Parking News – March/April 2025

Data driven

Words of wisdom Upfront

The parking world was saddened to learn of the passing of a true legend of parking, Professor Donald Shoup, whose influential research and publications on parking, transport, land economics and public finance still resonate. It was an honour to have Professor Shoup speak at our Annual Conference in 2021. As the great man said, “Intelligent transportation technology is key to better parking management. The adage that ‘You can’t manage what you can’t measure’ fits parking perfectly.”

Discussions around how to effectively use and utilise data were prevalent at our recent BPA Live events that took place in February. We were delighted to see so many of you in attendance and engaging with sessions covering a broad range of topics such as paying for parking, use and adoption of AI, tackling Blue Badge abuse, ethical enforcement, EV charging strategies and much more. The tour continues in March at the Ashton Gate Stadium in Bristol

before taking a break for Parkex, which returns to the CBS Arena Coventry on 21 and 22 May. It has been a fantastic start to the year for our leading schemes and initiatives. Already in 2025, we have presented the first Approved Meet and Greet Parking (AM-GO) accreditation to Heathrow Airport and the first Park Access EV award to Cambridge City Council. There was more good news when Motability Foundation confirmed its endorsement of Park Access for checking if public EV charge points meet the PAS 1899 accessibility standard. This work will ensure that the public charging network is accessible to disabled people, helping them to make the transition to EVs with confidence, and will increase the visibility of Park Access and Park Access EV sites.

We are excited to launch our new benefit tiers, providing greater choice for members and a clearer overview of the many benefits on offer, including a printed copy of this magazine; free event entry; discounts on advertising, exhibiting and sponsorship; as well as other partner discounts. Thank you to everyone who provided feedback to help us deliver the new tiers, which we hope will demonstrate the many aspects of our leading association that you can take advantage of.

It has been a fantastic start to the year for our leading schemes and initiatives

Andrew Pester Chief Executive www.linkedin.com/company/ british-parking-association

Parking News is published by on behalf of the British Parking Association

Editor

Sophie Vening editor@britishparking.co.uk

Advertising Oliver Willison oliver.willison@ jamespembrokemedia.co.uk T: 0203 198 3092

Production editor

Lizzie Hu on

Design and production

manager Christina Richmond

Publisher James Houston

Circulation and administration

Linda Page linda.p@britishparking.co.uk

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We would like to remind our readers that the views expressed by any contributor to Parking News are not necessarily those of the British Parking Association or Parking News, (the editor, the editorial panel or the board).

Contributions and adverts are published in good faith and no responsibility or liability will be accepted, either for their contents or accuracy, or for any action taken as a result of anything contained in Parking News

© British Parking Association 2025 ISSN 1470-8361

Welcome

This issue is packed with some of the key topics shaping the future of parking, as well as being high on the agenda at this year’s BPA Live events (p33). Our lead feature highlights the alarming rise of Blue Badge fraud (p10), detailing e orts to combat it, including the BPA’s new task force aimed at creating industry best practice. We also emphasise the need to protect frontline sta , and the legal steps employers must implement for their safety (p25).

On page 18, we examine how AI is transforming the parking sector, while on page 15 we discuss the importance of mobility hubs. By integrating transport options, these hubs can help reduce congestion, enhance accessibility and promote sustainability. Lastly, we debate size-based car parking and whether implementing a new pricing strategy could help address challenges posed by larger vehicles (p20).

SHARE YOUR STORIES contact editor@ britishparking .co.uk

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Sophie Vening Editor

< ON THE COVER

The growing role of AI and big data in parking

See page 18

10 | Access for all

We explore ways to tackle Blue Badge fraud and the misuse of disabled parking bays

16 | The move to mobility hubs

Discover how to future-proof your sites by o ering additional facilities and sustainable travel options

18 | AI and big data

Business leaders discuss the technological developments that are reshaping the industry

20 | Roundtable: is size-based parking inevitable?

Three experts discuss whether the growing number of big vehicles on our roads should be reflected in charges

29 | Best practice

An award-winning wave-like design for a riverside car park in Sunderland

6 | Digest

Launch of CEO safety campaign, lower EV charging rates, plus updates from across the private and public sectors

25 | Legal view

How to ensure the safety of your frontline workers

33 | Events

Reports from the first BPA Live events of 2025, plus the dates for our Country Conferences later in the year

35 | Parking people

Remembering David Bayliss

39 | BPA updates

New membership fees and the formation of the PPSAP

46 | Park life

Kelvin Reynolds considers who actually profits from parking charges

Digest

NEWS FROM THE PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SECTORS

PATROL funds staff safety campaign

Anew campaign has launched in a bid to tackle violence against frontline car parking staff.

There has been a worrying rise in reports of CEOs in England experiencing abuse. The North Essex Parking Partnership (NEPP) reports that it has seen a 175% increase in reported verbal and physical assaults on its staff in Essex over the past three years.

Regulations Outside London) is being spearheaded by Brighton & Hove City Council and NEPP, who are launching activities ahead of a planned national rollout. The aim is to foster respect and empathy for CEOs.

READ MORE about legal advice for protecting frontline staff on page 25

BPA VIEW

Uniformed parking patrol officers are vital for keeping traffic moving and ensuring safe, legal parking.

The role is varied – as well as issuing penalties for illegal parking, CEOs also keep schoolchildren safe, facilitate access for emergency vehicles and maintain accessibility for people with disabilities.

Beyond the Uniform, in partnership with PATROL (Parking and Traffic

“Tackling the rise in abuse of frontline staff is imperative. It is great to see this campaign receiving a lot of media coverage, portraying positive human stories. Do check out the resources in the Frontline Officer Welfare hub, join the BPA Live City & Guilds taster sessions on managing conflict for frontline officers, and the Learning Lab workshop on protection of frontline officers at Parkex.”

