

NPED has been named Digital StartUp of the Year in the South East, and will now progress to the UK Startup Awards final on 12 September.

Scunthorpe enhances car park security

A new cashless pay-by-foot payment system, vehicle access shutters and controlled-access pedestrian doors have been installed at the Parishes multi-storey car park in Scunthorpe. The enhanced level of security will help to crack down on antisocial behaviour.

John Davison, North Lincolnshire Council’s cabinet member for safer, stronger, communities (urban), said: ‘Unfortunately, the Parishes multi-storey has been the target of criminal damage and incidents of anti-social behaviour. This is one of our busiest car parks for Scunthorpe, and the first stop for many of our visitors, and we want to ensure it is a pleasurable and safe experience. This further investment and development will be welcome news for our residents and motorists.’

This is a joint project between North Lincolnshire Council and the Police and Crime Commissioner, with the security upgrade being promoted by the North Lincolnshire Community Safety Partnership.

Councils crack down on Blue Badge misuse

The Royal Borough of Greenwich is cracking down on parking fraud, with five successful prosecutions of Blue Badge misuse over the past year:

■ Emmanuel George, of Bellegrove Road, Welling, pleaded guilty to misusing a Blue Badge. On 2 October 2023, a civil enforcement officer found George parked alone in his vehicle using a badge that belonged to a woman. He was charged, and fined £216, with additional costs of £85 and a victim surcharge of £86.

■ Eltham resident Ahmet Colak was found displaying a photocopy of a Blue Badge belonging to his son on 6 October 2023. The original badge holder was not with Colak and he failed to respond to requests for information from the council, so was summoned to appear at Bexley Magistrates Court. He pleaded guilty to four offences: two under the Fraud Act 2006, one under the

Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act, and one contrary to section 17 of the Greater London Council (General Powers) Act 1972. He was sentenced to a community order, required to do 40 hours of unpaid work, and ordered to pay costs of £500 and a victim surcharge of £114.

■ Connal Toner, of West Lawn, Chelmsford, was fined for failing to respond to a statutory notice from the council. Toner’s vehicle was found displaying a stolen Blue Badge in a permit holder’s bay in Greenwich. He was fined £80, with a victim surcharge of £32 and £120 in costs.

■ Alicia Allen, of Hatfield House, Greenwich, pleaded guilty to failing to respond to a statutory notice from the council. Her vehicle was found displaying a cancelled Blue Badge in a pay and display bay in Greenwich on 7 October 2023. She was fined £253, with a victim surcharge of £101 and costs of £200.

■ Tanara Peters, of Keightley Drive, Eltham, pleaded guilty to displaying a stolen Blue Badge to avoid parking fees near her workplace, after claiming to have found it in a car park. Peters was fined £80, with a victim surcharge of £32 and costs of £250.

Denise Hyland, cabinet member for finance, resources and social value, said: ‘Blue Badge misuse is a serious offence that undermines the integrity of the scheme. We’re committed to protecting disabled residents’ rights by enforcing Blue Badge rules, including legal action against those who break them.’

■ A tri-county exercise to tackle Blue Badge misuse was coordinated across Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire and Oxfordshire between 11 and 21 June. Across the three counties, 34 Blue Badges were seized – 20 in Hertfordshire, 11 in Buckinghamshire and three in Oxfordshire. See pages 16-18 for more on this topic.

East Dunbartonshire PCN increase

Drivers who commit a parking offence in East Dunbartonshire will see an increased cost in the penalty charge notice (PCN) from 4 September 2024.

The PCN cost will increase to £100 (currently it is £60), reducing to £50 (currently £30) if paid within 14 days or rising to £150 (currently £90) if it is not paid within 56 days.

Paul Ferretti, convener of East Dunbartonshire Council’s Place, Neighbourhood and Corporate Assets Committee, said: ‘The council feels this increase is necessary, as the current rate seems to be an insufficient deterrent to many motorists and persistent evaders.’

It is the first increase in the PCN since decriminalised parking enforcement powers were introduced in 2014 and is in response to new national guidelines issued by the Scottish government.

Wiltshire invests

Wiltshire Council has resurfaced part of its Church Street car park in Melksham, with a focus on improving the disabled parking bays to increase safety and accessibility.

New parking machines were also installed and placed to provide easier access for people with disabilities.

Nick Holder, cabinet member for highways, said: ‘The upgrade programme is part of a £380,000 investment that will see new machines installed across Wiltshire.’

Charging in Worcester

Twelve new electric vehicle (EV) chargepoints have been installed by Worcester City Council. Residents living within one kilometre of a council EV charger are eligible for a residential EV permit, allowing them to park free of charge between 6pm and 8am while charging their EVs overnight.

Liverpool City Council adopts NPP

Drivers in Liverpool will now have more choice when it comes to paying for parking, thanks to the city council joining the National Parking Platform (NPP).

This means local and visiting motorists will have the choice of paying for their parking via multiple mobile applications. By enabling drivers to make cashless payment choices based on their personal preferences – whether that be in terms of price, quality or value-added services – an open-market model encourages healthy competition between providers, incentivising innovation and improving the user experience.

Liverpool City Council will initially introduce this new model in 99 on-street locations and eight car parks.

Ken Prior, the council’s head of parking, said: ‘We are delighted to be one of the first local authorities to offer our residents and visitors increased choice via the NPP. Customers will be able to choose their preferred payment option across multiple apps, alongside pay and display machines, when parking on street and in car parks across the city.’

Crewe town centre car park and bus station officially opened

Crewe’s new multi-storey car park and bus station have been officially opened, marking the end of a two-year construction project to deliver modern transport facilities for the town.

The 389-space car park opened at the end of July and follows the opening of the new bus station, which has been welcoming passengers since May.

Michael Gorman, deputy leader of Cheshire East Council and chair of its economy and growth committee, said: ‘The multi-storey car park gives us the capacity to free up some of the other car parks and move forward with a range of exciting development projects. These projects will create more reasons for people to visit the town centre and provide them with a better experience. A great example is Oak Street car park, which closed recently so that work on a fantastic new state-of-the-art space for young people can begin.’

Fake QR code parking scam warning

Portsmouth City Council has received reports of fraudulent QR codes appearing on parking meters around the city. These fake codes are designed to trick users into entering their payment details on bogus websites. Scammers use these sites to steal payment information, potentially causing financial loss and parking fines for unsuspecting motorists.

Similar scam notices have been found in other areas of the country, but it’s thought that this is the first time they have been spotted in Portsmouth.

Civil enforcement officers will continue to monitor council parking machines across the city and remove any unauthorised notices wherever they are spotted. The council is also liaising with Hampshire Constabulary to ensure it is aware.

Peter Candlish, cabinet member for transport, said: ‘We don’t use any QR codes for parking in the city, so we urge everyone to stay alert and only use official sources, to prevent giving away their payment details.

‘It’s crucial for people to use the official RingGo app to pay for parking in Portsmouth, to avoid falling for scams such as fake QR codes.’

■ Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole (BCP) Council is also urging residents to be vigilant when paying for parking in the area. Amanda Barrie, director of commercial operations, said: ‘Our officers are regularly checking car parks and inspecting individual machines to remove any fake QR codes that may appear. We have informed the police and are reviewing our car park CCTV footage.’

■ The BPA’s new guide Preventing Parking Payment Fraud is available at moredetails.uk/PNSept24PPF

Moving traffic enforcement to be increased in Peterborough

A new moving traffic enforcement site in Peterborough went live last month.

Vehicles are regularly driving the wrong way in Church Street to access the pedestrian area, putting pedestrians in danger and driving against the flow of other vehicles. ‘No entry’ signage has been installed and motorists who ignore this will be committing a breach.

There is a six-month warning-notice period for first-time offences, meaning that penalty charge notices will be issued during that time for repeat offenders.

In February, the council implemented moving traffic enforcement at three sites: two pedestrian and cycle zones, and one safer school street.

The council has so far issued more than 10,000 warnings to motorists who have flouted the restrictions, resulting in

an 85 per cent reduction in offences at the sites and creating a safer pedestrian environment in the city centre.

The enforcement of two bus gates will start on a date to be confirmed.

■ Work to enhance walking and cycling routes in Peterborough and encourage more people to use active travel is set to be progressed. In July, the Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan (LCWIP) for 2024-34 was approved. It highlights routes that should be targeted for improvement, as they offer the greatest opportunity to increase walking and cycling trips. The LCWIP will also put the council in a better position to bid for active-travel schemes in the future, building on the funding that has already been secured.

Digital parking schemes introduced in Aberdeen

Aberdeen City Council has introduced a new digital parking permit system, allowing it to begin phasing out paper permits.

Residents and businesses that need a permit will no longer receive paper ones to display in their vehicles. Instead, permits will be virtual and linked to vehicle registrations.

