Parking News - April 2024 - Issue 439

Page 24

The magazine of the British Parking Association

Parkex preview

Ramping up to the best parking event of the year

20 years of safer car parks

Celebrating Park Mark and a new ‘meet and greet’ award

Halt the hate

Taking steps to protect our frontline workers from abuse

APRIL 2024 ISSUE 439

Appetite is high for a single parking app

83% of

app users would prefer to use one app across the UK*

Discover the Open Market for parking: www.RingGo.co.uk/open-market
*RingGo surveyed 2,000 UK adults aged 18+ through Opinium. Results were weighted to be nationally representative.
parking

After a busy start to the year, Andrew Pester is looking forward to more events and the launch of a new scheme

Success stories

We have been thrilled with the response to our BPA Live series of events that so far this year have taken us to Leeds, Brighton and Bristol. Thank you to everyone who has attended, whether as a delegate, speaker, exhibitor or sponsor. These events would not happen without your support.

As BPA Live visits different locations throughout the UK, we have been able to engage directly with members on both local and national issues. We have invited stakeholders who have provided important guidance on policy matters, including the Parking Code of Practice Act, digital traffic regulation orders, the National Parking Platform (NPP), and much more.

It has also been a pleasure to welcome government representatives to our BPA Live events to field questions and share updates on the NPP programme and to listen to member feedback to help further inform how the service is introduced.

We continue to work closely with the Department for Transport (DfT) to support the NPP’s successful development. I am delighted to announce that we have seconded (for 12 months) two of our talented staff team into government to further support the delivery of the NPP (for more, see pages 32-33).

This month we celebrate the 20th anniversary of the launch of the Safer Parking

Scheme, which we manage on behalf of Police Crime Prevention Initiatives. More than 4,500 facilities have attained the Park Mark standard during this period. On pages 28-29 we take a look at some of the car parks, members and people who have made it the success story it is.

It is perhaps fitting that this year we have launched our newest police-approved accreditation: the Approved Meet and Greet Parking (AM-GO) scheme for airports. This scheme is the only police-endorsed scheme of its type and the aim is for it to become the standard for airport meet and greet parking. Find out more on pages 30-31.

BPA events this month include spring seminars in Cardiff and Kilmarnock for our Wales and Scotland members, respectively. May sees the return of Parkex, this year held in Coventry at the CBS Arena. Combined with Traffex over two days, and including a comprehensive exhibition, as well as BPA Live and Evex theatres, this promises to be one of the biggest and best shows yet and I look forward to seeing many of you there (see pages 18-20).

Thank you for your tremendous support.

Upfront 3 cdergroup.co.uk

Safety first

Louise Parfitt on Parkex, protection and police accreditations

As we went to print, news came in of a horrific attack on a civil enforcement officer in Sandwell (see page 10). Our thoughts are with the officer, his family and colleagues. Hearing about this makes the BPA’s Frontline Officer Welfare Working Group survey to gather evidence on the abuse faced by our frontline workers even more urgent than before. The data gathered will help the BPA lobby for more tough, rigorous and comprehensive punishment for those who abuse officers. It will also be used to inform BPA communications

with the media to illustrate the scale and seriousness of this issue. See pages 12-17. Safety is such an important part of what the profession is about; whether its protection for staff, security of payments and bank details, or ensuring customers and their vehicles are safe. This year, the Safer Parking Scheme celebrates 20 years of reducing crime in car parks. We mark this important milestone on pages 28-29. We also find out more about the BPA’s new police-accredited award for airport meet and greet operators, on pages 30-31.

Momentum is building for this season’s big parking event. Parkex returns to Coventry from 22 to 23 May. There is so much planned for the event, which is staged alongside Traffex, Cold Comfort and Evex. As well as a deep dive into key topics, the popular Innovation Award has a new ‘live’ format and there will be plenty of opportunities to network with peers. Find out more about what’s in store on pages 18-20. If there is anything you wish to see featured in the magazine, or have any stories to share, send them to: louise.parfitt@cplone.co.uk

4
Editor’s comment

Parking News is published by the British Parking Association

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Pages 18-20: Nick Dawson/Smile

Photography

Contents 5
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 Contents April 2024 Issue 439 News 06 National news 08 Companies’ news 10 Local authority news 32 BPA news Features 12 Enough is enough Sarah Juggins finds out what is being done to prevent frontline officer abuse 18 Parkex preview As we countdown to the Parkex doors opening next month, Louise Parfitt discovers what is in store 22 Manning the keep Louise Parfitt visits a car park in Yorkshire that goes the extra mile when it comes to customer service 24 A clear path How red routes can be used to best effect 26 Hitting the target Isaac Occhipinti on a new BPA strategy to engage government and influence change 28 Marking the occasion Celebrating 20 years of the Safer Parking Scheme and Park Mark Regulars 30 Ready for take-off! Introducing the BPA and Police-CPI Meet and Greet Operator Scheme 34 Park life Alison Tooze on countering negative press Classified 35 Specialist services directory 36 Marketplace
We

NHS trust wins case over VAT on parking income

An NHS Trust has won a long-running case against HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC), with the Court of Appeal ruling that car parking income should not be treated as standard rated for VAT.

Since May 2017, Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust has challenged HMRC’s view that VAT is chargeable at the standard rate for charges levied for car parking at sites operated by the NHS.

On 27 February, the Court of Appeal decided the trust was not acting as a taxable person when it operated car parks at hospitals and other healthcare facilities. It ordered HMRC to pay back £267,443 in VAT to the trust. This ruling could have ramifications for 50 similar appeals by NHS trusts and overturns two previous rulings.

New tools for active travel interventions

Active Travel England (ATE) has developed a suite of tools to support the development of designs, and the assessment of design quality, for active travel interventions and schemes.

These scheme review tools should be used in conjunction with ATE design assistance tools and include route-check and area-check tools. See bit.ly/PNApr24AT

New banknotes in circulation from June

Banknotes carrying a portrait of King Charles III will be issued for the first time on 5 June. The portrait of the King will appear on all four banknotes (£5, £10, £20 and £50), with no other changes to the existing designs.

Polymer banknotes that feature Her late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II will remain legal tender, and will co-circulate alongside King Charles III notes. The new banknotes will only be printed to replace those that are worn, and to meet any increase in demand for banknotes.

Welsh car club network receives £1m boost to connect rural communities

The Welsh government is to invest £1m to create a network of car clubs to connect rural communities, as part of its plans to meet ambitious targets for reducing carbon emissions.

The car club schemes will be delivered in rural communities across Wales, including Newtown, Llanidloes, Welshpool, Machynlleth, Crymych, Cwmllynfell, Kilgetty, Llandovery and Llandrindod Wells.

Deputy climate change minister Lee Waters said: ‘To meet our legal carbon-emissions targets, the Welsh government is committed to seeing public transport, walking and cycling trips account for 45 per cent of journeys by 2040.

‘Achieving this in rural areas will require a different approach from that taken in most urban areas. Car clubs are an easy and affordable way for people to share use of a car without the cost of owning one.

‘[This] funding will create a network of car clubs in rural communities across Wales and I look forward to seeing the real difference that will make in widening transport options and, over time, reducing our carbon emissions.’

Waters has also mapped out next steps for buses in Wales. ‘We’re moving from a privatised system that puts profit before people towards one that will plan buses and trains together around the needs of passengers,’ he said.

The current system, whereby bus operators decide where to run services based on where they can maximise profit, will be replaced by a system of ‘franchised’ contracts.

Transport for Wales, local councils and the Welsh government will work together to design bus networks that link key services and tie up with other buses and with train timetables, all using one ticket. Companies will then be able to bid to run the whole package of routes for an area, not just the ones that are the most profitable.

The recently published ‘Roadmap to bus reform’ sets out year-by-year targets of how the Welsh government and Transport for Wales plan to approach the delivery of franchising bus services in Wales.

‘This is the most far-reaching set of reforms taking place anywhere in the UK,’ Waters added.

See bit.ly/PNApr24WG

TfL increases fare-evasion penalty

Transport for London (TfL) has increased the penalty fare for fare evasion from £80 to £100, reduced to £50 if paid within 21 days, to act as a further deterrent to fare evasion. TfL says it is committed to tackling fare evasion, as revenue from fares is vital for investment in safe, clean and reliable public transport. It published new data earlier this year that shows that it prosecuted 19,614 people for fare evasion in 2023, an increase of 56 per cent on 2022. The increase in penalty fares follows the DfT’s decision to raise the National Rail penalty fare to £100. This will ensure that there are clear, consistent rules and penalties across the different transport networks in London, and that the penalty fare remains an effective deterrent.

Dave Smith, BPA head of marketing and events, said: ‘The BPA continues to campaign for appropriate levels for both penalty and parking charge notice levels to encourage compliance with parking rules and deter anti-social parking.’