Sarah Greenslade, BPA content and research manager

Government chooses six areas for fast track devolution

Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner has announced six areas in England that have been selected for the Government’s Devolution Priority Programme, with mayors to be elected by May 2026. The areas are Cumbria, Cheshire & Warrington, Norfolk & Suffolk, Greater Essex, Sussex & Brighton and Hampshire & Solent.

Under the programme, powers and funding will be transferred from national to local government in the hope that it will provide greater freedoms and flexibilities and enable councils to work more effectively to improve public services for their area.

Cllr Trevor Muten, cabinet member for transport, parking and public realm at Brighton & Hove City Council said: “Devolved powers will not only allow for a better integrated transport system throughout our region, but also present opportunities for locally tailored policies in areas such as parking. This could include the development of strategic park and ride sites, a ban on pavement parking and more consistent regulation of poor parking behaviour.”

Believ lowers EV charging rates to promote transition

In a bid to promote the benefits of switching to electric vehicles, EV charge point operator Believ has introduced a reduction in charging rates in Wandsworth and Waltham Forest, saving its customers up to 15p/kWh.

“As well as encouraging the use of a public charging network, this price reduction is designed to help drivers make the switch

and help further the decarbonisation of transport – in order to deliver cleaner air for all,” says Guy Bartlett, Believ’s CEO.

“The reduction in carbon emissions is a long-term goal of the EV switch, but cleaner air is an immediate benefit and incredibly important for our health. The industry has a duty to do what we can to encourage more drivers to switch sooner,” he adds.

Yunex Traffic awarded framework contract in Newcastle

Yunex Tra ic has been awarded a framework contract by Newcastle City Council to supply and maintain an ANPR civil enforcement camera solution.

Solutions from the company’s advanced civil enforcement portfolio will be set up at sites across the city to help keep tra ic flowing and improve road safety.

The council will use a combination of Yunex Tra ic’s Secore II and LaneWatch ANPR cameras to enforce red routes, yellow box junctions and bus lanes in the city. The work has been commissioned by the council under tra ic enforcement powers which were granted to local authorities under Part 6 of the Tra ic Management Act.

Wilke Reints, MD of Yunex Tra ic in the UK, said: “Our enforcement solutions help councils manage their road networks more e iciently and e ectively, enabling road users to enjoy improved travel times and safer journeys. In cities where our cameras have already been deployed, we have seen significant improvements in both journey time reliability and air quality.

“Through high rates of detection accuracy and a ‘one-click’ review process, our solutions reduce the cost per PCN, driving safety, e iciency, cost and performance improvements.”

Buckinghamshire rolls out new network of cameras

Buckinghamshire Council has extended the powers it was granted in 2023 to ensure motorists comply with moving tra ic restrictions by installing enforcement cameras at 14 tra ic ‘trouble hotspots’ nominated by residents.

The additional cameras will enable the council to issue a penalty charge notice (PCN) to motorists who commit a moving tra ic o ence, including driving through a no entry sign, making illegal U-turns, entering a yellow box junction when the exit isn’t clear or driving on routes designated for buses and taxis.

Steven Broadbent, cabinet member for transport, said: “All 14 of these new locations were nominated by residents and businesses as trouble spots, or recognised as being areas where motorists are more likely to break moving tra ic restrictions. Installing these enforcement

cameras will help reinforce the rules of the road, keep tra ic moving and make all road users safer.

“During the first six months, motorists caught breaking the rules at these locations will be sent a warning letter for their first o ence. If they are caught again though, they will receive a fine.”

Kent council chasing millions of unpaid fines

Up to £10.5m is still owed to Medway Council in unpaid fines for parking o ences, tra ic violation, school truancy and littering over the past three years. Of the 220,000 fines issued between April 2022 and September 2024, more than 64,000 remain uncollected.

A council spokesperson said the local authority follows all legislative guidelines and ensures that its enforcement processes are fair, transparent and robust. “We continually work to complete recovery procedures within legislative timeframes so that payments and appeals are processed e iciently, in a manner that’s fair to all parties,” they added.

Talking points

Glasgow launches pavement parking restrictions

In an attempt to prevent pedestrians, especially people in wheelchairs and with pushchairs, being forced onto the road, Glasgow City Council has introduced pavement parking restrictions that came into force in January. Initially, drivers will be issued with warning notices as they adjust to the changes.

Car park closed for structural repairs

Victoria Way car park in Woking will close for the foreseeable future following a structural review that highlighted the need for significant repairs. While the car park does not pose a risk to public safety, the report recommended temporary closure until substantial repairs are undertaken. “We are committed to taking a pragmatic approach to the car park’s future,” said Cllr Dale Roberts of Woking Borough Council.

Council ends three-hour free parking

New charges take effect at car parks in Sudbury, Hadleigh and Lavenham, ending the threehour free parking. In response to extensive opposition, Babergh District Council stated the subsidising free parking currently costs £425,000 and it would have an impact on essential services if it were to continue.

Overloaded car parks among 10 most-read reports

A notice on the potential dangers of overloaded car parks – originally published in May 2024 – was among the 10 most read reports in 2024 published by Collaborative Reporting on Safer Structures (Cross-UK).

Crackdown on Blue Badge abuse

23-year-old man has been fined after admitting illegally using a Blue Badge to park in Oxford city centre in May 2024.

Officers from Oxfordshire County Council Council’s counter fraud team established the badge had been reported lost and a replacement had been issued. When interviewed under caution by council officers, the offender said the badge belonged to a family member. As the Blue Badge holder was not present when he parked, there was no entitlement to concession. The man was fined £209 and ordered to pay a court charge of £84 and £500 council costs.