The project will also include investment in 100 new parking meters and the removal of old meters that have exceeded their serviceable life.

The new meters will allow users to continue to pay in cash, but will provide a digital parking ticket that is assigned to the vehicle registration, removing the need to display a ticket. PayByPhone and RingGo cashless parking services are also now available for use, and drivers can pay for parking at more than 100 PayPoint locations, too.

City wardens will be able to identify virtual permits, cashless parking and digital parking meter tickets using a registration number plate scanner, and will have access to automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) vehicles to help identify illegal parking.

Later this year, wardens will be deployed on electric bikes so they can respond to any vehicle detected by ANPR as being illegally parked. This will enable them to focus on other issues that affect the city, including antisocial behaviour, littering, fly-tipping and dog fouling.

The investment in digitising parking is part of the council’s ongoing commitment to improving the parking experience across the city.

‘Kerbing’ bad behaviour

Sarah Juggins investigates the effect of Scotland’s pavement parking ban on communities, parking capacity and safety

The Transport (Scotland) Act 2019 threw a spotlight on concerns over pavement parking with the introduction of a nationwide ban on footway parking. Among the reasons for the ban is the need to make pavements safer places, particularly for those with mobility issues, people with limited vision, wheelchair users, and people pushing prams or pushchairs.

The change in legislation is also a step towards developing healthier communities, by supporting active travel and reducing vehicle emissions. Its impact on communities across Scotland, the way the legislation is received, and the process of implementation are all being watched carefully by the other home nations.

The law came into effect in Scotland in December 2023. Since then, Scottish local authorities have been implementing the legislation over a staggered timeline.

From the end of February 2024, for example, Dundee City Council began issuing penalty charge notices (PCNs) of £100 (reduced to £50 if paid within 14 days) to drivers who park on pavements or block driveways.

In the two months leading up to the implementation of the ban, the city’s parking attendants had been issuing warning notices in a bid to raise awareness of the impending change to the law.

A welcome change

Generally, the ban on pavement parking has been welcomed by a wide range of groups and individuals. Quoted on the Transport for Scotland website, Michael Tornow, who is blind and has a hearing impairment, said: ‘Pavement parking makes me frustrated. It’s just very tiring trying to navigate around parked cars. Not just for me, but for others, too – people in wheelchairs, people pushing buggies. I hope the new enforcement will make people understand that pavement parking is unsafe and unfair. Without cars on the pavement, it will be easier and safer for me to get around.’

The sentiment is backed up by Karen McGregor, Scotland director at Sustrans:

‘It seems obvious to say it, but our pavements should put people – and not vehicles – first. Navigating around vehicles parked on pavements is a bit of a nuisance for everyone, but the grim reality is that for older people, people with reduced mobility or in wheelchairs, or people with pushchairs, it can be a real danger.’

Inconvenience factor

The ban on pavement parking isn’t universally welcomed, however. People living in roads with limited parking options could find themselves in conflict with neighbours, or having to find a space a significant distance from their home. An anticipated rise in applications for resident or visitor parking permits may put additional strain on local authority resources.

“If drivers cannot park without leaving their car on a pavement, then it is for them to reassess where they park their vehicles”

their attitude needs to change. We definitely shouldn’t give the public the impression that this will solve everything overnight. After 33 years of civil parking enforcement, millions of PCNs are still being issued. That said, this is the biggest single issue we face as an industry. It is time to get engaged and look at providing local solutions, rather than taking a one-size-fits-all approach.’

Local differences

While Scotland is leading the way with the pavement parking ban, there is plenty of deviation across the country.

In Edinburgh, which was the first local authority to introduce the ban, there are no exemptions, although the new rules are being monitored to see if any mitigations are necessary.

In Orkney, the local authority – rather than introducing an enforceable ban –says it will: ‘Work with our communities to encourage and raise awareness of the need for considerate parking, including for wheelchair users, buggies and young families, and council and emergency services vehicles.’

Peter Lowe, chair of the BPA Parking and Transport Wales Group, says a blanket ban could lead to ‘parking wars at worst, and displacement at best’. This is why he is calling for some compromise on a total ban: ‘A full ban is not necessary everywhere, although it promotes a consistent approach.

‘I would advocate a more considered approach by giving highways authorities the powers to enforce unnecessary obstruction. Deciding where, when and how often they want to enforce pavement parking is a better option. It is one that the Welsh government seems to be heading towards.’

While the pavement parking ban is one way to promote behaviour change, Lowe does not think it is the most effective: ‘A better way is to adopt more concerted enforcement at critical points and a balanced response that should be complaint-driven. Eventually, the usual suspects will realise

A spokesperson for the Scottish Borders Council said: ‘Although the new legislation has now been enacted, like most other Scottish local authorities we still have some work to undertake in identifying locations where an exemption might be justified.’

The local authority ran a survey on footway parking in 2023, and more than 200 responses were collected, with 168 locations identified for further investigation.

The spokesperson added that exemption orders will be used to allow parking on the footway if its layout or character allows for a width of 1.5 metres to remain unobstructed when any part of a vehicle is parked on it, or if the passage of an emergency vehicle would be impeded by the presence of a vehicle parked on the carriageway.

Public approval

Fred O’Hara is head of road transport at Transport for Scotland. Speaking of public approval and acceptance for the pavement parking ban, he says: ‘Generally, the pavement parking prohibitions have been well received in Scotland. There was always

“Most Scottish local authorities still [have] some work to undertake in identifying locations where an exemption might be justified”

cross-party support and strong backing from the Scottish public during the consultations on the lead-up to the regulations, and this has continued.

‘There was no “sell” as such, as the responses to all public consultations showed that the majority supported the prohibitions aimed at tackling inconsiderate parking.’

O’Hara goes on to say that the position of the Scottish government and local authorities is that pavements should always be for people to get about their daily lives, rather than be hindered by parked vehicles.

The hardline response to dissent is: ‘If drivers cannot park without leaving their car on a pavement, then it is for them to reassess where they park their vehicles.’

It is not just the pavement-using public that is signalling approval for the ban. O’Hara says, by and large, motorists are recognising and accepting the error of their ways when PCNs are issued.

‘The feedback from local authorities that are issuing tickets [for obstructing the footway] is that they appear to be more readily accepted than, say, a ticket issued for parking on double-yellow lines.’

Clear messaging

‘The communication to the public has been very clear,’ says O’Hara. ‘The key message has been that the national prohibition is now in force and you can receive a ticket for parking on the pavement, parking at dropped kerbs at known crossing points, or double parking. It is for drivers to ensure that they can park in a safe and considerate manner. This message was also shared directly with the public from the Scottish government and local authorities.’

The implementation of the ban is still a moveable feast, as local authorities assess

how well the legislation is working. While some, such as Scottish Borders, have put, or are planning to put, exemptions in place, O’Hara says that other councils have made the decision not to do so.

While the ban has been generally well-received in Scotland, Lowe says there is now an added concern for enforcement officers working with the public, caused by a lack of precision when it comes to deciding whether a vehicle is causing unnecessary obstruction.

Join the discussion

‘By giving discretion about what is deemed “unnecessary obstruction”, frontline officers are being put under pressure,’ says Lowe. ‘This is unfair pressure when they often have to make decisions while under scrutiny and, no doubt, duress.’

The new measures may have come into being to loud and positive acclaim from many quarters in Scotland, but there is a sense that it will not be a totally smooth and troublefree journey to remove vehicles from the pavements of our urban areas in the UK.

Pavement parking will be discussed at the Parking Scotland Expo later this month (see pages 24-25) and the Parking and Transport Wales Conference in October (see pages 32-33). To book, see britishparking.co.uk/Events

The rules for pavement parking vary around the UK

Bay Monitoring

‘IMaking a stand

Louise Parfitt investigates the support available to local authorities to take action on Blue Badge misuse, including a brand-new service

honestly think this could be the biggest development in Blue Badge enforcement since the scheme’s inception in the 1970s.’

When Tom Gallagher sent me this message, I couldn’t help but be intrigued. Gallagher has become well known in the parking world for his work on tackling Blue Badge fraud and for creating the National Blue Badge Day of Action (see Parking News July 2024 or visit moredetails.uk/PNAug24DA ).

Working for the London Borough of Lambeth as fraud investigations manager, after a career in the police – and with personal connection to the Blue Badge scheme through his mother and brother – Gallagher has seen first hand the problems when the scheme is not enforced properly. He also understands the challenges local authorities face, so he has set up a organisation to help them.

‘With budgets being slashed and so many statutory obligations to follow, Blue Badge enforcement tends to slip down the priority list,’ he says. ‘National Blue Badge’s (NBB’s) vision is a business model that could support councils with gold-standard service to tackle Blue Badge abuse, but in a financially stable way – basically at zero cost.’

The operating model

That’s quite a bold statement. How will this be achieved?