National news 6

BBFI reports ‘troubling’ surge in fake Blue Badges

The national agency for Blue Badge Fraud Investigation (BBFI) is intensifying its efforts to combat a notable increase in counterfeit French disabled Blue Badges flooding the city of London.

Recent reports have shed light on a rising trend of individuals illicitly showcasing these permits – which seem to have been produced in China and the UK – to unlawfully access parking spaces reserved for disabled people.

This surge in fraudulent permits poses a significant challenge not only to authorities, but also to legitimate users of the Blue Badge scheme.

Founder of BBFI Paul Slowey said: ‘Our specialist team of investigators has been concerned to see this dramatic increase in fraudulent French Blue Badges across the capital, and is working tirelessly to combat this gross exploitation of a scheme that aims to help disabled people.’

The misuse of disabled parking

permits has already reached alarming levels in London, with these additional false permits exacerbating a problem that is depriving genuine disabled motorists of essential parking accommodations and undermining the integrity of the Blue Badge.

The widespread use of counterfeit permits results in substantial financial losses because of evaded parking fees and penalty charge notices.

BBFI is calling on London authorities to adopt a comprehensive approach to address this pressing issue, to ensure disabled residents are not impacted and to reduce the monetary impact at a time of financial crisis for many local authorities throughout the UK.

Decision on granting MTE powers delayed

Last month, the UK government decided to delay indefinitely granting to more local authorities moving traffic enforcement (MTE) powers that would enable them to mitigate problematic driving behaviour.

Regulations that were scheduled to be laid on 11 March would have allowed a new tranche of 22 local authorities to enforce moving traffic contraventions at identified problem hot spots in their communities.

However, the government decided at the last minute to not put these regulations forward, leaving respective councils in limbo and rendering the time and money they had spent over many months preparing for this scheme a waste of scarce resources.

Isaac Occhipinti, BPA head of external affairs, said: ‘These additional powers enable councils to use technology to effectively deter non-compliant behaviour in places where it has the biggest negative impact on communities. This development, along with other parts of the government’s “Plan for Drivers”, does not support the majority who drive with consideration and follow the rules of the road, nor does government appear to be recognising the significant problems caused by nuisance motorists. We are calling on it to lay these regulations as soon as possible and to have a plan that truly supports the majority of compliant drivers, rather than effectively rewarding non-compliance.’

Lorry-parking facilities to get government and industry investment

Lorry drivers across England should benefit from more parking spaces, better welfare facilities and safer rest areas after the announcement of £16.5m in joint government and industry investment.

Last month, the roads minister Guy Opperman confirmed that 38 truckstops across England will invest £6m from the Department for Transport, with a further £10.5m coming from industry, to significantly improve their

facilities for lorry drivers. The upgrades will include new showers and restaurants, as well as better lighting and secure fencing around rest areas, so drivers feel safer and can sleep with greater peace of mind.

The measures will also create around 430 new parking spaces for heavy goods vehicles to free up local roads.

Opperman said: ‘From the Ashford International Truckstop in Kent to

Bardon Truck Park in Leicestershire and Immingham Lorry Park in Lincolnshire, the funding will be spread across England to ensure all lorry drivers can benefit from better roadside facilities and better working conditions.’

■ To find out more about Park Mark Freight, an accredited scheme managed by the BPA, see pages 28-29 and britishparking.co.uk/park-mark-freight

7 National news

Q-Park rolls out EV chargepoints

Q-Park has introduced a new electric vehicle (EV) charging hub, consisting of eight chargepoints, at its Q-Park OMNI parking facility in Edinburgh.

Q-Park took over the OMNI car park in 2013, and, since then, the facility has undergone a huge transformation to bring it more into the modern age of parking.

The company is currently investing more than £3m in the UK and Ireland on the rollout of, initially, more than 600 EV charging points across its portfolio of parking facilities.

The industry-leading results of this project have been demonstrated, with Q-Park recently winning the Best EV Chargepoint Provider Award at the EVolution Awards 2023.

New home for Stripe

Stripe Consulting has recently moved offices and is now based in Redhill, Surrey. Stripe’s new home is located in the middle of the town, only a few minutes’ walk from the mainline train station – although a car park is on hand if needed!

‘Our new location significantly improves our transport links, and makes it easier for our team and guests to reach us via public transport,’ said Stripe founder Russell Simmons. ‘Plus, we have more space and it is far easier to collaborate with others, both inside and outside the group.’

Stripe’s new address is Somerset House, 47-49 London Road, Redhill, Surrey, RH1 1LU.

Europe’s first solar car park with carbon-friendly construction in Wiltshire

A leading designer, installer, funder and operator of solar car parks, 3ti, is installing Europe’s first large-scale solar car park (SCP) at Wiltshire Council’s Five Rivers Health and Wellbeing Centre.

The new SCP structure is made from glulam: renewable, recyclable wood laminations, bonded together to offer a natural alternative to steel or concrete. The engineered timber has significant advantages over structural steel; it is three times stronger and a third lighter, and requires only a tenth of the energy to produce compared with an equivalent steel beam.

The solar installation at Five Rivers comprises three gullwing solar canopies, covering 70 car park spaces, with a combined total capacity of around 220kWp. The leisure centre will use 100 per cent of the solar generation on site, which will contribute approximately 10 per cent of the overall electricity demand, saving around £50,000 a year on bills. In its first year, the Five Rivers SCP is expected to generate 186MWh of electricity – enough to drive 679,856 miles in a modern EV – saving 36 tonnes of carbon emissions, the equivalent of planting nearly 600 trees and powering 50 homes.

The canopies are fitted with transparent glass-glass solar panels from German manufacturer Solarwatt. The panels offer high efficiency and long-term yields thanks to their bifacial technology, which captures solar energy on both sides of the panel.

Smart Parking acquires LPS

Smart Parking, a leading provider of parking technology and services, has acquired Local Parking Security (LPS) to expand its market position in the UK.

LPS’s 126 sites will be added to the Smart Parking portfolio and integrated into the Smart Parking technology platform, SmartCloud, offering synergies in supply chain, processing and account management.

Paul Gillespie, Smart Parking CEO, said: ‘We are delighted to welcome the LPS team and customers to Smart Parking. LPS has built a well-respected parking management business over many years, which has resulted in an attractive and diverse portfolio of sites across the UK. We are looking forward to working with the team and clients to deliver a great customer experience and continue the Smart Parking growth journey.’ ■ Smart Parking is continuing its growth trajectory by expanding its operations into Denmark. Leading the new Denmark team in the role of managing director will be Michael Pagh-Schou, who previously held a senior role in a major parking company in Denmark. Gillespie said: ‘Following the successful expansion of our business into New Zealand, Australia and Germany, Denmark presents a highly desirable operating environment and large addressable market to continue our European expansion.’

Companies’ news 8

BBFI receives BS 102000 certification for excellence in investigative services

Blue Badge Fraud Investigations (BBFI) is thrilled to have again been awarded the British Standard 102000 certification, establishing its commitment to excellence in the investigation industry.

This certification serves as a vital code of practice for the investigation industry, and is aimed at helping providers of investigative services demonstrate their accountability, in an era when regulatory oversight is essential.

As the government moves towards implementing licensing for investigative services, this accreditation positions BBFI at the forefront of organisations dedicated to maintaining the highest ethical and operational standards.

Paul Slowey, founder of BBFI, said: ‘We are honoured to again have achieved the certification, which underscores our unwavering dedication to upholding the utmost integrity and quality in our investigative services. This achievement would not have been possible without the invaluable guidance and support of the team at IQ Verify. We have long advocated for tighter regulation within the investigation sector, and we view BS 102000 as a crucial starting point for the implementation of a comprehensive licensing regime.

‘BBFI believes that no organisation providing investigative services should operate without meeting the rigorous standards of BS 102000.’

JustPark and Intelli-Park partner up

JustPark and Intelli-Park have announced a new partnership, which means optimal use of parking spaces for Intelli-Park’s property owners. It will drive additional revenue by providing them with exposure to JustPark’s user base of more than 13 million drivers.

Simultaneously, it guarantees JustPark motorists even more convenient and hassle-free parking options, aligning with the company’s commitment to enhancing the overall parking experience and ensuring parking peace of mind for drivers.

■ JustPark has welcomed Jonathan Hampson as its new chief commercial officer. Hampson joins JustPark from Via (owners of Citymapper), where he was the regional manager for northern Europe. Before that, he was general manager at Zipcar.

Companies’ news 9
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‘First of their kind’ machines for Hounslow

New card-payment machines have been installed at 13 car parks and seven park and shop locations across Hounslow.

The new terminals were designed by METRIC and are the first of their kind in the UK. Closer to the ground than standard machines, they are accessible for wheelchair users and people can select their language of choice.