Cllr Neil Fawcett, cabinet member for community and corporate services, said: “People rely on their Blue Badges so that they can park near workplaces, supermarkets and health facilities. Illegal use of the scheme denies a space to someone who needs it. It is not acceptable to misuse this service

A Evolt Charging introduces new device to deter EV charger cable theft

and the recent enforcement operation shows that this council is taking action to stop this abuse.”

READ MORE about tackling Blue Badge fraud on pages 10-15

BPA VIEW

“We encourage all local authorities to protect the integrity of the Blue Badge scheme through enforcement and all members to join this year’s National Blue Badge Day of Action on 29 May.”

Alison Tooze, BPA chief engagement and policy officer

A new EV charge point cable alarm has been introduced in response to rising incidents of theft and vandalism. Launched by Evolt Charging, it’s believed to be the first device of its kind to be used in the UK and aims to give Charge Point Operators (CPOs) an effective way to protect their charging infrastructure. The alarm, which can be installed on any DC charger, detects when a cable has been cut or removed, activating an alarm and flashing beacon.

Cable theft is an increasing challenge affecting CPOs, with increased reports of criminals targeting EV charge points for the copper wire within cables.

Lewis Gardiner, operations director at charging provider Osprey, said: “Tackling the cable theft currently plaguing public charging hubs relies on collaboration between CPOs, hardware manufacturers and host landlords, all of whom are impacted if solutions are not found. Evolt’s new cable alarm is a welcome, proactive approach. Osprey has always been quick to trial new technology, and we look forward to seeing the impact of this innovation on the ground.”

ACCESS FOR ALL

The BPA has launched a working group to tackle Blue Badge theft and misuse. Here, we assess the scale of the issue WORDS | ANDREA BALL

Blue Badge fraud and disabled parking misuse is on the rise, with figures from the National Agency for Blue Badge Fraud Investigations (BBFi) suggesting up to 70% of Blue Badges are being misused or were fraudulently obtained. According to recent data, the number of Blue Badge the s in London has more than quadrupled in the past decade.

“We know that Blue Badge the is going through the roof,” says Graham Footer, chief executive of Disabled Motoring UK (DMUK) and a member of the BPA’s Blue Badge Working Group. “In London pubs, Blue Badges are being sold for hundreds of pounds due to the savings on parking fees. I dare say it’s the same across all major cities and urban areas.”

If someone breaks into a car to steal a Blue Badge, it can have a profound e ect on a disabled person’s life. Not only do they have to pay to fix a broken window, but insurance premiums can be a ected and then they have to wait for a replacement badge. Similarly, if a Blue Badge holder is planning a trip into town and can’t park because too many people are abusing disabled bays – through misuse, or using stolen or fraudulent badges – that person has no choice other than to turn around and go home. “That could be a hospital or a doctor’s appointment, or just a haircut, but it messes up their whole day,” says Graham.

Public awareness and enforcement

“I think a lack of public awareness of why Blue Badges and disabled spaces are needed is fundamental to the increase in misuse,” adds Steven Foster, parking team manager at Newcastle City Council and chair of the BPA’s Professional Development and Standards board.

He also blames a lack of enforcement, in both the public and private sectors. “Within the private sector there’s a desire not to take enforcement action because it’s perceived as something that could drive customers away. There’s a failure to realise the benefits to society of taking enforcement action and that it could actually encourage people to visit the shops.”

A lack of enforcement by local authorities is o en blamed on cost, but Paul Slowey of the BBFi, which works with local authorities to enforce the scheme, argues that prosecutions don’t have to create a dent in councils’ co ers.

The BBFi provided Enfield Council with a template prosecution pack to help

“People think Blue Badge theft is harmless, but there is a wider cost and it has a huge impact”

Seema Chandwani, Haringey Council

the parking department decide whether o ences should be dealt with by the parking team or sent for prosecution. Over a three-year period, it issued 234 summonses for Blue Badge misuse in contravention of the Fraud Act.

“Prosecutions would always be in batches of five or six, and a barrister booked for a day at a cost of £100 per case,” explains Paul. “About one in 20 motorists would plead not guilty and attend a trial, costing a further £500 in barristers’ fees. Some 226 people were convicted with fines totalling £43,362 and costs awarded to Enfield of £71,156 – an average of £314.85 per case compared to legal costs of £100.

“The one major caveat is the quality of the o icers preparing the evidence pack,” Paul adds. “The cases were prepared by highly qualified BBFi investigators. This is within the capability of a council corporate anti-fraud team but not a parking team –unless it buys in specialist skills.”

Stephen Goodall, senior criminal investigations o icer at Portsmouth City Council, has worked with and advised numerous authorities over the past 15 years regarding investigations and prosecutions. He argues that while employing trained, dedicated investigators will always bring the best results, it isn’t always required.

“Using simple investigative techniques and templated documents, which can all be carried out by a senior o icer or manager, you can achieve a prosecution for under £500 using your own legal services,” says Stephen. “For authorities that use a shared legal service or do not have capacity, an external solicitor or barrister could be instructed to present the case in court on behalf of the authority for under £200 per case.

“While this does involve some financial input from the service, you can recoup

some of this by claiming court costs. On average we receive court costs of £500 per case which can be used to fund future prosecutions.”

Remember, not all cases require prosecution. “Blue Badge fraud is fraud, and fraud is a criminal offence that should be prosecuted. However for misuse, there are other avenues that you can go down and, in some circumstances, prosecution may be too harsh,” says Graham.