‘It does sound a bit mad to set up a business that is zero cost to clients, but, from my experience working in and with local authorities, having such a model would be important to get that buy-in and make the difference that is needed,’ Gallagher explains.

The NBB’s unique selling point is that it trains civil enforcement officers (CEOs) in Blue Badge enforcement.

‘We took the view that, rather than deploy people into a council to start doing some of the enforcement work, a better way to do it would be to work with the existing enforcement officers to make them the subject-matter experts,’ he says.

The next aspect, which is key to the zero operating cost model, is the awareness-raising education course for low-level offenders. It works as a form of restorative justice, similar to how the speedawareness course operates – people can choose to pay for and take the course rather than face prosecution.

‘We’re working with Disabled Motoring UK to create the course content and get its members involved, because we want disabled

Tips from Portsmouth

Steve Goodall is senior criminal investigations officer at Portsmouth City Council. He also advises and trains other local authorities on conducting Blue Badge enforcement. He shares some advice on tackling misuse

I have been doing this work for more than 13 years and it can feel like an uphill battle. Blue Badge abuse is one of those crimes people commit to save money, so the desire to do it will never go away –and with the current pinch on finances, it’s seen as an easy option to save money on parking.

During the past five years, we have been focusing our investigations and prosecutions on the top 10 per cent of worst offenders, where we can have the biggest impact.

In this time, we have prosecuted 160 people for 380 offences. One case involved a man from Birmingham who was using his dead father’s badge in Portsmouth. I contacted Birmingham Council and found out it had issued him with three penalty charge notices (PCNs) for misusing his father’s badge there, and he had received PCNs for using the badge in Devon, so we prosecuted him for those as well.

Because these are more serious offences, our publicity attracts more attention. Magistrates and the public see what is happening and start to take it more seriously. Then the cases start to get higher penalties because there is increased appreciation of the impact of the offence. Between 2016 and 2020, the average court fine for Blue Badge misuse in Portsmouth was just £500; in 2024, this has increased to an average of £900. I advise councils to get their local press on board, because if we are not telling people why we are doing it, then it

is always going to be seen as a victimless crime. We also always highlight to the court the impact this crime has had on an individual. For example, we had a case where a student was using a stolen Blue Badge. The person whose badge it was had witnessed her car windows being smashed and the badge and other belongings stolen. She was so worried about it happening again that she sold her car, which has had a major impact on her life. No-one was hurt directly as the result of that badge being stolen, but the impact on the victim’s life was huge.

Another piece of advice is to really highlight how misuse of a Blue Badge could result in a criminal record, and the impact this could have on someone’s life.

We’re seeing more misuse from working professionals – doctors, lawyers, councillors. We prosecuted one guy who used his father’s badge to get free parking for seven years! He lost his job at the Ministry of Defence because of it. Trying to save a few quid cost him his career.

Councils often ask me what they can do to start to tackle Blue Badge misuse. I always tell them to train their CEOs how to check and retain disabled badges, and to remove them when they are being misused. Then the head of service at the council returns the badge to the holder with a formal warning that, if they get caught misusing the badge again, they could face a £1,000 fine and have the badge taken off them. We issue hundreds of formal warnings each year and only one per cent of those badges gets misused a second time, so it’s a really effective enforcement model.

With misuse of disabled badges increasing, and the financial loss to local authorities rising to more than £46m a year, we cannot afford to sit back and do nothing.

I am happy to give our templated versions to other local authorities and offer further assistance and training – just get in touch with me: stephen. goodall@portsmouthcc.gov.uk

Blue Badge enforcement

people to have their voices heard. The impact of that will be really powerful,’ says Gallagher. ‘The money that people pay for the course will fund the majority of our work. We are trying to support local authorities as much as possible, so we will give them 10 per cent of all income generated from the course.’

Adding the bite

The third element is undertaking criminal investigations and prosecutions on behalf of councils. This works on a fixed-cost model, with full costs awarded in successful cases returned to the council.

The NBB offers an end-to-end service, but local authorities can pick which elements they need. Gallagher describes the NBB as the ‘golden thread’ that pulls all the parts of managing the Blue Badge Scheme together, including awareness days, such as the Day of Action.

‘The training of officers is a big part, because it’s all about achieving best evidence when you encounter an incidence of misuse,’ he says. ‘If things are not done right, then it’ll fall down in court. Once you’ve got that officer being an expert on the street, they become so valuable to the council. Then we either offer the offender the awareness course or we take it to prosecution, because we have the robust evidence to take that action.’

Gateway to change

What impact would Gallagher like the NBB to have had in five years’ time? He smiles. ‘I’ve an idea where I believe I could eliminate Blue Badge misuse. That’s part of my mission. But, to start with, we have to work with the scheme we’ve got, and we have to make it as robust as possible. But, long term, we have big plans to revolutionise the entire Blue Badge scheme.’

Gallagher has already written to the new Transport Secretary, Louise Haigh, to ask if she’ll have a chat with him about the Blue Badge Scheme.

“We issue hundreds of formal warnings each year and only one per cent of those badges gets misused a second time, so it’s a really effective enforcement model”

‘It really is in need of an update: the fact that we still use a plastic card in a window is mind boggling. There is also a disparity between councils inside and outside of London when it comes to the powers available to address offending behaviour, which is unfair. I am campaigning to get significant changes to the scheme that can benefit current and future badge holders.

‘I’m absolutely loving getting stuck into this. I know the difference it will make to people’s lives if we get this right – and that’s the amazing thing.’

■ See nbbac.com

■ If you are interested in helping the BPA develop guidance on Blue Badge enforcement, please get in touch with Sarah Greenslade at sarah.g@britishparking.co.uk

Tackling CEO abuse

There’s another element to the NBB’s work, of which Gallagher is especially proud: it will take on the prosecution for councils of people who abuse CEOs.

‘From my police background, I know forces are swamped. But where an officer has a body-worn camera, it is an incredibly straightforward investigation and prosecution, which I’ve done countless of times before. It’s important that there is action taken, so we will help with that.

‘In essence, the NBB will train and develop your staff in Blue Badge enforcement, address offenders who abuse the scheme –either via restorative justice or prosecution –and then, if anyone abuses your staff, we’ve got your back, because we will prosecute those offenders as well.’

The future of civil enforcement

Technology is transforming the world around us – yet, when it comes to parking enforcement, the traditional ‘boots on the ground’ approach remains in vogue for ensuring motorists play by the rules.

In Milton Keynes, however, this has begun to change…

In 2018, Milton Keynes Council adopted automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) technology to help with parking compliance and enforcement across its 21,000 parking bays. During this time, it has seen significant increases in revenue from drivers paying for parking and in civil enforcement officer (CEO) penalty charge notice (PCN) issuance – there has been a 53.6 per cent increase in PCNs issued. But how is technology helping CEOs to be more efficient?

Every parking session, including the vehicle registration number (VRN) and time limit, is captured digitally. All parking permits are

issued virtually and digitally recorded in the same cloud-based database. Two electric ANPR scan cars patrol the city and, as soon as they identify a VRN that does not have a valid, digital, paid-for parking session, it is flagged to the nearest CEOs via an app. The CEOs are sent a clear set of images, VRN close-ups, and maps of the location – everything they need to investigate and enforce if necessary.

‘We call it the “Uber of the parking enforcement world”,’ says Jacqui Simpson, parking consultant at Egis, the company supplying the technology. ‘Jobs are raised by the scan cars and communicated to the nearest CEO. All data is captured and available for immediate analysis in the control centre.

People might not appreciate just how tough our CEOs’ jobs are, but it’s reflected in the high employee turnover across the UK. This technology provides support by enabling them to become more effective and efficient, and not feel so isolated.’

Wider coverage

The ANPR vehicles also enable the parking enforcement team to cover areas much more rapidly than on foot alone. Where the scan cars spot high concentrations of parking offences, supervisors can immediately reassign officers from neighbouring beats to support. This enables a more reactive service – not just revising plans day by day, but hour by hour, minute by minute.

Paul Harrison, network and enforcement manager at Milton Keynes City Council, says: ‘We continue to see drivers across the city become more compliant with parking regulations, which is because of the increased efficiency of our enforcement officers and the visual deterrent of the scan cars.’

The solution has been pioneered in 21 European cities. Milton Keynes is the first in the UK to benefit from the experiences of places such as Paris and Amsterdam to achieve greater compliance with parking regulations.

Adopting a digital-first approach to parking enforcement has resulted in a cultural shift in Milton Keynes. A positive change in driver behaviour towards greater compliance with parking regulations has brought about a 13.3 per cent increase in revenue. With results like these, could technological innovation be the future of parking enforcement in the UK?

AAll eyes on you

Derek Millard-Smith and Rachel Airriess, from BPA Lawline, discuss legal considerations for implementing ANPR technology

utomatic number plate recognition (ANPR) technology has gained widespread adoption in the parking enforcement industry.