Salman Shaheen, cabinet member for recreation, public spaces and parking, said: ‘I am pleased to say that we have launched our new first-oftheir-kind contactless parking payment terminals. The council took the decision to go cashless in 2016. While the majority of residents adopted the move to paying by phone, it is vital that all our residents feel digitally included. That is why we have introduced the ability to pay by card as well.’

Dundee pavement parking enforcement

Dundee City Council has begun issuing fines to drivers who park on pavements, double park, or block dropped kerbs. The council’s team of parking attendants has been issuing warning notices to raise awareness among drivers since December last year, when new national Scottish regulations came into force.

North Lincs gets new machines

Parking machines across all 21 council car parks in North Lincolnshire are being replaced by new cashless and ticketless machines, which are said to be more environmentally friendly, and will save money and be easier for residents to use.

The current machines cost around £10,000 a year to maintain and were in need of an upgrade because of the changes to mobile infrastructure nationally. An investment of £90,000 is being made to replace the machines.

A new vision for parking in Buckinghamshire

Buckinghamshire Council has unveiled its vision for parking across the county as part of a new strategy that sets out how the service will develop in coming years.

The document starts to align the different on- and off-street parking arrangements from legacy councils into one strategy, and covers everything from embracing new technology and providing customers with greater choice and flexibility, to streamlining parking charges, promoting greater safety and reducing congestion.

One of the first actions the council is taking is to sign up to the National Parking Platform, a Department for Transport-funded scheme that aims to provide greater flexibility when paying for parking while providing value for money. The scheme will be piloted in council car parks in Wycombe.

Steven Broadbent, the council’s deputy leader and cabinet member for

transport, said: ‘Since becoming a unitary authority in 2020, we have been working hard to reduce inconsistencies across the county. We have looked at how we can make improvements, listening to what people have said, and analysing trends and data. We are keen to embrace new technologies and innovation, while also making the most of our parking assets and enforcement powers to support our corporate priorities. Our parking offer must be right for the future and our communities, and must be financially sustainable. This vision sets out how we plan to do that.’ See bit.ly/PNApr24BPS

■ Camden Council’s cabinet approved a range of changes to on-street parking in the borough. These include carbon emissions-based charging, an air-quality surcharge, and an increase in fees and charging for parking products. See bit.ly/PNApr24CPP

Man arrested after attack in Sandwell

West Midlands Police have arrested a man on suspicion of grievous bodily harm after a civil enforcement officer was assaulted on Castle Road West, Oldbury, at around 12.30pm on Tuesday 19 March.

An APCOA employee, working for Sandwell Council, was given treatment at the scene before being taken to hospital following the assault.

A 35-year-old man was arrested at the scene and has since been released on conditional bail while police enquiries are ongoing.

Councillor Kerrie Carmichael, Sandwell Council leader, said: ‘We are appalled to hear of this incident and our thoughts and best wishes are with our team member and his family at this time. Public servants working for the council do a fantastic job for our community and no one should be subjected to violence in the course of their work.’

Kim Challis, APCOA regional managing director UK&I, said: ‘Our thoughts are with our colleague and his family as he continues to receive treatment in hospital for severe injuries. This was a terrible incident; no one should be the subject of physical or verbal abuse as they carry out their duties. APCOA thanks our client, Sandwell Council, for its immediate support, and we will do everything we can to assist the police investigation.’

West Midlands Police is appealing for witnesses or for anyone with any information to get in touch via Live Chat at west-midlands.police.uk or by calling 101, quoting log 1964 of 19 March.

Local authority news 10

Westminster’s last-mile delivery hub to continue

Cross River Partnership (CRP), a non-profit and impartial partnership organisation, and Westminster City Council (WCC) have announced that, after a successful nine-month trial period, Delivery Mates and Q-Park UK will continue to operate a micro-logistics hub for a minimum of 12 months.

Based in Q-Park’s Pimlico car park, the hub receives parcels from an electric van and distributes them by electric cargo bikes in the City of Westminster and surrounding areas.

The CRP and WCC-funded trial, which aims to support low-emission last-mile deliveries in the City of Westminster, was launched on 17 April 2023 and ended on 31 December 2023.

After nine months of operations, the e-cargo bikes travelled a total of 22,578km (14,029 miles), which resulted in emissions reductions of 4,186kg of CO2, 15,141g of NOx, and 303g of PM2.5 compared with polluting van deliveries on the last mile.

Councillor Paul Dimoldenberg, cabinet member for city management and air quality, WCC, said: ‘This project exemplifies our commitment to creating a greener, more sustainable economy while supporting local businesses and improving the quality of life for residents. WCC hopes to expand and replicate similar initiatives across the city to transform urban logistics and improve sustainability.’

Support for residents and campers in Cornwall

From this month, Cornwall residents will pay half the cost of their seasonal parking ticket to help make parking more affordable for those who need to park regularly in a council car park.

Available to drivers who live in Cornwall for at least six months of the year, the Resident Season Ticket can be bought to cover a six, seven or 12-month time period, and is valid for use in one specified car park.

Recent changes to the JustPark ‘multi use’ sessions also bring down the cost for people who park regularly in council car parks. In response to feedback from residents, drivers can now use their sessions in the majority of long-stay council car parks, rather than in only one specified car park.

Plans to introduce a year-long trial of overnight motorhome parking at The Crescent car park in Bude have also been approved.

Oxfordshire rolls out the NPP

Motorists across Oxfordshire now have a choice of parking payment apps following the council’s major expansion of the National Parking Platform (NPP).

Having successfully trialled the NPP at one location, Oxfordshire County Council has now added its remaining 43 on-street locations, including the historic university city of Oxford.

The NPP, funded by the Department for Transport, enables drivers to make cashless mobile payment choices based on their personal preferences, and encourages

healthy competition between providers, incentivising innovation and improving the user experience. Councils across the UK, including Manchester, Coventry, and Cheshire West and Chester, have been taking part in the NPP pilot. The platform has proved successful, and at least 10 more councils are expected to join in 2024. As a result, the government has committed to a nationwide rollout from autumn 2024.

For more on the NPP, see pages 14-17 of Parking News February 2024, or bit.ly/PNFeb24PP

Worcester says ‘get on our shared bikes’

Plans to introduce a bike-share scheme across Worcester have stepped up a gear, with the city council awarding a contract for the project to Beryl, one of the UK’s largest shared sustainable transport providers. The bike-share scheme will offer 225 bicycles – 175 of them electric –for hire. The proposed network will have more than 50 parking stations, so 85 per cent of residents will have just a five-minute walk from their home to access a bike.

School Streets scheme nominated for award

Peterborough City Council’s School Streets initiative has been shortlisted for a Community Involvement accolade in this year’s Local Government Chronicle awards. The winners will be announced at a ceremony at Grosvenor House, London, in June.

Cambridge fees increase

The cost of on-street parking in Cambridge will increase slightly as a result of inflation, as well as to prompt people to make more sustainable travel choices. The council hopes the changes will reduce demand in the city and encourage use of greener travel options.

Cash to continue in York

Cash payments will continue in two York City Council car parks after resident feedback. During consultation on plans to go cashless, several responses came in from members of the public explaining why they need to pay by cash. The council has agreed that Bootham Row and Castle car parks will continue to accept cash.

11 Local authority news

Enough is enough

Sarah Juggins investigates the growing problem of frontline officer abuse and what action is being taken to counter it

‘One of our frontline officers was assaulted last night,’ says Steve Foster, Newcastle City Council parking team manager, at the start of our interview. ‘He is out of hospital now, but he will be off work for a while.’

The 63-year-old civil enforcement officer (CEO) – ‘one of our most experienced staff’ –was simply doing his job when the attack took place. It is becoming a familiar story.

It is with sadness, but also a burning anger, that Foster says he sees first hand what is going on. ‘Every week, maybe even every day, in the city centre, there is someone working in the customer-facing sector who gets assaulted, verbally or physically. Because of that, I feel a huge sense of responsibility each time I send officers out onto the street.’

It is not just in the busy cities that this scenario is being played out. In the more rural county of Lincolnshire, Karen Cassar is the county council’s assistant director for highways. She says: ‘Our frontline officers in Lincolnshire, as in the rest of the country, face daily abuse from motorists and members of the public for simply carrying out their job. For example, since January 2023, there have been nearly 50 instances of assault on our officers, ranging from punching, kicking and spitting to derogatory, racial and discriminatory verbal abuse. This is not right and is not acceptable.’

The numbers tell the story

In 2023, parking management company APCOA recorded more than 5,000 incidents of verbal abuse and 170 cases where physical contact

was made (in the UK) – 44 of which resulted in an injury to the officer.

There has been a slight decrease in the number of physical assaults since 2021, and Melissa Holmes, regional manager for APCOA in the Midlands and the North, says that one reason may be the inclusion of part-time workers in the data collected. Many of these are women, students and more mature workers, which may challenge the stereotype of a CEO/parking attendant and therefore disrupt the ‘routine’ response of offenders.