“If somebody is misusing a Blue Badge because they don’t understand their rights and responsibilities, and they think that what they’re doing is legitimate, under those circumstances, alternative measures such as community resolution orders or a simple warning letter can be effective. We know that of the people who receive those letters, a high percentage don’t reoffend.”

Fall in prosecutions

The Government no longer collects data on Blue Badge prosecutions, stating that the statistics were not widely used, but figures from 2021 show there were just 698 prosecutions for Blue Badge misuse across all local authorities in England, a 49 per cent fall on the previous year. Of those 698 prosecutions, 454 were in London, and 119 were from just one borough.

Initiatives like Haringey Council’s virtual parking permit system have shown promise in tackling Blue Badge fraud. Crime figures fell by 65% following the launch of its virtual parking permit system in August 2021, and the authority was recognised at the 2023 British Parking Awards for its use of technology to tackle Blue Badge fraud.

“We were about to turn all of our permits paperless and we wondered if we could give our Blue Badge holders a free paperless permit, so they didn’t have to put their badge in the car window,” explains Seema Chandwani, cabinet member for tackling inequality and resident services.

The council worked with Taranto, its parking management IT system provider,

“We need to ensure local authorities know what is available to them from an enforcement perspective”

Steven Foster, Newcastle City Council

to develop the virtual equivalent of a Blue Badge and integrate it into its parking permit system. Taranto’s Blue Badge software enables CEOs to use handheld machines to check for fraud, which makes it easier for back-office administrators to process applications.

“We had concerns from the community that disabled bays weren’t being used by people with disabilities, and the same message was coming from the disabled community saying that they knew that people were misusing their badges, or had stolen badges,” says Seema. “So we decided to co-produce our enforcement policy.”

Understanding how important it was to the people who were actually experiencing disabled parking in the borough has led to a raft of changes. “As well as the enforcement and paperless badges, we’ve just started the first phase of putting a disabled parking bay outside every GP surgery. The next phase is outside every pharmacy in the borough, and then outside every dentist.”

While Seema is proud of the work that’s been achieved in Haringey, and the

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Success story: Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea + PayByPhone

In 2020, the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea replaced all its pay and display machines with a cashless system, which posed a challenge for Blue Badge holders. Previously, Blue Badge customers purchased a ticket from the machine for a nominal amount – a minimum of 20p – and displaying the ticket with the Blue Badge meant they were entitled to an hour of additional parking for free.

PayByPhone (the council’s cashless parking payment provider) worked with the council, with NSL, which operates the borough’s parking enforcement services, and with the borough’s Action on Disability group

recognition the council has received at the British Parking Awards – having also won the 2024 Accessible Parking Award – she is acutely aware that a national strategy is needed to truly address the problem.

“It’s great that other boroughs, such as neighbouring Brent, are introducing similar schemes,” she says, “but I don’t think it’s solving the problem. I should be able to login and see that someone is a Blue Badge holder and a resident in Brent, so they don’t have to display their badge when they come to Haringey. The barrier is that I don’t know what software Brent uses. They could be with a different software company that doesn’t speak to the software company that we use. The

and disability campaigners, to come up with a technological solution.

The system enables Blue Badge holders to buy a reduced parking session digitally and informs CEOs in real time that the driver is entitled to the concessionary rate and an extra hour free.

Almost five years on, the scheme is still running successfully. “It was the first of its kind in any large city across the UK,” says Rebecca Maisey, senior client director for PayByPhone. “It set a new standard for accommodating Blue Badge holders in pay-to-park visitor bays, helping to mitigate some of the misuse of physical Blue Badges.”

technology is there. What I’m hoping for is the will to make it national.”

Graham agrees: “I completely understand the thinking behind digital Blue Badges, but for me it can only work if it’s a national scheme. People need to be putting their names and weight behind the idea and helping to make it happen, rather than ignoring the problem and hoping it goes away.”

Spreading the word

“We want all local authorities across the UK to be enforcing the Blue Badge”

Graham Footer, DMUK

While enforcement is crucial to the integrity of the Blue Badge scheme, communicating to the wider community how misuse can affect disabled people is also key. “If people don’t understand the importance of Blue Badge bays, we’ll continue enforcing forever,” says Steven. “Enforcing doesn’t stop the bays being misused. We need to stop it at source and ensure that the importance of the bays is understood by the community.”

Graham argues that disabled people also need to be better informed: “Local authorities need to ensure that people’s rights and responsibilities are explained to them when their badge is issued. Plus, more needs to be done in terms of education and information to reinforce

BPA VIEW

“2025 will be a big year for championing accessible parking and this includes protecting the integrity of the Blue Badge scheme. The newly formed task force will be creating best practice guidance and a City & Guilds Assured pathway programme. Also, look out for the Blue Badge Learning Labs at this year’s BPA Live events.”

Sarah Greenslade, BPA content and research manager

those messages. It’s important to keep it in people’s minds as to when, where and how they can use the badge.”

Sharing educational messages is one aspect of the BPA’s new Blue Badge Working Group. It also plans to lobby the Department for Transport for regulatory change. “We want to raise awareness and bring together people from different parking sectors across the country with different expertise to exchange ideas and best practice,” says Steven. “We’re determined to make a difference to the way that Blue Badge misuse is being tackled.”

And while Blue Badge misuse is the focus of the working group, according to Steven it’s just one element of the wider issue of improving access, alongside pavement parking and EV charging points. “There’s a body of work here that needs to be done to raise the profile of disabled motorists.”