Many car parks use it to monitor the length of time a vehicle is parked and if the correct parking fee has been paid, which can be done by connecting the ANPR system to the database from the car park ticket machine.

While ANPR technology offers a significant number of benefits, it is important to acknowledge that it also has certain limitations.

Is ANPR accurate?

One of the most significant drawbacks of this technology is the potential for inaccuracies and errors in licence plate recognition. Factors including dirty licence plates, vehicle speed, and variation in licence plate formats can impact the accuracy and reliability of ANPR systems. These cameras also rely on sensible driving from motorists. When leaving a car park, for example, if you are too close to the car in front and your number plate is obscured, the cameras may not recognise that you have exited. This can lead to false positives or false negatives in licence plate recognition that can result in incorrect enforcement actions or missed violations.

Operators must ensure they are conducting regular testing and validation of such systems to assess their accuracy and reliability. Implementing quality assurance measures, such as maintaining the

system regularly, checking calibration and installing software updates, can help improve the performance of the ANPR systems and minimise errors.

Privacy concerns

Using ANPR cameras raises privacy concerns relating to the collection and storage of vehicle licence plate data. ANPR systems capture and record licence plate numbers, along with timestamps and location information, which raises concerns for individuals about the potential misuse or unauthorised access to this data. As a result, many individuals are concerned that there may be an infringement of their privacy rights and often make a request to access their personal information, known as a subject access request under the Data Protection Act 2018.

Operators must ensure they establish clear policies and procedures for the collection and storage of data, in compliance with applicable data-protection regulations. Implementing data anonymisation techniques, access controls and encryption measures can help protect the privacy and security of such data.

Further to this, signage clearly stating – in plain and concise language – that ANPR systems are in operation is an essential requirement. Signage that displays this information to the motorist ensures the operator is being transparent in the processing of their personal data and the fact that, when a motorist enters a site, they will have their personal data collected and processed.

“Implementing data anonymisation techniques, access controls and encryption measures can help protect the privacy and security of such data”

Legal and regulatory compliance

The installation of ANPR technology is subject to legal and regulatory requirements governing data privacy and surveillance. Operators using these systems must adhere to applicable laws, regulations and industry standards to ensure compliance and avoid potential legal liabilities. Failure to comply with legal requirements may result in legal challenges, fines, or reputational damage.

Operators should seek legal advice to understand the legal and compliance obligations associated with ANPR deployment. Legal experts can assist operators in developing comprehensive policies and procedures for data handling, retention and sharing, as well as conducting regular audits and assessments. This can ensure operators are compliant with legal and regulatory requirements.

While ANPR technology offers numerous benefits for operators seeking to enhance security, improve traffic management and streamline

enforcement operations, it is essential to recognise and address the potential drawbacks and challenges associated with implementation. By considering factors such as accuracy, privacy and compliance, organisations can mitigate risk and maximise the value of ANPR technology in their operations.

A strategic approach to ANPR deployment, coupled with robust governance and oversight mechanisms, will enable organisations to harness the full potential of this transformative technology while addressing concerns and safeguarding the interests of stakeholders.

The information included here is for reference only. If you require advice on this issue, or have any other legal queries, please contact BPA Lawline at bpa@jmw.co.uk or call 0345 241 3024. Remember, BPA members can get 30 minutes of free legal advice from BPA Lawline.

BPA Lawline

Repair or replace?

With many councils facing important, long-term asset-management decisions about the multi-storey car parks within their estate, Andrew Potter, director at Parking Perspectives, considers if it’s the end of the road for ageing structures

Keeping an ageing multi-storey car park (MSCP) serviceable and safe can carry with it a significant cost. An older structure is also more likely to have narrow bays and tight ramps that are becoming increasingly problematic as cars get larger.

Moreover, is it worth investing in an older building that may not be structurally suitable as cars get heavier? There is also the issue of fire: wider cars parking closer together, containing more combustible materials, present an opportunity for fires to spread

in a way that was not anticipated in designs 40 years ago.

So, what should you do? There are three general approaches:

■ Retain: Invest in the repairs necessary to extend the life of the structure as is. This may include some refurbishment to improve the experience for users. Risks are retained and users must live with bays and ramps that are narrower than they would like. This is likely to be the lowest cost option.

■ Reconfigure: Risks are managed by undertaking limited changes within the existing structure. Bays are made wider

(typically by converting three 2.4 metrewide bays to two very wide 3.2m bays between pillars) and turning movements are improved by removing bays facing ramps or, where feasible, by retrofitting additional wider ramps. Fewer vehicles, parked further apart, mitigates loads on the structure and reduces the speed at which fire can spread. The reconfiguration also vastly improves the user experience. However, it comes at the expense of a significant reduction in parking capacity.

■ Rebuild: Demolish the existing structure and build afresh to modern standards. This offers users 2.6 or 2.7 metre-wide bays and better navigation. There is some loss of parking capacity for the same footprint. The new structure has no remedial repair costs, but comes at a significant capital cost. How do we navigate between these options? During our work developing parking estate plans with local authorities, we have identified two key considerations that influence the choice to be made.

1. Willingness to pay

Drivers are prepared to pay more for wider bays, according to our research (conducted in two MSCPs in Essex, quantified results from which we will publish later this year).

While reconfiguring existing parking structures to have wider bays and undertaking remedial works to improve the ease of circulation may reduce capacity, that capacity could earn more.

The more significant step of providing a totally new structure may be effectively financed over the long term by new higher tariff options that users willingly pay for the better user experience. Recently, one woman told me that she had paid to have her car repaired four times in the past three years because it had been damaged in a car park.

2. Options for the city

The decision, however, is not just about the facility. The other consideration concerns the wider objectives for the town. It may be that the ageing car park is in a location that is

“Reconfiguration

mitigates loads on the structure, reduces the speed at which fire can spread [and] vastly improves the user experience. But it comes at the expense of a significant reduction in parking capacity”

drawing traffic into the city centre. This may no longer be suitable given urban realm or pedestrianisation ambitions. A rebuild option presents opportunities to relocate where the parking is provided, and that has value.

It is also the case that many towns have too much parking capacity. For example, Fareham Borough Council is replacing a towncentre MSCP with a surface-level car park with larger bays. Demolition can also release land for other uses, including housing, which could be important.

Making the choice

A key point is to identify how much capacity is actually needed, and where it should ideally

For more information and to get in touch with the media team, please contact Bevan Fawcett bevan.fawcett@ jamespembrokemedia.co.uk; or call 0203 198 3092 www.parkingjobs.co.uk

be. The condition of the structure, and the opportunity presented by that and other sites, then becomes a consideration.

Our experience working for a number of authorities on these matters is that there is a commonality in the need to make some significant decisions, but that the aims and contextual issues at play are different in each location. We have been forecasting the demand for parking over the long-term and collating the evidence to evaluate the choices for each location in terms of strategic fit, financial impacts and social value.

The results from our ‘willingness to pay’ research, later this year, will further inform the financial case between options.

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The Perth phenomenon

The BPA Parking Scotland Expo takes place this month, in Perth. Dave Smith, BPA head of marketing and events, explains what’s in store

We look forward to welcoming members to this year’s Parking Scotland Expo, which has grown to become one of the most popular events in the annual BPA calendar. This year, we’ll be in Perth, at the Radisson Blu Hotel, a change of location to help the conference be as accessible as possible for those travelling from across Scotland and beyond.

Once again we have a sold-out exhibition and packed agenda, with great speakers

and pertinent topics, so it is shaping up to be another brilliant event. Thanks to all the exhibitors and to our silver sponsor, RingGo –its generous support enables us to put on these events for the benefit of all.

This year, we are pleased to welcome the new chair of Parking Scotland, Stewart Skene, who will be leading the day’s sessions. He says: ‘I am honoured to have the privilege of welcoming colleagues and suppliers from across the parking community to my hometown, the fair city of Perth. The Parking

Scotland Expo began in Perth a number of years ago and is the premier event in Scotland for the industry. The central location, with excellent transport links in all directions, means that the Expo is in easy reach for the majority of people looking to attend.

‘There are fantastic opportunities to be had at this event – networking with colleagues and suppliers, discussing hot topics, sharing best practice, and showcasing the very latest technology in parking. It is not to be missed and we can’t wait to see you there.’

Meet Stewart Skene, chair of Parking Scotland

As is the case with a number of people in the profession, I ended up in parking almost by accident. It started out as a temporary measure; however, I am still here, 14 years later! I began as a senior parking attendant and am now the parking and civil contingencies team leader for Perth and Kinross Council.

My team looks after the full remit of parking, including enforcement, maintenance, back office, and the issuing and enforcement of Blue Badges. We also look after the civil contingencies arrangements for the council – both emergency planning and providing emergency response capabilities – and make a substantial contribution to the safe running of events in the area.