For Foster, each attack stirs bad memories, because he was himself the victim of an assault when working as a CEO many years ago. ‘You can’t help but take it personally. It might be an attack on the uniform or the role, but, ultimately, it is an assault against you, as a fellow human being,’ he says.

To help address the issue, the BPA, through its Frontline Officer Welfare Working Group,1 has launched a month-long survey of its members to discover the scale of the problem. By collecting data that indicates how often, to what degree, and at what cost frontline officer abuse is happening, the BPA will have some clout when it tries to persuade the government that tough, rigorous and comprehensive punishment should be meted out to those who abuse officers.

Politicians feel the heat

While the survey will add strength to the call for action when it comes to violence within the enforcement sector, there is another factor in play that may speed up a more rigorous response from the legal process.

Frontline officer safety
12
“You can’t help but take it personally. It might be an attack on the uniform or the role, but, ultimately, it is an assault against you, as a fellow human being”
Frontline officer safety 13
16 Make 2024 the year you simplify complex parking processes visit zatpark.com/events Scan the QR code to see where you can meet us

The increased number of attacks and intimidating behaviour aimed at politicians is focusing the minds of the UK’s law-makers on the severity of the issue. Suddenly, it is not just those in shops, on airlines, in hospitals or enforcing traffic rules on the street who are getting abuse as they do their jobs; it is anyone who is doing a service for the public.

At the end of February, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak spoke of the need for police to ‘use their full powers to shut down “intimidatory” protests against politicians’.

For Foster, this signals a ramping up in awareness of the issue. ‘For a long time, it has been almost expected that you would rant and rave if you receive a parking ticket. There is a perception that you can vent your anger towards people doing a customer-facing job. Now MPs have also come into the firing line, with a number needing extra security to protect themselves, it is being taken seriously.’

The BPA is also watching closely and learning from other organisations, such as the British Retail Consortium (BRC). In response to a report that incidents of violence and abuse against shop staff have increased by 50 per cent, to 1,300 a day, in the year to September 2023, the BRC, which represents retail workers, is calling for a stand-alone law to be passed to give staff the highest level of protection, because it is not satisfied with the current Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022.2 The BRC wants a law that mirrors a move made by the Scottish Parliament, which has passed separate legislation for retail workers– the Protection of Workers (Retail and Age-restricted Goods and Services) (Scotland) Act 20213 – with fines and imprisonment acting as deterrents to abuse and violence.

Accurate data collected by the BPA Frontline Officer Welfare survey will be vital if the parking sector is to join the BRC in making its case heard in calling for the law to offer greater protection.

Annual survey call to action

BPA content and research manager Sarah Greenslade says: ‘It’s important that frontline staff and those who have responsibility for them respond to our Frontline Officer Welfare survey, which will be benchmarking the levels of abuse and incident levels.

Frontline officer abuse survey: make it count!

The BPA will be gathering evidence from members throughout April to help illustrate the scale and seriousness of frontline officer abuse. This evidence will form a vital part of the BPA’s media and stakeholder strategies, so all frontline officers and organisations that employ them are urged to take part. The survey is open now and closes on 13 May 2024.

You can take part in the survey at wkf.ms/3wSOShp

For more information on the BPA’s Frontline Officer Welfare Working Group, go to britishparking.co.uk/Frontline-officer-welfare

To join the group, email sarah.g@britishparking.co.uk

15 Frontline officer safety

‘Anecdotally, members are saying it is getting worse. It is high time that this is centrally recorded so we can go to government, just as many other sectors are doing right now, to get greater support – from the police, government, the courts and, importantly, from the public.’

The survey will become an annual event each April, recording both physical assaults and verbal threats.

In the meantime, parking providers across the country continue to take their own measures to protect officers. In line with most local authorities, Lincolnshire’s CEOs achieve a formal qualification before starting duties, which includes an element of conflict-resolution training to help them handle problematic situations. Officers are also equipped with video-recording equipment to capture any audio and/or visual evidence of assault, threat or abusive behaviour.

In Lincolnshire, parking enforcement is done by APCOA. Seth Hack, the company’s environmental, health and safety officer, says: ‘Should an incident of any kind occur, CEOs are offered post-incident support. Where a criminal prosecution is appropriate, APCOA will manage as much of the process as possible on behalf of the officer(s) concerned, gathering the necessary evidence for a fair and just conviction.’

Joined-up forces

Foster talks about the importance of a joinedup approach between the parking sector and the police, but says this is not always evident. ‘It is a postcode lottery as to how well the police support and interact with CEOs. When I was assaulted as a CEO, it took the police three days to come to see me. That didn’t send me the message that my safety was a priority for the police.’

That said, Foster now has a good working relationship with a police officer in Newcastle who is assigned to protect CEOs and follows up swiftly on cases. If evidence of this was needed, Foster says the driver who carried out the assault on the CEO the previous evening had been arrested.

So strong is the link between the police and the parking sector in Newcastle now that there are instances where the police will double up

“By collecting data, the BPA will have some clout when it tries to persuade the government that tough, rigorous and comprehensive punishment should be meted out to those who abuse officers”

with the enforcement officers if a situation is potentially difficult. Foster believes this type of partnership working is one way to tackle the issue of CEO frontline abuse.

Social media’s skewed narrative

A common response to why the instances of assault have risen exponentially is ‘social media’ – and it leaves Foster incensed. ‘The social media narrative is that parking is the most complicated thing in the world, made worse by cameras and officious CEOs. The result is that people reading and believing this stuff will try to park where there is no enforcement. And there is no recourse for mistruths spouted by people on social media.’

In Foster’s mind, the most powerful message is to explain the cost of abusive behaviour to the public purse.

‘A local authority or a private sector operator has responsibility for the health and safety of those it employs,’ he says. ‘Risk-assessment review, services to support officers who have been abused, sick pay, occupational health assessments – all of these services are needed, and they cost money. So the public needs to realise that there is a cost to providing the services related to these assaults and that comes out of public money. They also need to realise what work CEOs undertake and what would happen if they weren’t doing that job.’

Changing perceptions

Cassar and Holmes believe that more traditional media can play a big part in turning things round. Holmes says: ‘The BPA working

group members are all in agreement that the popular press could be instrumental in challenging the image and perception of CEOs as mean-spirited individuals on commission for the number of tickets they issue.

‘In fact, CEOs are hardworking employees, enforcing parking regulations put in place to keep roads clear and to make parking as fair and equitable as possible, for the benefit of the entire community. In APCOA, not one of our CEOs is incentivised or rewarded for the number of PCNs issued, yet the media continues to perpetuate the myth.’

Cassar adds: ’Our hope is that press coverage of successful prosecutions for these types of assaults will make people better understand the consequences of being abusive to our officers and, therefore, reduce the number of assaults that occur.’

Whether the message comes from the press, the police or the politicians, one thing is very clear: it is high time that the general public understands why parking regulations exist and why frontline officers should be seen as a force for good, not a public punchbag.

■ For more on the challenging the media’s portrayal of the sector, see page 34.

1 The Frontline Officer Welfare Group includes all public-facing parking staff, such as local authority and contractor roles, including CEOs, parking attendants, traffic attendants, and enforcement agents

2 See bit.ly/PNApr24EL

3 See bit.ly/PNApr24SL

16
safety
Frontline officer
Digital traffic regulation orders List your vacancies on the UK’s only dedicated industry jobs board for the UK parking and traffic management sector For more information and to get in touch with the media team, please contact James Martin on email james.martin@cplone.co.uk or call +44 (0)1727 739185 www.parkingjobs.co.uk

Parkex promises…

… firm favourites and exciting new additions when it returns next month for an action-packed two days to the CBS Arena in Coventry, as Louise Parfitt discovers

This year, Parkex-Traffex will be held in Coventry and will bring together all the muchloved and eagerly anticipated regular highlights, as well as some exciting new additions.

The ever-popular Innovation Award has a new interactive live judging format, and Parkex will be located alongside Traffex, Cold Comfort and Evex, offering more opportunities for cross-sector learning and collaboration.

The EV theatre, which made its debut last year, returns in the form of the new Evex section. This brings together key stakeholders responsible for the delivery of the UK’s electric vehicle (EV) infrastructure. Cold Comfort also joins the line-up, bringing to the event its respected conference and exhibition dedicated to winter and extreme weather services.

‘We’re back in Coventry for the first time since 2018 for a packed two days, bringing together expertise and innovation to celebrate creativity in our sector, share best practice and connect with peers, old and new,’ says Dave Smith, BPA head of marketing and events.

‘At the BPA, we are building on recent Parkex events to bring you even more opportunities to network, dig deep into the topics that members have told us are most important to them, and provide a platform to share knowledge and spark debate.’