Essential contacts

BPA Live Learning Labs focus on tackling Blue Badge abuse and fraud: landing.britishparking.co.uk/bpa-live

DMUK supports disabled drivers, passengers and Blue Badge holders: disabledmotoring.org

National Blue Badge Day of Action is an annual event that unites local authorities in a collective effort to enforce the scheme and educate the public on proper badge usage: bbfi.org.uk

BPA has a Working Group developing guidance on Blue Badge enforcement. Contact Sarah Greenslade to join: sarah.g@britishparking.co.uk

WORDS | MARIA MCCARTHY

The move to mobility hubs

Car parks are being transformed from uninspiring expanses of tarmac or ugly multistorey buildings into attractive, accessible mobility hubs that promote sustainable travel

Mobility hubs are designed to bring together private and shared transport, supported by additional facilities to promote active travel (walking, wheeling and cycling). By enhancing the profile of sustainable travel, they can lead to a reduction in car use, as well as a drop in associated issues such as congestion, problem parking and poor air quality.

Widely seen in European cities, such as Amsterdam, Bremen and Vienna, and in the US, in Austin, Texas, mobility hubs can vary in size and complexity depending on their location.

A larger, more mature mobility hub next to a train station might feature a range of facilities, such as car parking, secure bike parking and EV chargers, alongside pedestrian signage guiding users to the city centre. Smaller mobility hubs may offer bike hire and directions for pedestrians and to public transport, while pop-up mobility hubs (smaller modular parklets that can move to different locations) can be

used to support sustainable transport initiatives, to help test demand ahead of the development of long-term mobility hub strategies.

Reimagining the future of car parks Mobility hubs can also offer additional services such as coffee shops, office pods, shops, lockers for online deliveries, car and bike hire, or bike repair facilities.

Jonathan Allan, head of learning and development at the BPA, says mobility

hubs are about reimagining what the car park can mean for the future of transport.

“They are positive initiatives that make it easier for people to choose from a range of transport options,” he says. “Someone in a rural area might switch from driving all the way to work in their car to just driving to a local station, catching a train and then walking. Someone else might give up their car completely and commute on an electric bike, knowing they can store it in a secure bike locker.”

Unlike traditional car parks, mobility hubs are designed to be appealing. They often incorporate planters, comfortable seating and refreshment facilities so that time spent there while waiting for public transport or charging an EV feels pleasant and safe. “The emphasis on making the mobility hub area accessible and appealing is important,” adds Jonathan.

What are the benefits?

Mobility hubs can make journeys easier, reduce congestion and promote active travel. CoMoUK, the national charity for shared transport, has created the UK’s only accreditation standard for designing and accessing mobility hubs. The six success factors include offering a choice of sustainable transport modes, safety, ease of switching between modes, and visual, social and community appeal. CoMoUK accredited sites include Maybole in South Ayrshire, Scotland, and Halesowen in the West Midlands.

The CoMoUK website is a key resource for organisations considering developing mobility hubs, offering meetings, webinars and consultancy services. “When designed and implemented well, mobility hubs bring together shared transport, public transport and active travel in spaces designed to improve the public realm for all,” says Richard Dilks,

CEO of CoMoUK. “They also make a strong contribution to cutting emissions, reducing the number of private cars, and lower parking stress.”

Kim Challis, APCOA’s regional MD (UK and Ireland) believes the concept is best explained by splitting the phrase in two. “‘Mobility’ involves partnerships for onward travel, such as e-bikes, secure cycle storage, disabled scooters and realtime travel information,” she explains. “While the ‘hub’ environment encourages people to spend time there, whether that’s for vehicle leasing services, prebookable office spaces or launderettes.”

How can mobility hubs be set up?

St Catherine’s Walk, Carmarthen

APCOA launched its first Urban Mobility Hub (UMH) at St Catherine’s Walk in Carmarthen in February 2023. Local retail and lifestyle habits had shifted, indicating the need for the site to offer more than just parking to enhance value for stakeholders. The site transformation took eight months and included installing an electrical substation to support the EV charging infrastructure and a significant internal redesign. The hub now boasts 17 EV chargers.

The parking equipment was upgraded with a modern ANPR system, with adaptions being made for customers with a Blue Badge. Additional features include a live transport screen with real-time public transport information, free Wi-Fi, LED lighting, parcel delivery lockers, customer seating and vending machines. There is also lockable bike storage and a BookaPod service that offers private workspace reservations.

APCOA has since opened UMHs in Manchester and Sheffield, and is managing Manchester City Council’s Ancoats UMH, which is set to become the largest in the UK.

“It’s time to let go of the term ‘car park’ and replace it with ‘mobility hub’”

Jonathan Allan, BPA head of learning and development

Mobility hubs have many benefits, but they require funding. Local authorities can apply for government funding, and the private sector is investing because the different components of a mobility hub can increase future revenue. “Flexible work patterns mean car parks in certain areas are underutilised, yet their locations can enhance sustainability with EV charging, emission-saving courier lockers, efficient LED lighting and solar panels where possible,” adds Kim. “The hub concept allows car park owners to commercialise their assets and integrate services that benefit the community, without relying solely on parking charges.”

Mobility hubs require significant planning to operate as effectively as possible. “Some sustainable transport

initiatives, such as cycle routes, are fairly straightforward to set up,” explains Jonathan. “Mobility hubs are more complex and involve coordinating various factors. Some local authorities might find this daunting, but I’d urge them to start small by identifying a suitable periphery car park. They can promote last-mile journeys through wayfinding signage, encouraging people to cycle, walk or use public transport to complete their journeys using the free BPA Park Active toolkit.”

Find out more

Download the BPA’s Park Active toolkit from park-active.co.uk/toolkit and visit como.org.uk to find out more about its standard for mobility hubs.