As most of you will be aware, we do things a little differently in Scotland. We still work from the Road Traffic Act 1991 and have the new Transport (Scotland) Act 2019, which has come into force recently. I firmly believe that change is needed in Scotland to promote the sector further, as there is often a bit of a disconnect from members north of the border, and the profile needs to be raised at a national level. I aim to ensure that all members within Scotland are represented – and that topics of interest or concern are raised – so that Scotland, in addition to other regions of the BPA with devolved powers, is given the same consideration as members south of the border.

With thanks to our event sponsor, RingGo:

Event details

When: 18 September

Where: Radisson Blu Hotel, Perth

Who: Speakers from local authorities in Scotland, the Scottish government, the BPA staff team, and more to be confirmed

How: Make sure you book your free place by 10 September at moredetails.uk/PNAug24Expo

Event programme

08:30 Registration, exhibition viewing and networking

09:30 Welcome address (Ballroom)

■ Stewart Skene, Chair, BPA Parking Scotland

■ Richard Walker, BPA President

■ Sponsor – RingGo

09:40 Parking Policy for Scotland

Panel-led open discussion, led by Stewart Skene

■ Improving compliance and tackling evasion

■ Progression of the pavement parking ban

■ Low-emission zones

■ Digitising traffic regulation orders in Scotland

■ Moving traffic enforcement

■ Blue Badge management and enforcement

10:40 Refreshment break, exhibition viewing and networking

11:10 Professional development and standards

■ People in parking:

l Protecting frontline officer welfare workshop – abuse is not just part of the job

l Learning and development, including BPA City and Guilds Assured programme

l Community outreach via Women in Parking and Veterans in Parking

■ Fire safety standards

■ Inclusivity and accessibility in car parks

12:30 Lunch, exhibition viewing and networking

13:45 Communications and external engagement

■ Positively raising the profile and improving the reputation of the parking sector

■ Myth busting and engaging with media and government

■ Payment systems that work for you and your customers

■ Cybercrime and protecting customers against fraud

14:30 Refreshment break, exhibition viewing and networking

14:50 Parking Scotland Case study

15:50 Closing remarks: Richard Walker, BPA President

16:00 Close

Exhibitors:

Yunex Traffic l Flowbird l RTA Associates l Parking and Secure

Documents l IPS Group UK l Imperial Civil Enforcement Solutions

l Octopass l RingGo l PaybyPhone l Taranto Systems

‘POn the fast track

catches up with Nicolina Cooper of Future Traffic Solutions

arking is like Marmite – you either love it or hate it.

I absolutely loved it from the word go!’

When I spoke to Nicolina Cooper last year, she had just started her own business, Future Traffic Solutions, after a career in local authority parking. This journey began with an administrative role for the debt-recovery team at Haringey, eventually progressing to director level for several London boroughs.

‘I started at the bottom, but I have always been driven – to learn more, and to find ways to do things differently and more efficiently,’ Cooper says.

At age 26, as head of parking for Barnet Council, she transformed the authority’s parking department – digitalising workflows,

restructuring the team, and redeploying staff. She then did a similar thing at Camden: ‘When I joined in 2009, everything was paper-based. When I left, it had cashless parking, new policies, and controlled parking zones. Staff were empowered and enabled – they had the powers and the tools to do what they needed.’

At Islington, Cooper moved into a placemaking role, developing IT services and in-car technology, working with organisations such as Ford, and establishing low-traffic neighbourhood schemes. Then, at Newham, she overhauled the parking strategy, including implementing school streets and accessible transport policies.

Overcoming challenges

Cooper is clearly someone who embraces change, but when she was on the local

“Local authorities need real-time information at their fingertips to enable them to make smarter decisions. The legacy systems we were using were not up to the task”

authority side of the fence, she says the technology held her back.

‘I have a lot of respect for suppliers of parking systems, because they have not got an easy task – but, often, I found that these systems could not be changed to what the user really needed because they were created on older technology. Local authorities need real-time information at their fingertips to enable them to make smarter decisions. The legacy systems we were using were not up to the task.’

Not one to be thwarted by anything, let alone something as ‘fixable’ as tech, Cooper started devising her own system –which led to Future Traffic Solutions. ‘We have built our system from an end-user perspective, and have developed a longterm system solution that allows people to see what a change means visually. So, if you introduce a controlled parking zone, what does that look like for traffic flow and place-making? All systems are 100 per cent configurable by clients. In essence,

it’s a place-mapping, place-making asset management tool.’

Bigger picture

Cooper’s background in local authority parking and her current consultancy work for councils give her insight into the challenges the profession faces from all sides. She would love to see some new legislation that enables the sector to be more data-, technology- and strategically led.

‘I would like to see a better customer service-led approach and more investment in staff training, to help us get rid of some of the parking myths held by the public,’ she says. ‘There’s also a bigger-picture approach for the sector around climate change. What are we doing to lobby for change? A lot of us have contracts with America, China, Europe – so how are we using them to reduce our impact on the climate? How are we getting them to think differently about what they are delivering for the public realm? We have to start working more collaboratively.’

3 about me

Any advice to your younger self? Slow down and it will be OK. I tend to go at a hundred miles an hour. I’ve got several different nicknames – Sonic the Hedgehog, Whirlwind! I come in, I get stuff done, and I move on. I think I need to slow down and enjoy life a little bit as well.

What do you enjoy most about your job? I love the change-management side of it. I love digitalisation. I love working with people – actually, that’s the bit I really enjoy.

How do you relax?

By spending time with my children, husband and pets – we have a few! I love going to comedy clubs: there’s nothing better than a good laugh after a hard day.

“There’s also a biggerpicture approach for the sector around climate change. What are we doing to lobby for change? How are we using [our contracts] to reduce our impact on the climate?”

Well done to all!

Good luck to all those shortlisted at this year’s British Parking Awards!

Parking Person of the Year

Sponsored by RingGo

■ Ann Cunningham, head of highways and parking, London Borough of Haringey

■ Kerry Griffiths, digital commercialisation, enforcement, governance and innovation manager, Derby City Council

■ Gary Osner, chief executive officer, ZZPS

■ Vaso Vaina, managing director and architect, Stripe Consulting

■ Michael Wiktorko, senior service area manager, parking services, Hackney Council

Rising Star Award

Sponsored by Flowcrete (Tremco CPG UK)

■ Nisha Damhar, associate director, WSP Liveable Places

■ Elena Golita, senior parking consultant, Project Centre

■ Emma Homewood, administrator, ZZPS

■ Jess McGregor, architect, Stripe Consulting

■ Sam Medhurst, consultant, Project Centre

■ Aimee Millin, service delivery manager, NSL Manchester

■ Tom Narborough, senior consultant, Project Centre

■ Andrzej Paszek, junior IT project manager, Agena Group

■ Maciej Sobkowiak, nuisance vehicle officer, Hackney Council

■ Lee Ward, parking operations manager, Greener Ealing

Parking Team of the Year

Sponsored by CDER Group

■ Brent Parking Team – London Borough of Brent and Marston Holdings

■ Durham County Council and NSL

■ Hackney Council parking operations team

■ Hackney Council parking policy team

■ RingGo customer care team

■ Stripe Consulting

■ ZZPS

Parking Operator of the Year Award

Sponsored by Stripe Consulting

■ B4 Parking, Birmingham

■ London Gatwick Airport valet team

■ London Stansted Airport meet and greet team

■ Q-Park

Communication Award

Sponsored by Zatpark

Note: The shortlist was still being prepared at time of print – keep an eye on britishparkingawards.uk/2024-finalists

The Back Office Award

■ Customer service centre, APCOA UK

■ Durham County Council and NSL

■ Parking enforcement support team, Hackney Council

■ Parking operations team, Hackney Council

■ Parking policy team, Hackney Council

■ Project Centre – Medway Parking Design Support Team

The Front Line Award

Sponsored by Orbility

■ Newaj Ahmed, civil enforcement officer, Hackney Council

■ Maciej Sobkowiak, nuisance vehicle officer, Hackney Council

■ Ellen Tooley, civil enforcement officer, APCOA

■ Mohsin Zafer, warden team leader, Agena Group

Parking Partnerships Award

Sponsored by APT Skidata

■ London Borough of Brent and Marston Holdings

■ Hikvision and Zatpark – EV bay parking violation detection solution

■ JustPark and Creative Car Parks – The innovative partnership

■ Marston Holdings, City of Westminster and the Metropolitan Police

■ RingGo and WPS Parking Solutions

■ Smart Transport Hub and the London Borough of Redbridge

Parking in the Community Award

Sponsored by The IPC

■ Empowering the community through virtual parking solutions – London Borough of Waltham Forest