Day one: pertinent issues

The first day of Parkex dives straight in, to contemplate, champion and critique some key issues affecting parking professionals from the private and public sectors. These

What you need to know

When: 22-23 May

Where: CBS Arena, Coventry

What: Two days dedicated to all aspects of parking and traffic management.

Who: Parkex has teamed up with Traffex, Cold Comfort and Evex to facilitate discussions between local authorities, private companies, government representatives and sector experts.

How: Parkex is free to attend and registration is now open at parkex.net

This website can also assist with finding accommodation close by – note that this is booking up fast, so be sure to reserve your stay in plenty of time: bit.ly/PNApr24PH

Forhelp in planning your journey, please see bit.ly/PNApr24GT

include the National Parking Platform, the Alliance for Parking Data Standards, connected and autonomous vehicles, and kerbside management.

There is a session on best practice for owners and operators of car park facilities, including fire-risk assessment, suicide prevention and life-care planning.

A workshop for frontline workers and their employers will offer practical guidance on safeguarding those who work in publicfacing roles, including developing processes to support and protect staff from incidents of violence and abuse. This session will also reveal the results of the BPA’s Frontline Officer Welfare survey, which is running throughout April (see pages 12-16).

Day two: driving into the detail

Day two hits the ground running with an update on the government’s new Private Parking Code of Practice and the associated framework. This will include discussions on the expected timeline for implementation and an explanation of support on offer from the BPA.

Parkex 2024 18

Innovation award

The Parkex Innovation Award has an exciting new format this year. Exhibitors will be able to showcase their products and services, via power pitches and live demonstrations, to the award judges and the Parkex audience in the BPA Live Theatre at the end of day one. If you think your product deserves a place on the theatre floor, please submit the details to enquiries@parkex.net

Start-up award

This new award gives newcomers to the sector the opportunity to present their product or service at the 2024 conference, as part of the Innovation Award. It also provides them with a free exhibiting platform at the event. Please email enquiries@parkex.net for more information.

Bring a buddy

Senior parking leaders are invited to bring a member of their team to Parkex. The person must also be a BPA member and will obtain six hours of CPD for attending the event: just come to see us on the BPA stand and we’ll sort this out for you. ‘It’s a great opportunity to bring people who would not usually come so they can get a real insight into the opportunities and options the parking profession can offer,’ says Paula Burton, BPA training and development manager.

Parkex 2024 19
Scenes from the Parkex exhibition floor 2023

The BPA Women in Parking community will host a lunch-and-learn session to share experiences and discuss future development opportunities. There will also be the chance to network and catch up with peers.

The future of parking and customer experience will be explored by the Parking Technology Forum in the afternoon. It will look at cyber security, digitising traffic regulation orders, accessibility, EV charging infrastructure, open data, and responsible uses of artificial intelligence.

Also running

BPA interest groups will hold meetings across the two days. On day one, BPA Approved Operators will meet and on day two it’s the turn of local authorities. Both of these closed forums take place in the Ricoh Lounge..

There will also be keynote speaker slots and exhibitor presentations.

Parkex socials are the stuff of legend, so make sure you join us on day one for drinks and food in the Club House from 5pm. Parkex

Parkex exhibitor list

■ AppyWay

■ ARVOO Imaging Products

■ Audax Global Solutions

■ Barbour Logic

■ Berry Systems

■ BigChange

■ Bizie

■ Blink

■ Business Smart Solutions

■ Cammax

■ Compleo Charging Solutions

■ CSL

■ Cummins Allison

■ DCBL

■ DESIGNA UK

■ Easy Parking Solutions

■ Egis Projects

■ Equita

■ EV Tower

■ Go2Sim

■ GOLDBECK Construction

■ Hemisphere West Europe

■ IC2 Distribution

■ IMAIL Comms

■ IPS Group UK

■ Jacobs Enforcement

■ JustPark

■ Locker Group

■ Markham Global

■ Metric Group

■ Mobile Worker Plus

■ Monit Data

■ Nagels (UK)

■ Nayax UK

■ Newlyn

■ NMI

■ Opcharge

■ OS Comms

■ Paragon ID

■ Parking Network

■ PayByPhone

■ Postworks

■ RingGo

■ Safer Parking Scheme

■ Sagoss

■ Scheidt & Bachmann

■ SEA

■ Smart Parking

■ Soprema UK

■ Suilvision

■ Survision

■ Tap2Park

■ The Zeta Group

■ TKH UK

■ Transfer 360

■ TWIN

■ VertexGIS

■ Windcave

■ YourParkingSpace

■ ZatPark List correct at the time of going to print. More stands are being booked each day –for an up-to-date list, please see parkex.net/visit/exhibitor-list/ To book an exhibition stand, go to parkex.net/enquire-to-exhibit-form

20
2024

Beyond

Registration Open Hosted by the British Parking Association Co-located with Register now for Europe's largest parking event at parkex.net
Parking

Celebrating car parks

Manning the keep

Bailey car park serves visitors to Skipton Castle, Skipton Castle Woods, and the historic Yorkshire town itself. It has no need for enforcement, there is zero crime, and a staff member greets each car on arrival at an entrance kiosk – a model that has not changed since the car opened a decade ago. Louise Parfitt finds out more

When Bailey car park opened in 2014, OCS was brought in on a temporary basis to manage it as a staffed ‘pay on entry’ car park. The Fattorini family – which also owns nearby Skipton Castle and Skipton Woods, both of which are served by the car park – had intended it to be an unstaffed car park, with payment made at machines. However, it liked the staffed model so much it decided to keep it.

‘OCS has managed the Bailey since it opened and we are really passionate about it,’ says Mark Shenton, OCS parking operations manager. ‘We have a very good relationship with our client. He realises the value of the personal touch and how it makes all the difference to the start of someone’s visit here: for one-off visitors to the castle, regular users who park here to access the woods and the town, and the Skipton Building Society workers

who park here during the week. It’s quite rare nowadays to have a permanently staffed car park, generally because of the cost. It’s the only car park like this that OCS runs.’

Green and serene

The soft landscaping of the car park lessens its impact on the surrounding environment: trees encircle the site and sheep graze in the surrounding grounds. It has 193 spaces, including five disabled bays, and room for five coaches. The bay sizes and road are generously sized to make it easier for visitors to access, and the car park is designed as a loop, so you enter and exit in the same place. There is also a drop-off point at the end nearest the castle, where coach parties or disabled passengers can disembark.

As you drive in, you are greeted by an attendant in the kiosk. During a normal working week, this will be Andrew Astle or

‘A big thank you to the whole team, especially the man in the car park, lady in the office and gentleman on the gate, who were so helpful when I booked for the wrong day. It was my error, but you didn’t make any fuss or make me feel awkward. Great customer service’
Customer feedback

Chris Lancaster, supported by Peter Mattock and Mark Flude, who cover holiday. This small team is responsible for taking payment – be that by card on entrance, checking that cars have booked via the online prebooking system, or giving parking permits to the Skipton Building Society staff. They do so much more, however.

‘Our role is extremely varied,’ says Lancaster. ‘It is not merely selling tickets; we assist visitors with walk routes, accommodation enquiries, and restaurant and pub recommendations – anything to enhance the visitor experience. We take pride in keeping the site clean and tidy. We see lots of wildlife –buzzards circle overhead, kestrels perch on the lampposts, roe deer venture in – and we have the resident Jacob sheep to look after!’

The car park is also used by car clubs, which like the security of having an onsite member of staff. ‘In the 10 years we’ve been open, we have never had any criminal activity,’ says Shenton. ‘From the kiosk there is a good view across the car park. If people walk through, they usually stop to chat to the attendant. It’s all about personal interaction.’

A job well done

When it comes to enforcement, the team simply has no need for it. If there is a situation,

22

such as a car parking across two bays or nonpayment (for example, if a driver enters when the staff are attending to a matter elsewhere on site), the team leaves a polite note on the vehicle. ‘In cases of non-payment, 99 per cent of the time the driver will come to find us to pay before they depart,’ says Shenton.

‘On busy days, such as when an event is on in town, demand often exceeds capacity. Having an onsite team allows us to be responsive and facilitate overflow parking measures, such as using drop-off areas, or opening up the grassed areas behind and to the side of the car park.’

Leaving a vehicle overnight can be arranged with the car park attendant – for guests of a local bed and breakfast, for example – although the car park is locked at 6pm each evening

(5pm in the winter), so there is no access to vehicles overnight.

‘The customer service side is the most important part of working here,’ says Shenton. ‘We provide more than a car park service; we are a visitor’s first point of contact; the person to whom they turn for advice; the team taking pride in the site so it looks its best. It’s all about trust, encouraging repeat custom, and trying to make everyone’s visit as pleasurable as possible.’