The design for APCOA’s first UMH at St Catherine’s Walk in Carmarthen

AI-driven parking: 2025 predictions from industry leaders

From smarter parking policies to seamless customer experiences, AI and big data are reshaping the car parking industry in the UK. Four experts share their predictions for the year ahead

WORDS | ANNA-MARIE DESOUZA

AI and big data are transforming the nation’s car parking industry, unlocking smarter and more efficient ways to manage urban mobility. From predictive analytics to integrated enforcement solutions, these innovations promise to tackle congestion, improve accessibility and deliver more sustainable outcomes.

To explore what 2025 holds for this rapidly evolving sector, we spoke to four industry leaders to hear their views.

Maricris Reantaso, SVP of Global Product, JustPark + ParkHub

At JustPark, we are increasingly leveraging AI to enable operators to get an insightful view of their business. JustPark Insights, our business intelligence tool, combines data sources and provides real-time analytics at speed. Elsewhere in the business, we are starting to use predictive analytics for targeted marketing, allowing us to profile customers effectively and precisely anticipate their needs.

For our drivers, we have introduced an AI-powered review aggregator. Drivers

want to know: Is it easy to park? Is the space suitable for my vehicle? We’ve collected over 2.5 million parking space reviews, but in a time-poor world, consumers glance at just a handful before making decisions, while businesses often struggle to extract actionable insights from such large volumes of feedback. AI can instantly summarise key information, helping drivers make informed decisions faster. For space owners, we can also identify trends and actionable insights to optimise offerings and improve service.

Peter O’Driscoll, MD, RingGo

Mobility data can now provide realtime and historical insights into parking behaviours, enabling urban planners, policymakers and businesses to make informed decisions that balance efficiency, equity and sustainability objectives.

Insufficient planning tools and long parking searches can create problems, such as congestion, which results in polluting emissions, unnecessary costs and frustration for drivers. With access to richer parking data, local policymakers can make better decisions. For example, areas with high parking demand can justify informed investments in dynamic pricing models or additional infrastructure to optimise turnover. Meanwhile, underutilised spaces can be transformed into pedestrian zones, parklets, or hubs for micro-mobility solutions.

RingGo’s suite of data-driven solutions integrate parking inventory, occupancy and operational data, along with expert advice from in-house data teams to support informed policymaking and improve enforcement processes. This empowers cities to move beyond educated guesses, ensuring decisions are rooted in actionable insights.

The parking industry is evolving rapidly. With recent consolidations, such as EasyPark’s acquisition of Flowbird, the integration of parking data with other mobility datasets is becoming more seamless. This enables city planners to map mobility behaviours, fostering accessible, low-emission and more liveable cities.

Hannah Fuller, director of commercial relationships, Unity5 While AI is still relatively untapped within the industry, big data is being used more frequently to understand behaviour patterns. Working with our partners and industry bodies such as the BPA, Unity5 is using data to improve parking compliance. Access to data enables business owners and parking managers

to find patterns across their estates. Big data contributes to initiatives such as emission-based parking and helps us to understand the impact of implementing clean-air zones.

We work with some smart AI technology in cameras and scanners – this enables accurate reads from greater distances in all weather. The improved accuracy reduces the time needed for checks and crosschecks, as well as recognising foreign or diplomatic plates.

The AI auto-obfuscation tool within our ANPR checker protects individuals and saves significant time for users who previously needed to obfuscate manually. Another innovation for 2025 is using AI to scan correspondence, helping customers to determine priority, improve accuracy and enable officers to respond more quickly across a range of communications.

Jade Neville, sales operations and marketing manager, Trellint AI and big data play a pivotal role in enabling data-driven decision-making – for local authorities, this allows for the development of smarter, evidencebased policies. For example, enhanced enforcement through integrated technologies such as ANPR will deliver more efficient operations.

At Trellint we leverage big data to help local authorities design smarter parking policies and optimise kerbside management. ANPR technology, deployed via electric mopeds equipped with advanced cameras with GIS systems, is a key component of our work. This allows local authorities to make informed decisions about enforcement zones, for example. By unifying kerbside data, we help create intelligent management systems that prioritise safety, sustainability and access for all road users. We also leverage cutting-edge solutions such as KERBSight to transform parking enforcement and kerbside management. KERBSight has achieved

“With the emergence of AI, the advancement of new technologies is accelerating rapidly. Standardised data is crucial for effective journey planning, integrated payment solutions, and pre-booking services for motorists of all vehicle types, including EVs and multimodal journeys. This is why the BPA developed the Alliance for Parking Data Standards. We will be holding AI and data learning labs across our BPA Live events and Parkex this year.”

Jon Allen, head of technology, innovation and research

a 700% increase in Vehicle Registration Mark (VRM) captures compared to streetbased Civil Enforcement Officers (CEOs). Furthermore, by enabling agile CEO deployment, and using real-time data to target low-compliance areas, KERBSight enhances operational efficiency.

Recognising the budget constraints of many cities, we utilise affordable CCTV and computer-vision alternatives to capture kerbside occupancy data efficiently. This strategy eliminates the need for expensive, large-scale sensor deployments, while still delivering meaningful insights.

Smarter kerbside management powered by AI will make urban areas more accessible to all users. Furthermore, authorities will have access to advanced tools to develop evidence-based policies that reduce congestion, promote sustainability and effectively address the needs of diverse stakeholders.

Find out more

The BPA’s Parking Technology interest group aims to help members consider best practice and develop standards for new and existing products. Find out more at britishparking.co.uk/Parking-Technology

Is size-based car parking charging inevitable?

Three experts discuss the potential for size-based charges in the UK, considering environmental impact, space efficiency and promoting smaller, eco-friendly vehicles

THE PANEL

Chris Head, head of development at RingGo

Chris has nine years’ experience in the parking industry, working closely with local authorities to design emissions-based charging schemes.