■ NSL Brighton and Hove parking enforcement team – Marston Holdings

■ NSL Manchester – Marston Holdings

■ NSL Edinburgh and Social Bite –Marston Holdings

■ Donate Your Device scheme – PayByPhone

Parking Technology Award

Sponsored by Tap2Park

■ CitiPark – CitiBrain PMS

■ Go2Sim – KAMi real-time ANPR monitoring

■ Kerb – Grid Smarter Cities

■ Hikvision – TandemVu ANPR Bullet Camera

■ Lambeth Council – Continuous payment authority for emissions-based charging

■ Luton Borough Council and Imperial –Streamlining PCN appeals

■ National Persistent Evader Database (NPED)

■ Newlyn – Utilising artificial intelligence and automation to enhance effective communication

■ Peterborough City Council and Imperial – A frictionless approach to moving traffic enforcement and exemptions

■ Unity5 – Bay monitoring

Best New Car Park Award

Sponsored by YourParkingSpace

■ Blackpool Central Multi-Storey Car Park – Ballast Nedam Construction and Stripe Consulting for Blackpool Council and Nikal

■ Harwell Runway Deck Multi-Storey Car Park & Travel Hub, Didcot – SDC and Stripe Consulting for Harwell

■ Fidelity Kingswood Multi-Storey Car Park, Tadworth – Bourne Parking for FIL Investment Management

Car Parks: Special Projects

Sponsored by Concrete Preservation Technologies Surveys

■ ‘The architecture of place’ – Blackpool Central Multi-Storey Car Park – Ballast Nedam Construction and Stripe Consulting for Blackpool Council and Nikal

■ Enabling greener travel – Harwell Runway Deck Multi-Storey Car Park and Travel Hub, Didcot – SDC and Stripe Consulting for Harwell

■ Expanding an existing structure –Fidelity Kingswood Multi-Storey Car Park, Tadworth – Bourne Parking for FIL Investment Management

Better Streets Award

■ City of Edinburgh Council, Project Centre and NSL – A collaborative approach to tackling pavement parking

■ Hackney Council – Joint venture to tackle stolen vehicles, cloned vehicles, abandoned vehicles, untaxed vehicles and Blue Badge fraud

■ Lambeth Council – School streets

■ Lambeth Council – Cycle hangar manifesto

■ Medway Council and Marston Holdings –Safer healthier streets project

Traffic Team Award

■ Derby City Council – What a difference 12 months makes!

■ Project Centre – Traffic and parking team

■ Taranto and Capita Traffic Team – TfL ULEZ: The world’s largest clean air scheme

EV Charging Award

Sponsored by Go2Sim

■ Believ and Waltham Forest Council

■ Cambridge City Council

■ PoGo Charge

Connected Vehicles Award

Sponsored by Trellint

■ Grid Smarter Cities

■ Parkopedia

■ RingG

Accessible Parking Award

■ Hackney Council – Accessible parking and beyond

■ London Borough of Haringey – ‘Our badge, our spot’

■ Transport Scotland and Imperial – Blue Badge exemptions scheme for low emission zones across Scotland

The annual awards are presented by Parking Review and Landor Links and the headline sponsor is MiPermit. The awards ceremony will be held on Friday 13 September at the Royal Lancaster Hotel, London. Find out more at britishparkingawards.uk

Photos from the British Parking Awards 2023

Moving on up

Women in Parking is going places, says Sara Fisher, BPA head of operations and business development

‘One of the things that I love about this industry is how we can all pull together to ensure that we are driving standards and creating opportunities. Through Women in Parking, we’ve created a community that brings together so many people, it’s a true sign of a working partnership.’ These are the words of Hannah Fuller, director of commercial relationships at Unity5, one of three joint sponsors of the BPA Women in Parking (WiP) group, alongside Postworks and RCP Parking.

Hannah is also co-chair of BPA WiP with Jade Neville, market engagement strategist at Trellint UK and past-president of the BPA. Together, Hannah and Jade have been a visible and active presence at sector events, and role models for women who are already part of, or relatively new entrants to, what is still a predominantly male-dominated sector. But things are changing, albeit slowly. Many more women are now joining and moving up through the sector into senior and management roles, particularly in the public sector.

Equality, diversity and inclusion

At its heart, diversity is about ensuring that every voice is heard, which in turn creates a richer dialogue of ideas and can drive success. One of the first things the group recognised was that more research was needed to better understand the current situation of women working in the parking and mobility sectors.

In 2022, the group initiated an equality, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) research project. Its aim was to fully understand the issues people face around EDI and provide an accurate profile of the UK parking sector.

The research found that a large proportion of respondents see the benefits of EDI as being both internal to the sector – through fair and balanced progression – and delivering benefits to customer experience, through the more diverse skills and experiences that EDI brings.

The research findings have helped inform future strategy for WiP campaigns and activities. It also provided valuable recommendations to help shape future BPA policy in relation to EDI and ensure activities are undertaken that support and promote diversity and inclusivity within BPA governance and the wider parking community.

The increasing diversity of the BPA’s membership community demonstrates that when you bring together people from a range of

“Through Women in Parking, we’ve created a community that brings together so many people within the industry. It’s a true sign of a working partnership”

backgrounds, and with a range of experiences, it is more effective at creating new ideas and challenging established thinking.

Powerful platform

WiP has become a powerful platform to unite people and demonstrate leadership with a strong brand, image and voice, to support and encourage others. Working with its sponsors, and co-chairs, the group will continue to: actively promote, represent, and raise women’s profiles across the UK parking and mobility sector; offer support for women in all roles and responsibilities; explore ways to support career development; act as a platform to help raise the profiles of women already in the sector; and encourage a more diverse governance structure within the BPA.

A number of exciting WiP activities are planned over the next six months starting with a webinar on 11 September. The group will also have a presence at the SmartWorks Job Fair in October, to help promote jobs in our sector. There will also be an in-person networking event in London on 14 November.

Follow the WiP Linkedin Group for all the latest news: moredetails.uk/PNSept24WiP

Not a member? Email womeninparking@britishparking.co.uk to join for free.

Welcome to new WiP sponsors

The BPA was delighted to welcome RCP Parking and Postworks as new sponsors of the BPA Women in Parking, alongside established sponsor Unity5. Sarah Naghshineh, director at RCP Parking, said: ‘We are delighted to become a co-sponsor of the BPA’s Women in Parking. We look forward to representing the community at a number of exciting events starting with the webinar in September.’

Marvee-Lisa Booker, Postworks chief growth officer and co-founder, said: ‘It’s a way for us to support incredible women who are leading the charge for change. We’re proud to be part of a community driving progress for women in the industry. It’s about more than events –it’s about making a lasting impact, and we’re excited to be involved.’

Recent WiP events have included inspirational speaker talks, workshops on issues ranging from team safety to menopause support, and networking drinks receptions

Board and Council news

The BPA Board has approved a BPA Council recommendation to establish a service board, focused on the BPA’s Approved Operator Scheme/Parking on Private Land. This is in recognition of the emergence of the joint industry Code of Practice and the need for it to be expertly managed. Additionally, it is an important time for members in the management of parking on private land, as we anticipate the new government position on the delivery of a statutory Code of Practice and its supporting framework.

The BPA Council has also initiated a full governance review, to ensure that the Association is operating effectively on behalf of all its members.

■ Nominations are open for ordinary member positions on all four of the BPA’s current service boards. Nominations are open until 9 September: see moredetails.uk/PNSept24SBN

For more details about the positions, email elections@britishparking.co.uk

Private parking webinar

With the first implementation date for the sector single Code of Practice approaching, on 1 October 2024, the BPA is hosting a webinar on 10 September to provide members with more operational insights to the new code. The team will also provide an update on the Parking (Code of Practice) Act 2019 and the BPA’s engagement with the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government. To register, see britishparking.co.uk/Events

Staff update

Jazmin Agnew has left her role as BPA events officer to pursue a career in the insurance sector. Jaz was well known to members, especially those on the BPA Council and BPA Board. She will be missed and we wish her well. We are now recruiting for a new officer to join our marketing and events team.

Celebrations from north to south

■ The new staff car park 7 at Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge has achieved the Park Mark and Park Access awards. In addition, car park 2, managed by Saba, has retained its Park Mark Plus and Park Access accreditations. This is a fantastic achievement that recognises the trust’s parking facilities have measures that actively deter crime and the fear of crime. Colin Sproats, BPA area manager, said: ‘I am delighted that the car parks at Addenbrooke’s have achieved the Park Mark, Park Mark Plus and Park Access awards, demonstrating their hard work and commitment to providing a safe environment for users.’