For Lancaster, working here definitely brings a feeling of satisfaction: ‘There can’t be many offices from which you can look through the surrounding trees at a 1,000-year-old castle,’ he says. ‘When visitors stop on the way out to thank you for assisting them, it really makes your day worthwhile.’

Calling all car park managers!

Do you own or operate a car park that deserves celebrating? If so, we want to hear from you. Maybe it is in a remote location or has exemplary green credentials; maybe it has been serving the community for a long time, or is bang up to date, embracing all that technology offers; maybe it doubles as a market or leisure space at weekends, or the team that runs it has outstanding customer service. No matter the reason, please drop us a line and we’ll get in contact to find out more: louise.parfitt@cplone.co.uk

Celebrating car parks
23
Trees
encircle the site to lessen its visual impact on the surrounding area

Traffic management

A clear path

Transport for London has been using red routes to reduce congestion for more than 30 years, and many councils are now looking to learn from its experience. Lewis Wray, managing director at Taranto Systems, offers some pointers

London’s red routes carry 30 per cent of the city’s traffic, but are applied to only five per cent of its road network. Red routes prohibit vehicles from stopping, and are indicated by single or double red lines. Double red lines prevent parking, stopping, loading or unloading at any time, whereas single red lines limit stopping to certain times.

Applications and benefits

Red routes are strategically chosen based on various factors, such as high traffic volumes, key commuter routes, and areas prone to congestion.

By keeping these vital arteries clear of parked vehicles, red routes facilitate the smooth movement of traffic, especially during peak hours. This not only benefits motorists and pedestrians by preventing anti-social parking, but also enhances the efficiency

of public transport networks. By prohibiting stopping or parking along these routes, authorities aim to maintain a continuous flow of traffic to alleviate congestion.

With fewer vehicles idling in traffic jams, overall fuel consumption and pollution levels are lowered, contributing to a cleaner urban environment.

Bus lane effectiveness can be compromised if they are blocked by parked vehicles or unauthorised traffic. Using red routes helps to ensure that bus lanes remain clear and unobstructed. In cities that can’t accommodate an additional bus lane, red routes can be particularly effective. For example, Brighton and Hove City Council is planning to introduce red routes to help the free flow of buses and reduce private vehicle traffic.

Enforcement technology

Effective enforcement is critical to the success of red routes. Red routes allow CCTV to be used

to capture real-time footage of traffic violations, providing evidence for enforcement purposes.

Automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) technology further enhances enforcement capabilities by automatically scanning vehicle registration plates and cross-referencing with databases to identify offenders.

Although the introduction of red routes may result in an increase in the number of penalty charge notices, an efficient, scalable back-office system will be able to cope with higher volumes and will be easy for the parking team to manage.

As cameras on red routes are highly visible, they also encourage better driver behaviour, as motorists know there is a higher risk of contraventions being seen.

As technology continues to evolve, the enforcement of red routes will become even more efficient and will contribute to improving our road networks and wider environment.

Pilot projects

Stoke City Council has introduced red routes on some of its central roads and has applied Taranto’s ANPR and back-office solution for enforcement. The initial trial has proved successful and, as part of the city’s Bus Service Improvement Plan, Stoke is now extending red routes along strategic routes across the city. The improvement plan is backed by the Department for Transport and Stoke is spearheading the campaign to improve bus services with the aim of diverting private vehicle users onto the bus network.

24

Hitting the target

26 BPA political perspective

Isaac Occhipinti announces a new BPA external affairs strategy to raise sector issues with politicians and leverage greater change, and discusses some of the challenges the sector faces in making its voice heard

Ioften get asked how politics impacts parking. Why do certain decisions get made and why does the sector frequently get criticised by politicians and the media?

There is no simple answer to this. For more than 15 years I worked in the energy sector, and the same questions were asked there.

The reality is that all sectors are trying to get the attention of a very small number of MPs. Therefore, getting cut-through is hard, and you must make yourself relevant and interesting to them. Unfortunately, the opposite is also true, and opinions and stories that are not supportive may get attention, especially if they are easier to communicate.

So, what motivates politicians? The simplest answer is that it is local constituents. MPs are elected by people in their local area. To be re-elected, they must make sure they are seen to be representing local interests.

Obviously, that is hugely simplistic. An MP may be in a relatively safe seat, so local concerns are less likely to be the issue that could see them lose their job at a local election. However, local issues, especially for MPs without a formal government or party job, are critical.

Through a parking lens

If you look at that through a parking and trafficenforcement lens, you can see a situation where most MPs’ only real interaction with parking is through complaints to them about

“Most MPs’ only real interaction with parking is through complaints to them about penalty charge notices, lack of parking – or lack of ‘free’ parking – Blue Badge fraud or the lack of spaces for people with disabilities”

penalty charge notices, the lack of parking – or lack of ‘free’ parking – Blue Badge fraud or the lack of spaces for people with disabilities.

Some MPs in tourist areas probably receive complaints about visitors parking where they shouldn’t, and how penalty charge levels are not high enough to provide an effective deterrent, but it is generally rare that MPs see this ‘other’ side.

The same is true for local councillors. They, too, must respond to local issues, and it is probably more important that they are seen to react to local concerns. Often, the pressures will be similar to those of the local MP.

Press persuasion

Other than local issues, the other big influence on policy-making is the press. MPs may interact with issues ‘on the ground’, but special advisers and policy-makers in more formal government jobs will often view policy through how it will play in their preferred press outlet.

So, any major campaigns in the press will often find their way into policy announcements or speeches. It is probably not a coincidence that shortly after the Daily Mail and Daily Express ran extensive articles about motorists being ‘targeted by unfair yellow box junctions’ that we saw the government’s ‘Plan for Drivers’ explicitly mention a review of yellow box junctions.

Likewise, shortly after press articles about the money made by local authorities through parking and traffic activities, ministers and ‘government sources’ spoke openly about curtailing profits from local authorities.

This pattern is not new, and I am sure you will all have examples from the past that you remember.

“Special advisers and policy-makers in more formal government jobs will often view policy through how it will play in their preferred press outlet”

Influencing change

So, how can we influence this process and what is the BPA planning to do next?

First, I believe the sector needs to be better at communicating successes. Car parks are better, safer and more convenient than ever, and local authorities have been rolling out innovative solutions to help tackle the worst traffic-management issues, such as around schools and problem junctions. That’s even before we discuss how car parks have a leading role to play in the electric vehicle revolution, or how councils have been improving air quality for residents.

Too often we are not doing enough to push these messages out. Though it is never that easy and we all know that negativity is more click-worthy.

The BPA is about to launch an external affairs strategy aimed at providing a more formal framework to tackle these issues and put members’ policy priorities at the centre of it. This spring, the BPA will be asking members for the key policy targets for the coming year, which will allow the external affairs team to develop an action plan to deliver on these and then report back on progress.

Collectively, and with the powerful advocacy of the BPA, we can start to fight back as a sector, to highlight how vital we are.

The BPA’s external affairs strategy is due to be launched in later this year. To find out more about the BPA’s current activity and campaign priorities, please visit britishparking-media.co.uk/campaigns

BPA head of external affairs isaac.o@britishparking. co.uk

27 BPA political perspective
Isaac Occhipinti

Marking the occasion

This year is the 20th anniversary of Park Mark (England and Wales celebrate this in April; for Scotland and Northern Ireland, it’s October). Louise Parfitt chats to BPA area manager Mark Osmond about how he has seen the scheme evolve

What is the Safer Parking Scheme’s background?

I joined the BPA in 2003, the year before the launch of the Safer Parking Scheme (SPS) and Park Mark. Before this, I worked for Greater Manchester Police (GMP) as one of the police assessors for the Secured Car Parks scheme, which was the forerunner of the SPS. The problem with the old scheme was it was very prescriptive: there were a lot of tick boxes but there wasn’t a lot of opportunity for explanation on aspects of the assessment to help parking operators and managers improve. Now, with Park Mark assessments, we have the space to elaborate; for example, we can offer advice on how to make an aspect –such as lighting – better in terms of crime reduction.

Were you involved in creating Park Mark?

Indirectly, yes. There was a lot of car park crime in the nineties and early noughties and the Home Office wanted more operators to get on board with the Secured Car Parks scheme but realised the scheme needed to be improved to attract more people. Police crime reduction officers from forces including GMP helped to formulate the SPS. My boss at GMP was one of the co-authors of the scheme, and some of my work went into creating it. When people ask what I know about the origins of the SPS, I say actually, my work helped shape it.

How has the assessment changed during the past 20 years?

I was at the BPA when we launched the scheme, and I am so proud of it. The guidelines have not changed greatly over the years, but what has changed is the technology now used in car parks. For example, the lighting is now LED, which are much brighter and are often motionsensor-operated to come on as someone approaches; the barriers and access measures have become more sophisticated, so it is much harder to get into a multi-storey car park; and CCTV capabilities have improved so coverage is better and images sharper. But you still need things such as clear lines of sight, clean and bright lobby areas, and well-maintained facilities.