Dr Euan McTurk, director and co-founder of Charge Saint Euan is also a consultant battery electrochemist who provides technical and strategic insight to projects concerning EVs and energy storage technologies.

Jacob Pryor, transport policy, bidding and strategic projects group manager

Jacob is an experienced transport planner, specialising in bid and policy writing and scheme development.

With the ever-growing presence of SUVs on the roads and local councils grappling with congestion, climate change and the impact of larger and heavier vehicles on public spaces, the debate surrounding parking fees has taken on a new dimension: are size-based car parking charges inevitable in the UK? Parking News chairs a discussion with three industry figures to consider the question and whether such measures could address current industry challenges.

Size matters

Chris Head: It’s clear that vehicles have been increasing in size in recent years. The key concern is that with size comes added weight, particularly with the rise of battery electric vehicles [EVs}. Local authorities and our customers are increasingly concerned about the implications of these larger, heavier vehicles on road conditions, including wear and tear on highways. In 2024, SUVs topped the sales charts, and EVs now represent a significant portion of new car sales. This shi raises questions about road quality and air pollution – not just from tailpipe emissions but also from particulate matter generated by heavier vehicles, which is becoming a focal point for local governments.

Dr Euan McTurk: The issue here isn’t electrification, but the phenomenon of “SUVification”. For instance, the 2.4-tonne Tesla Model X may be a big EV, but it weighs less than a petrol Range Rover at 2.6 tonnes.

There are lighter EVs available, such as the Renault Zoe at 1.5 tonnes and the Dacia Spring at under a tonne. The market has gravitated towards bulkier designs, driven by safety features such as crash protection systems, and this has led to fewer compact, e icient vehicles. Manufacturers need to be designing more compact and more lightweight safety mechanisms to reduce the size of vehicles and discourage the “arms race” towards oversized SUVs.

CH: This “arms race” captures the anecdotal psychological factor at play. Many families feel compelled to drive larger cars, believing they o er superior safety. This mindset only exacerbates the issue of road congestion and parking di iculties.

EM: Exactly, and it leads to squeezed parking spaces and frustration in multistorey car parks [MSCPs]. Some cars now come with automatic parking features due to the challenges posed by large vehicles. This isn’t a sustainable solution. The industry needs to encourage rational thinking about vehicle size – there are plenty of smaller, e icient cars out there that have a modern Euro NCAP crash fivestar rating.

Manufacturers need to be considering vehicle weight distribution, too. An EV’s battery is typically distributed along the length of the vehicle, leading to an evenly distributed weight. Whereas in an internal combustion engine vehicle, you tend to have a very heavy front axle, which causes an imbalance in weight that causes more damage to MSCPs.

What’s also important to note is earlier EVs were quite heavy in comparison to

petrol and diesel vehicles. However, that gap is starting to narrow partly due to advances in battery electrochemistry. Particularly when we see the onset of the likes of silicon anodes, that will vastly improve the energy density of EV batteries. Which means you’re either going to get roughly double the range out of the same size of battery pack, or you could have half the size and therefore half the weight of a battery pack for the same range per charge. There’s also chemistries like lithium sulphur, which are inherently very light.

Jacob Pryor: We definitely need to be considering both weight and size implications. The size of a car can have an impact on the ability of the driver to execute safe passing distances, they take up more space on the kerbside, they can impair sightlines for people crossing the road and they significantly raise the risk of serious injury or death in the event of a collision. The weight of a car can lead to increased fuel consumption (and resultant emissions and air pollutants) and can cause more damage to footways.

Assessing car parking facilities

CH: These challenges are more pronounced in older MSCPs that are fundamentally designed for smaller vehicles. Rising car insurance costs are also a concern, as damages from oversized vehicles parking too closely together are increasing. Some car parking operators are offering additional insurance for incidents involving larger vehicles in their car parks, highlighting the growing concern that standard parking bays are no longer accommodating the modern vehicles.

There’s also a noticeable disparity between public and private parking services. Private operators – especially those offering a premium experience – are willing and able to adapt their spaces to accommodate larger vehicles in order to attract customers. In contrast, local authorities aren’t able to – and some might say shouldn’t be reacting in the same way by spending taxpayer money

effectively trying to cater for these large, fuel-emitting vehicles. Moving forward, we may start to see a significant disparity between the public and private sector, which is a concerning development.

JP: We haven’t experienced a rise in customers contravening car parking bay rules in Bristol. But, there is increasing feedback about the accessibility of bays suggesting that larger vehicles are not well adapted to our existing car park layouts. It’s currently not our policy to introduce sizebased car parking charges, but it would also be wrong to rule it out. It doesn’t seem likely that government will take a lead on this issue, so it’ll be up to local authorities to weigh up the case for change.

EM: The situation spills over into surrounding streets. Many historic towns simply weren’t designed for today’s larger vehicles, leading to issues like pavement parking affecting vulnerable users. Areas that have banned pavement parking,

“The key concern is that with size comes added weight, particularly with the rise of battery EVs”

such as in Scotland, have seen positive public reception, suggesting a growing willingness from customers to adapt.

JP: Bristol has narrow Victorian streets, too, and we find pavement parking often blocks access for pedestrians, cyclists and servicing and emergency vehicles. For residents reliant on mobility aids, pavement parking can prevent access to and from their home. There are

additional maintenance costs from pavement parking due to the damage to footways. Generally speaking, I don’t see pavement parking as either a safe nor equitable use of the space.

Is the technology available?

CH: Technology providers are only able to make decisions and enable operators and local authorities to charge differently based on the data that’s available to them. It needs to be reliable to enable change and make equitable parking charges as a result. Unfortunately, we’ve found that data on vehicle size is difficult to come by. It’s something we’re working on with a couple of London boroughs, who are looking to design weight-based schemes.