■ The Riverside multi-storey car park, operated by Sunderland City Council, has been awarded the Park Mark Plus and Park Access accreditations. Karen Stokoe, the council’s parking operations team leader, said: ‘This recognition is a testament to our commitment to inclusivity and creating a welcoming environment for everyone. It demonstrates our dedication to delivering high standards in parking facilities, acknowledging the car park’s provisions for disabled visitors, and ensuring that accessible spaces and onsite support are designed and conveniently located to cater for their needs.’

■ The car parking facilities at St George’s shopping centre in Harrow, north-west London, have achieved the Park Mark Plus award. This is a great achievement, and Antony Powell, BPA area manager, said: ‘The award is thoroughly deserved. The parking facilities are excellent. Very well done to all the members of staff at St George’s who are involved in the good management and operation of the facilities.’

■ The Marlowes shopping centre parking facilities, in Hemel Hempstead town centre, have been awarded the Park Access award. Operations manager Clare Benton said: ‘The Marlowes is delighted to be awarded Park Access Accreditation for accessible and inclusive parking from the British Parking Association. As well 63 disabled spaces, the centre has a ShopMobility scheme based within the car park for easy access. When paying for parking, there is a bespoke payment kiosk based on the ShopMobility level. There is also a disabled changing area that includes a hoist, adjustable bed, adjustable sink, adjustable handrails and privacy screens. Families are also well catered for, with 75 parent and toddler parking bays throughout the car park.’

■ South Tyneside Council has achieved the Park Mark and Park Access awards for 23 of its managed car parks. Chief inspector Phil Baker, of Northumbria Police, said: ‘This is fantastic work from our officers and partners. We have a clear focus on prevention as one of our force priorities and are pleased to have been able to make a significant contribution towards efforts in driving down crime at car parks in the borough.’

The Marlowes operations manager Clare Benton and BPA area manager Antony Powell

Changes to Parking News

The next issue of Parking News will bring some changes, as production of the magazine and management of advertising sales moves to a new provider from the start of September. After a competitive tender process, James Pembroke Media (JPM) was successful in its bid to provide the design/editorial, publication/printing, and advertising sales for Parking News.

Dave Smith, head of marketing and events, who oversaw the re-tender, said:

‘Over the course of this process, we have been looking at how best we can achieve cost savings and greater efficiencies, as well as maximising the potential of digital content aligned with our communications and digital marketing strategy. We look forward to working with JPM on this next chapter of Parking News. On behalf of our BPA membership community and staff team, I would like to thank Mike Sewell, Louise Parfitt and the CPL One team for their considerable efforts during the past 15 years to deliver a magazine of consistently high quality and standing that is extremely well regarded and respected among our membership community, and beyond. They leave the magazine in a brilliant place.’

Parking News will move to a two-monthly publication cycle and relaunch in November with a double issue. For advertising, contact Bevan Fawcett on 0203 198 3092 or Bevan.fawcett@jamespembrokemedia.co.uk For editorial, contact Lizzie Hufton on 01225 987862 or lizzie.hufton@jamespembrokemedia.co.uk

See you at the Welsh conference!

The BPA is delighted to be returning to Swansea for the 2024 Parking and Transport Wales Conference and Expo on 9 October.

This year’s event will be a forwardthinking conference, with valuable knowledge sharing and networking, as well as discussion of key parking and transport topics within Wales.

Held in partnership with Andrew James Enforcement and Brangwyn Hall, the entire event will be staged in one space. The day’s programme will include updates, the latest operational guidance, interactive panels, an exhibition showcasing the latest developments in technology, and special guest speaker Ryan Jones, former Wales international rugby star.

Topics to be discussed include:

■ Improving compliance – penalty charges, resources and tackling evasion

■ Obstructive parking on the footway and highway

■ 20mph limit – feedback on implementation

■ Digitising traffic regulation orders

■ Blue Badge management and enforcement

■ Technology Thought Pod – how prepared are we for the AI revolution?

■ Enforcement Conduct Board – delivering fairness in enforcement

■ Managing risk and future-proofing your parking facility

■ Fire safety standards

■ EV charging deployment, management and enforcement

■ Protecting frontline officer welfare

■ Learning and development, including BPA City and Guilds Assured programme

■ Creating learning and development paths to progress your career in parking

■ Inclusivity and accessibility in car parks

■ Positively raising the profile and improving the reputation of the parking sector

■ Payment systems that work for you and your customers

■ Cyber-crime and protecting customers against fraud.

Register for your free place at moredetails.uk/PNSept24PW

If you would like to exhibit at the event, email communications@ britishparking.co.uk

Dates for your diary

■ Parking Code of Practice Act general update webinar is on 10 September (virtual)

■ Women in Parking webinar is on 11 September (virtual)

■ Parking Scotland Expo is on 18 September, in Perth (sponsored by RingGo)

■ The TTF Smarter Parking Group meeting is on 20 September (virtual)

■ The EV Connect Group meeting is on 26 September (virtual)

■ Parking and Transport Wales Conference and Expo is on 9 October, in Swansea (sponsored by Andrew James Enforcement)

■ Parking Structures Interest Group is on 10 October (virtual)

■ Local authority special interest group meeting (north) is on 31 October, in Manchester

■ Local authority special interest group meeting (south) is on 7 November, in Reading

■ Parking Technology Interest Group is on 7 November (virtual)

■ BPA Women in Parking network will meet on 14 November

■ Retail and Leisure Interest Group is on 19 November (virtual)

■ All-Ireland Parking Show, in collaboration with the Irish Parking Association, is on 21 November, at Clontarf Castle, Dublin

■ The TTF Smarter Parking Group meeting is on 22 November (virtual)

■ The BPA Members’ Dinner is on 28 November, in London (sponsored by DCBL, Zatpark and CDER Group)

■ Parkex 2025 will be held on 21-22 May, at the CBS Arena in Coventry. See britishparking.co.uk/Events

Putting the PR in parking

A

decade on from its governance

shake-up, the BPA must continue to prove resilient, says Kelvin Reynolds

Public relations, proportional representation, political rhetoric – whatever PR stands for, communication is key.

Good governance and democracy are bedrocks of a professional association, so communication about governance is paramount, too. It’s good PR (public relations). Let me tell you a story…

Once upon a time, a parking association transformed itself. It was 2014, and the Council of Representatives and BPA Board were formed.

There was an element of ‘turkeys voting for Christmas’. The forward-thinking former Council gave up the comfort of a national vote in favour of a constituency system, under which representatives are elected by membership segments and regions or devolved nations. It also recognised the difference between being the Association’s figurehead ambassador and running the business – hence, the posts of President and Chair of the Board were defined, each with a distinct role to deliver on behalf the BPA.

Such fundamental change has not been without its challenges, but, in 2022, we entered the final phase to ensure proportional representation is in place. This process continues. Witness the creation of the EV

Connect Group in 2023 to recognise a new and fast-growing segment of our membership.

The secret of good governance is ensuring the correct balance between democratic accountability and autocratic decision-making, while avoiding polarisation and extremism. I believe we have that balance about right now.

A quarter of the Council of Representatives make up the BPA Board, which is assisted and advised by service boards, the expertise and experience of which are drawn from the Council and wider membership in equal numbers, by member ballot. The BPA Board is held to account through the Council of Representatives, and the Council by members.

Board members are selected by their peers (Council representatives) to run the BPA; they are not there as representatives of their constituency of members. That is an extremely important distinction. They are the directors of the BPA. The Companies Acts confer legal and fiduciary duties on them to act in the best interests of the Association.

An analogy of the relationship between the BPA Council and Board is, perhaps, the parliamentary model. Cabinet members are from the same group of parliamentarians, but all parties in parliament hold them to account to act in the best interests of the nation.

At the most recent Council meeting, the Board elections resulted in a detailed debate about the democracy of the Association –and rightly so. It was more than PR (political rhetoric); this was the Council in action, reminding the Board that it will be held to account. That’s good governance!

There are some who believe that the BPA Board should also have full PR (proportional representation). While I understand that view, to my mind PR in the Board maybe irrelevant, since its function is not representing the members, but to run the business of the BPA on behalf of the Council of Representatives, supported by the chief officers and the staff.

I would extend that remit to ensuring that the BPA’s governance structure is functioning on behalf of all members as it should. Ten years on from its inception, that’s a wise move. If nothing else, it’s good PR!

BPA chief technical services officer and company secretary kelvin.r@britishparking. co.uk

Appyway

Helping cities decarbonise, from the kerb up. Faster, more accurate digital traffic order management. Automated, centralised tariff management. Driver-centric parking payments and connected car services. Real-time bay occupancy and insights. EV charge point integrations and data-led rollout.

Buchanan Order Management

The leading Map-based Traffic Order Consultancy that specialises in delivering accurate and comprehensive Traffic Order Reviews and Support work. Please contact us to discuss how we can work with you.