What are the main benefits of Park Mark?

First and foremost, it is a police accreditation – I always emphasise that with car park managers and operators. You have the police and the BPA looking at your car park from a security point of view, and they will notice things you may not.

Another thing is cost benefit. Providing a safe environment for people stops criminals from taking part in serious crime: that’s a money saver, especially when you compare it with the cost of dealing with the effects of a crime in your car park.

I also do a lot of work with designers and developers at the planning stage for new car parks, so we can ensure car parks are built to be as safe as they can be from the word go – which is far more beneficial than retrofitting or correcting security issues later on.

Park Mark is a charter mark, on which many councils and companies pride themselves. It shows they take safety seriously and it is an accolade of their hard work.

Finally, the SPS is not just about having an assessment once every couple of years. I am in touch with our car parks constantly and often pop by to see them, so there is that ongoing support if they need it.

How has Park Mark grown over the years?

In terms of numbers, I had just under 200 car parks on my books when I first joined the BPA: that number is now closer to 600.

Now, we also offer the other accreditations such as Park Mark Plus, Park Mark Freight, and Park Access. In general, these have been welcomed: being able to attain the Park Mark Plus is a source of real pride. The places that are providing the safe, secure facilities for our lorry drivers think that Park Mark Freight is the best thing since sliced bread. And now, with Park Access, people are keen to show that they are an inclusive facility that supports all drivers. We are also adding the new airport meet and greet accreditation [see pages 30-31] to the stable, continuing to bring the Park Mark benefits to other sectors.

To find Park Mark car parks visit parkmark.co.uk

28
Safer Parking Scheme

Safety in numbers

The Rock Shopping Centre in Bury has held Park Mark for 13 years, and is one of the car parks of which Osmond is really proud. ‘I worked with the architects to help design the car park from scratch. I love visiting it:

it’s where my family goes shopping and I always tell them: “this is my car park”.’
The

Alhambra Centre in Barnsley

is another

car park

that really stands out for Osmond. It has held

Park

Mark since 2012, which Osmond says is a sign of the team’s ‘hard work, dedication and commitment to providing a safe environment for users’.

■ The largest Park Mark car park by number of spaces is Bristol Airport’s Silver Zone Car Park with 11,024 spaces.

■ The smallest Park Mark car park by number of spaces is technically the Portobello Police Station car park with two spaces, closely followed by APCOA and Transport for Wales Swansea Station Disabled Car Park; Mossley Hill Station car park; and St Denys Railway Station downside car park, which each have three spaces.

■ There were seven area managers when Park Mark started in 2004. There are now nine who, between them, support 358 police assessors.

■ The number of car parks holding Park Mark in the UK is currently 4,528.

■ The most northerly Park Mark car park is Sumburgh Airport in the Shetland Isles, followed by Inverness Retail Park and Inverness Old Town Rose MSCP.

■ The Park Mark car park furthest south is Penzance Railway Station.

29
Safer Parking Scheme
Pictured, from left: Craig Pleasant, The Alhambra security manager; Jack Regan, South Yorkshire police designing out crime officer; David Probyn, The Alhambra centre manager; Greg Lindley, The Alhambra cleaning manager Pictured, from left: Kay Richmond, The Rock office manager, Arnold Wilcox-Wood, The Rock centre director; Mark Osmond, BPA area manager; Andrew Booth, The Rock security manager

Ready for take off!

Sara Fisher, BPA head of operations and business development, and Dave Smith, BPA head of marketing and events, introduce the Safer Parking Scheme’s new Approved Meet and Greet Operator standard

Meet and greet parking is a popular service for people travelling by car to airports. Many excellent companies provide a quality service, storing vehicles in secure locations, close to the airport, and ensuring that they are delivered back at the agreed time and in the same condition as when they were collected.

There are instances, however, of companies – operating within airports – that provide a sub-standard service, even though they are abiding by airport byelaws and terms and conditions of use.

The BPA has worked with its members, major airports and key stakeholders, including the police, to deliver a new scheme that will become the recognised standard for airports and off-airport meet and greet parking operators. Just like the Safer Parking Scheme – which the BPA manages on behalf of Police Crime Prevention Initiatives – the Approved Meet and Greet Operator scheme (AM-GO) aims to raise standards and drive out crime.

Travelling to and from airports is very much about the journey and the overall customer experience. AM-GO will enhance this by showcasing those companies in the meet and greet sector that have high standards and offer outstanding quality and service delivery.

Guaranteed level of service

From the moment a customer books their meet and greet service online – whether direct with a provider or through a consolidator – to their arrival at the airport and handover of keys, AM-GO members will ensure that every vehicle is left in safe hands.

This ‘nose to tail’ customer experience is vital to ensure that all

aspects of the meet and greet service meet the high standards of the AM-GO scheme, which will include regular audits of consolidators, booking agents, meet and greet operators, and airports against the AMGO code of practice.

The BPA’s team of area managers will conduct in-person site assessments of all meet and greet services managed by airports and operators, including every facility where vehicles are parked and stored for the duration of a customer’s booking.

The BPA will also mediate on any escalated motorist complaints. Sanction points will be levied and, where appropriate, failing operators will be removed from the scheme.

Police accredited

The BPA is excited to be launching this new scheme, which is the only police-supported nationwide accreditation of its type. We are aiming for a national standard to deliver optimum success and a consistent message to the holiday and business traveller alike, so we are encouraging all UK airports and their meet and greet parking operators to join the scheme.

It is hoped that this new standard in airport meet and greet parking can help make rogue and unscrupulous operators a thing of the past. In future, we want to say confidently to consumers ‘don’t book your airport meet and greet parking with anyone else’.

The BPA will be contacting all UK airports over the coming months and the new scheme will be operational before the summer holiday season in 2024. To find out more about AM-GO, please email: meetandgreet@britishparking.co.uk

Member benefits 30

What the scheme will do

The new Approved Meet and Greet Operator scheme will ensure that:

■ Airports have designated, clearly marked and signposted meet and greet drop-off and pick-up zones

■ Meet and greet staff, including drivers, will be qualified, professional and fully insured, and will carry ID cards and wear uniforms at all times

■ Vehicles will be safely stored in a Park Mark-accredited facility and cars won’t be driven any further than stated on the booking confirmation

■ Airports and AM-GO members will be assessed regularly and monitored by BPA-qualified auditors to uphold the highest standards

■ Motorists will be signposted to a single, reliable data source for AM-GO members and can be confident of leaving their vehicle with an approved meet and greet operator.

To read more about the Safer Parking Scheme, see pages 28-29.

Liquid Applied Waterproofing Systems Car Parks Underground Ramps Entrances & Exits Phone: +44 800 808 5480 / www.westwood-uk.com WestWood Liquid Technologies Limited 31 Morris Road, Nuffield Industrial Estate, Poole, Dorset, BH17 0GG
Member benefits

BPA Live tour continues

The third BPA Live event took place last month in Bristol. There were sessions covering digital traffic regulation orders (DTROs); the National Parking Platform (NPP); EV charging infrastructure deployment, accessibility and inclusivity; and persistent evaders. Breakout groups included tourist and visitor attraction parking; enforcement agents; local authority and higher education parking forums; and a POPLA workshop for BPA Approved Operator members.

Meanwhile, BPA Live Brighton held a dedicated forum for airport operators. It also held the first ‘thought-pod’ led by BPA Council representatives for the Parking Technology Interest Group who spoke about and took questions on a range of topics from DTROs, the NPP and parking payment methods to protecting motorists from parking fraud.

The conversations will continue at Parkex in May in the BPA Live Theatre (see pages 18-20) and at Peterborough for the fourth standalone BPA Live event on 20 June. Book your place at BPA Live Peterborough at britishparking.co.uk/BPA-Live There are also a few opportunities left to exhibit; please email communications@britishparking.co.uk BPA Live is generously sponsored by CDER Group and Zatpark

More dates for your diary

As well as Parkex in Coventry next month, and BPA Live in Peterborough in June, the BPA’s busy spring events season continues:

■ Parking and Transport Wales Spring Seminar: 17 April, Cardiff (sponsored by Excel Civil Enforcement)

■ Parking Scotland Spring Seminar: 23 April, Kilmarnock

■ Retail and Leisure Interest Group Meeting: 9 May (virtual)

For more information, go to britishparking.co.uk/Events

Staff news

It’s been a busy few weeks at the BPA with a number of new staff joining the team and others moving to new positions at the BPA and with other organisations.

■ Head of technology, innovation and research Jon Allan has taken up parttime secondment with the Department for Transport’s National Parking Platform team, supporting the implementation and rollout of this significant project. He will be working for the DfT Monday to Wednesday, and at the BPA on Thursday and Friday.

■ Events and marketing manager Michelle Boshoff-Turner has also been seconded for 12 months to the DfT to support Jon Allan on delivery of the NPP.

■ Paula Burton will be moving over to the BPA’s technology, innovation and research team with immediate effect, as she continues to focus on establishing the BPA as a City and Guilds Assured partner.

Abuse towards frontline staff survey

Abuse towards the frontline parking staff who ensure people park safely and considerately is unacceptable. Anecdotally, we know this is rising, but to gather evidence, the BPA Frontline Officer Welfare Working Group has launched a benchmarking survey to record and collate all verbal and physical abuse, and assaults against staff during April.

■ Sarah Greenslade has been promoted to content and research manager. She will be helping to ensure members have access to essential advice, guidance and sector intelligence.

■ Emily Tomkins has been promoted to events officer on a 12-month basis.

■ Jazmin Agnew is joining as events officer on a 12-month fixed-term contract.

■ Thomas Moreland has joined the BPA’s external affairs team as external affairs officer, working on policy and media.

■ Emily Whitworth has joined as marketing manager.

■ Susannah Marcot has joined as corporate assistant (until the end of July).

■ Sarah Pell has joined as compliance investigations officer.

■ Matt Giles has joined as lead auditor. This is a new role at the BPA and he will be managing all of the BPA’s Approved Operators’ annual audits.

If you work in a frontline role or manage, supervise or are a team leader for frontline staff, please do respond to the survey. All anonymous records of abuse incidents can be submitted via a short survey by Monday 13 May. The aim is for this information to give a true picture of the scale of abuse. This will then be used to create further resources that may be needed, and for lobbying government and the police to support our sector, just as the retail sector has been doing recently.

For more information, see pages 12-16 and take part in the survey at wkf.ms/3wSOShp

You can also visit the Frontline Officer Welfare hub for a whole range of resources to help with managing frontline staff welfare. See britishparking.co.uk/Frontlineofficer-welfare

BPA news 32

Goodbye to Graham

Graham Titchener, chair of the BPA Communications and External Affairs Service Board, will be stepping back from his BPA positions from May. Titchener has been a BPA Council member since 2017. He currently works for the City of York Council as parking services manager and is leaving to take up the role of head of sustainability for his local NHS Trust.

BPA Board chair Anjna Patel said: ‘I would like to thank Graham for his valued contribution as an active member of our Council and BPA Board. Our loss is the NHS’s gain and, although we will miss his expertise, we wish him the very best in this new role.’

Titchener said in a letter: ‘It is with very mixed feelings I am writing this. Over the years, I’ve been very fortunate to work with and represent so many of you, so I wanted to reach out to you and say a heart-felt thank you for your support and, above all, your friendship.

‘The BPA is in a very strong place and getting stronger, thanks to all of you. When I speak with others outside of the UK who look to what our UK industry is doing, that only confirms this view.

‘My time in parking has allowed me to, I hope, positively contribute to this industry on your behalf and with your support, and make it a better place for us all and your organisations. To leave at a time when there is still so much to do, ongoing challenges to face and also positive work to reflect on, is hard, but, when I think of each of you who are reading this, I know our industry is in very safe hands.

‘I will hope to see many of you in Westminster in July at the BPA presidential handover, but for those who I won’t see, I just want to say thank you again and send you my very best wishes. Always remember you are brilliant!’

Parkex is upon us

With just over a month to go until the Parkex doors open, the BPA team is busy getting everything ready. Join us on 22-23 May at the CBS Arena in Coventry for the best parking event in the calendar, bringing together experts, exhibitors and government representatives to discuss the challenges the sector faces and showcase the successes it achieves every day.

There will be a chance to gain CPD hours and see some of the innovations that are changing the face of the sector, as well as the all-important networking opportunities.

It’s free to register: go to bit.ly/PNParkex24

There are a few exhibition stands left: see parkex.net

For more information about what’s in store at Parkex, including the Innovation Award (previously the Innovation Trail), turn to pages 18-20.

Update on the Private Parking Code of Practice

The BPA continues to liaise with government officials and politicians to drive positive outcomes for our members. Officials at the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) acknowledge that they have greatly benefited from engagement with the BPA, which has helped them build their understanding of the evidence submitted via the Call for Evidence.

DLUHC is now finalising its updated Regulatory Impact Assessment (RIA) and is moving into a pre-consultation period. It has also advised that the updated RIA, which will be published in the spring, will not be the final version. Members will have the opportunity to raise views on the updated RIA during the consultation and these views will then be considered ahead of finalising the document post-consultation.

While in the pre-consultation phase, DLUHC has requested that engagement is primarily through the BPA, given its oversight and ability to collate and represent sector views. However DLUHC is still happy to receive critical information or data directly from members and follow up any engagement as required.

The BPA anticipates that the updated draft RIA and subsequent consultation on the level of the parking charge and debt resolution fee may potentially open in May after the local elections.

Alongside the consultation, work is continuing to implement other elements of the Code Of Practice Act 2019 and its enforcement framework. DLUHC continues to engage with the BPA and its members to progress:

■ development of the conformity assessment scheme

■ the metrics DLUHC seeks to gather for the future Scrutiny and Oversight Board

■ the appointment of an independent appeals service.

For the latest information, visit britishparking.co.uk/BPA-ApprovedOperator-Hub

BPA news 33

Rewriting the wrongs

Alison Tooze on the unintended consequences of negative press coverage and what the BPA is doing to counter it

We are wearily accustomed to seeing headlines that scream outrage about parking fines, ‘obscene’ amounts of money being demanded from ‘innocent’ motorists, parking charges that are ‘killing’ the high street, and so on.

If you can bear to read the articles under such headlines, then you usually find they are, at best, only telling one side of the story or, at worst, simply lazy journalism for clicks. Unfortunately, a rant at parking seems to continue to top the clickbait charts.

What are the implications?

This kind of rhetoric does nothing to help those who are trying to manage inconsiderate parking behaviour – and the public is not slow to complain when there is nowhere to park, so it can look like a lose-lose situation from our perspective.

This tired narrative serves to cement an image in some people’s minds that those working in parking are the villains of the piece. Concerningly, that frequently results in frontline staff facing verbal and physical abuse, which – whether they are aware or even care –the media stokes up with articles based on a story stumbled across on a slow news day and published without proper research or context.

Why can’t the media put more emphasis on the (significant) minority who show no regard for others when they park? Independent public

“This tired narrative serves to cement an image in some people’s minds that those working in parking are the villains of the piece”

parking perceptions research* demonstrates that most people are more concerned about the parking behaviour of others than they are about the behaviour of parking operators.

Changing the narrative

While we are used to seeing our sector being bashed in the media, that does not mean to say it should just be accepted. There is a clear agenda from the media to paint a skewed picture of the purpose of parking management, because that is what they think their readers want to see. In fact, it seems one of the main objectives of today’s mass media is to steer opinion, wind people up and stoke a reaction, as opposed to give balanced facts and allow people to form their own judgement.

This narrative only serves to make some people think it is OK to park wherever they like and that beating up a parking officer is in some way justified. The BPA intends to continue running campaigns, led and promoted by members, that aim to highlight anti-social parking behaviour.

We will also carry on working with the media to try to persuade them that it’s time to change the tired narrative that parking management is a ‘war’ on all motorists.

I don’t know if journalists understand the impact that inflammatory articles have on individuals simply doing their job, and their families and friends, but it’s incumbent on us to keep pointing it out and finding ways to put across our side of the story.

Protect and represent

We continue to make it a priority to do all we can to protect and represent our people on the frontline doing essential work. We are currently gathering evidence from members via a survey, to help us illustrate the scale and seriousness of frontline officer abuse (see pages 12-16). This evidence will form a vital part of our media and stakeholder strategies, so I ask all who employ frontline officers to take part.

*See Parking News, February 2024: bit.ly/PNMar24FF and britishparking. co.uk/Public-Perceptions

Alison Tooze

BPA chief engagement and policy officer

alison.t@britishparking.co.uk

Park life
34
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Appyway

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Buchanan Order Management

The leading Map-based Traffic Order Consultancy who 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

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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.

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01977 669946

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Conor Greely 0208 819 7451

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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

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G24

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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

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

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Jim Williamson (+44) 01482 873597

sales@nagels.co.uk

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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.

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!

03333 201 858

admin@nsglparking.co.uk

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octopass.co.uk

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0330 0220 697

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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

Enquiries

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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.

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.

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Parkingeye Ltd

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Safety & Security Refuelling/Recharging Signage & Guidance Payment Systems Parking Enforcement Build & Maintenance Advice/Qualifications Access Control Marketplace 38
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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

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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.

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03333

Safety & Security Refuelling/Recharging Signage & Guidance Payment Systems Parking Enforcement Build & Maintenance Advice/Qualifications Access Control Marketplace James Martin 01727 739185 james.martin@cplone.co.uk
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