Cammax Limited

sales@appyway.com appyway.com

01635 290790

Enquiries@buchananorders.co.uk www.buchananorders.co.uk

Cammax offer innovative payment systems to today’s ever changing parking market. Providing our partners with tailored pay on foot, pay & display and hybrid parking payment systems. With our intuitive customer-facing applications and data rich back end systems, Cammax offer flexible solutions along with outstanding customer service.

Carflow

Carflow provides car park management services to retailers and landowners throughout the UK, specialising in Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) parking systems. Our services help our clients to increase car park utilisation and revenue.

CSL

CSL has been providing secure connectivity for critical IoT applications for over 25 years. Their fully managed, end-to-end connectivity innovations utilise technologies such as 4G and are secure, reliable and hassle-free, whilst their expert support teams are here for you 24/7.

DESIGNA

DESIGNA design, manufacture and install fully automatic “Pay-on-foot” car parking systems. DESIGNA provides the answer to your parking needs with more than 16,000 installations worldwide; from simple standalone systems, to large, citywide networks, entire airport complexes, hotels, shopping centres and hospital estates.

Direct Collection Bailiffs Ltd

High Court Enforcement as seen on TV’s Can’t Pay? We’ll Take it Away! Letter cycle recovery service with a collection rate 25% higher than our competitors.

01977 669946

info@cammaxlimited.co.uk www.cammaxlimited.co.uk

Conor Greely 0208 819 7451

sales@carflow.co.uk www.carflow.co.uk

+44 (0) 7909 991 090

Hiran.Ravat@csl-group.com

01932 784040

sales@designauk.com www.designa.com

Pam Robinson 0203 298 0201 pap@dcbltd.com

Advertise in our Marketplace

Bevan Fawcett 0203 198 3092 Bevan.fawcett@jamespembrokemedia.co.uk

G24

G24 specialises in providing car park management solutions specifically tailored to suit retailers, retail parks and other corporate and independent organisations throughout the UK.

HUB Parking Technology

HUB Parking Technology develops, manufactures, installs, and provides after-sales support for HUB Parking Access and Revenue Control Systems. The company creates state-of-the-art systems that make parking efficient, profitable and easy to manage.

Caroline Sargeant 0370 0427 215 caroline.sargeant@g24.co.uk www.g24.co.uk

Sarah Cosby sarah.cosby@faac.co.uk

Intelli-Park

We are Intelli-Park, the leading provider of innovative car park management solutions. We provide tech-led, including our data-driven iHub Insights; eCam, ANPR, Total Parking Management and EV charging. Our services enhance the overall customer parking experience and increases business revenue.

sales@intelli-park.com contactus@intelli-park.com intelli-park.com

Makers Construction Limited

Leading experts in car parking refurbishment with over 40 years of contracting experience. Offering life care planning, testing and investigation with full turnkey solutions to the parking industry to refurbish, maintain and enhance your parking facility.

Nagels

Nagels is the world’s largest parking ticket manufacturer. We supply pay-onfoot and pay and display tickets, enforcement stationery, RFID and plastic cards, parking signage, cones, barriers and many other products to parking companies in the UK and Ireland.

NMI

NMI develops trusted payment software for mobile, online, and in-store payments. You’ve probably used it without realising it when booking a ticket, paying for parking, or making a charity donation. Its Payment Gateway is used by developers worldwide to add payments to their solutions enabling them to focus on what they do best.

08458 994444 enquiries@makers.biz www.makers.biz

Jim Williamson (+44) 01482 873597 sales@nagels.co.uk www.nagels.com

www.nmi.com hello@nmi.com 0117 930 4455

NSGL

NSGL Parking believe that parking should be simple and stress free. After all it is the most insignificant part of any journey but usually the part that is the most emotive.

03333 201 858 admin@nsglparking.co.uk www.nsglparking.co.uk

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Octopass

Octopass is a flexible permit and pass management system with over a decade of experience serving a wide range of sectors. We help you manage permits and passes in a simple, sustainable and transparent way!

Orbility

Orbility Limited designs, manufactures and maintains automatic barriers, pay on foot systems and ANPR ticketless solutions. We provide payment options that include credit and debit card, contactless, payment by phone, coins, bank notes, bank note recycling and back office solutions for all sectors.

Parking and Secure Documents

PSD – incorporating The Parking Shop – is the market leader for parking related statutory document mailings and sustainable manual enforcement stationery. We also supply line marking and signage solutions and as part of our service we offer on site surveys and reports.

Parking Associates Ltd

octopass.co.uk sales@octopass.co.uk 0330 0220 697

Enquiries

Info.uk@orbility.com

+44 (0)2392 414 423 www.orbility.com

Integrity Communications Group Westfield Trading Estate Midsomer Norton Bath BA3 4BS 01761 409290 contact@parkingandsecuredocuments.com parkingandsecuredocuments.com

Parking Associates offers an independent perspective and insight, providing unbiased innovative ideas to increase all-round efficiency. The services are available for short or long-term projects.

Parkingeye

As the ANPR market-leader, Parkingeye’s mission is to make life easier for businesses and their customers by giving them the capabilities to park effortlessly in a highly connected world. Managing thousands of sites with a 98% client retention rate, our team deliver results which help our customers thrive.

Parksmart Solutions

An extensive, fully configurable PCN Suite, including web and mobile Attendant, Front of House Kiosk, DVLA Scanning applications. Automated Management Portal supporting Static & Mobile ANPR PCN issuing with IVR, Driver App & Pay By Text or Phone. Location Geo Fencing with Self Set Up.

RTA Associates Ltd

RTA Associates offers a specialist parking solutions consultancy. We also undertake TRO, MTO and car park condition and legality surveys and full GIS digitised mapping of Orders using RTAOrderPro, which is a managed hosted service providing up to date records of your Orders. Our public portal allows you to make, advertise, consult and seal Orders.

Kirsty Reeves 07917353218 info@parkingassociates.co.uk www.parkingassociates.co.uk

Parkingeye Ltd 01772 450 542 marketing@parkingeye.co.uk www.parkingeye.co.uk/

info@parksmartsolutions.co.uk 0333 332 7930

Peter Lowe plowe@rtaassociates.co.uk 07900 264137 www.rtaassociates.co.uk

Advertise in our Marketplace

Bevan Fawcett 0203 198 3092 Bevan.fawcett@jamespembrokemedia.co.uk

Smart Parking

As an award winning and market-leading provider of car park management technology and services our aim is simple, to make life easier for clients and their customers. Specialising in ANPR technology, we deliver end-to-end parking solutions to customers across the UK and beyond. Our insight and reporting tools put real-time parking data at your fingertips.

Structurecare

With a proven track record of excellence, we specialise in revitalising and optimising multi-storey car parks to meet the highest standards of functionality, safety, and aesthetics, including, concrete repair, expansion joints, deck and decorative coatings, line and bay demarcations, and maintenance programmes.

Swarco Traffic Ltd

Experts in parking systems, electric vehicle charging solutions, signage & safety systems, and traffic control & management. SWARCO solutions improve quality of life by making the travel experience safer, quicker, more convenient and environmentally sound.

Tagmaster UK

TagMaster UK Limited is a leading manufacturer and supplier of traffic monitoring equipment, a wide range of instrumentation and software systems are available ranging from temporary deployable radar devices through to full real-time ITS systems.

Total Parking Solutions

0845 230 3081

sales@smartparking.com www.smartparking.com

01270 439909

info@structurecare.com www.structurecare.com

info.uk@swarco.com 01748 824624 www.swarco.com

01438 347555

Sales.uk@tagmaster.com 4, Caxton Place, Caxton Way, Stevenage, Hertfordshire SG1 2UG www.uk.tagmaster.com

The strength of Total Parking Solutions Ltd lies within its long and wide-ranging experience in the parking sector. With over 40 years’ combined experience the company has achieved a reputation as one of the leading providers of car parking solutions, throughout the UK.

Twin

The smart choice for any organisation in any parking and EV charging environment. Our contactless payment terminals and our mobile phone app, Twinpay, offer a seamless payment platform with dual functionality to pay for parking or EV charging. Supported by a unique back office system, the Twin range of products is fully OCPP compliant.

WPS UK

WPS focuses on practical innovation and brings together technology to provide our customers with smart but primarily reliable and future-proof Parking Solutions, ready to face the connected world of today and tomorrow.

ZatPark

Market leading parking enforcement, administration and management software, incorporating an ANPR-enabled street enforcement mobile app. World class features provide complete control of the full life-cycle of parking enforcement data, from issue to recovery action and every step between.

01536 680107

info@totalparking.co.uk www.totalparking.co.uk

0114 3497070

enquiries@twinpay.com www.twinpay.com

+44 84 50 94 15 43 info@wps-uk.com www.wpsparking.com

03333 440834 info@zatpark.com www.zatpark.com

OVER 20 YEARS INVESTMENT IN PROCESSES, PEOPLE AND SYSTEMS

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