JP: I agree, there would need to be a significant piece of work determining at what thresholds the size or weight of a car would qualify for higher fees. There would be questions around how this information is kept up to date and how enforcement is practically carried out. These wouldn’t be insurmountable challenges, but it would be beneficial if there were a standardised approach across the country.

EM: The more data that can be put in the hands of technology providers such as ourselves, as well as policymakers, the more you will see these charge-based schemes proliferate across the UK.

Parisians have voted to create a specific tax for parking heavy, bulky and polluting cars. Which means vehicles such as SUVs will have to pay up to three times the current fee. I think if we were to have a referendum on this in the UK’s cities, we would see similar results. It could be straightforward to implement, much like how the DVLA looks up a car’s registration plate when assigning a permit, or the M6 toll knows what size of car you are driving.

Find out more

The BPA Parking Structures Group shares knowledge and best practice and aims to raise the standards of life-care planning for car park structures. britishparking.co.uk/Parking-Structures

Are size-based car parking charges inevitable?

CH: If emissions-based charges are anything to go by, then I think the answer is yes – especially in urban areas.

EM: I agree with you. It’s going to be the densely populated local authorities with lots of on-street parking and little off-street parking that will be the first movers on this. We keep seeing bigger vehicles enter the market. Unless we do something about it, we will end up with many people buying these unnecessarily huge vehicles to use primarily as a single occupancy commuter vehicle. It’s these cars which regularly take up more than one bay, preventing car parking operators from making revenue out of the blocked adjacent bay.

CH: These cars might even be contravening by taking up more than one space but customers will argue against parking charge notices because they have done all they can to park. Yes, they’re slightly over the line, but they will claim that it’s the vehicle’s fault or the car park’s fault and it’s not their responsibility. This narrative creates friction and another negative parking news story!

EM: I think it’s going to be more a case of when and how, rather than will sizebased car parking charging be introduced in the UK. It’s going to be more about the policies and decisions that authorities are looking to nudge that will determine how quickly size-based car parking schemes will be introduced here in the UK.

CH: I think we’re going to see and hear a lot more about weight-based parking schemes. The data is not fully reliable when it comes to vehicle size, and I think vehicle size is what people are rightly concerned about and targeting. But the way to influence and impact that is by targeting the weight issue, because the data is there and technology providers like us can make differential charging decisions based on that vehicular weight, as opposed to vehicle size, today.

EM: I think, for this policy to be effective, we need to be taking this internationally

You say

The debate on size-based car parking charges in the UK hinges on technological advancements that can quickly identify vehicle characteristics such as size and emissions. While achievable now, the decision to implement such measures requires careful consideration amid priorities such as managing EV and Blue Badge regulations to ensure equitable urban mobility solutions.

Mark Wilson, CCO at Unity5

Many of our parking spaces in Colchester are too narrow for modern vehicles. We’re creating wider spaces in St Mary’s car park to improve bay accessibility, functionality and the overall customer experience as well as vehicle circulation. Although parking fees will rise in April with inflation, this is unrelated to the changes in bay sizes.

Cllr Martin Goss, portfolio holder for neighbourhood services and waste

Offering some larger spaces for a fee should be considered as some will choose, through necessity or preference, to spend more and rent more space. I’ve made this recommendation several times and many clients have taken it on board and introduced larger bays, some with a different tariff, to good effect.

Russell Simmons, Stripe Consulting, council representative for the BPA Parking Structures Group

because we need more cars that are of a sensible size with reasonable weight constraints. Most of our cars are built to European spec, so we need Europe to introduce smaller, lighter vehicles. We need to be working together as an industry to change the manufacturers’ mindset.

JP: If you look at something like air quality and the emissions scandal, the government, local authorities and ultimately members of the public are paying for manufacturing externalities that could have been more effectively regulated and monitored from the outset.

Super-Charge Revenues with Nayax Energy: A Complete Park & Charge Solution

Simplify your EV customers’ experience and futureproof the growth of your parking business

As the electric vehicle (EV) boom continues, parking operators are tasked with delivering unprecedented convenience and e iciency for EV drivers. Nayax Energy is leading the way with its innovative, end-to-end solutions for park, charge-and-pay, which empower businesses to enhance their services and boost revenue.

Futureproof your business for continuous growth

The advantages of adopting competitive EV charging solutions are crystal clear: businesses must attract more customers and elevate their revenue potential.

The question is no longer whether to install EV charging at your facility, but rather how to source the most e ective and e icient solution. Nayax Energy’s EV Kiosk and Unomini are designed to do exactly that!

EV Kiosk: revolutionising the parking experience

A complete payment solution and cutting-edge technology, the EV Kiosk is an industry game-changer with features that set it apart from the competition, elevating customer experience.

The next-generation terminal is CPMS agnostic, seamlessly connecting through OCPI, ensuring smooth and transparent transactions. The EV Kiosk terminal provides a single point of contact for streamlining operations and optimizing e iciency. An Android operating system displayed on a five-inch screen can be mounted on a charger, wall, or post/pedestal, and each EV Kiosk is designed to support multiple connectors.

Once customers scan the QR code, their charging experience begins, displaying the ‘State of Charge’ in real time on their mobile phone. When they complete their charging session, they are presented with a downloadable

e-receipt on their mobile phone. All this without any need to install an app, onboard or having to provide credit card and personal details.

EV Kiosk is compliant with the UK’s Public Charge Point Regulations 2023, and o ers a full range of payment methods including PIN on Glass, contactless, magstripe, chip & pin, QR camera and barcode reader.

Uno-mini: A Compact Powerhouse

For parking facilities with limited power supply, Nayax Energy o ers a low-powered, compact, e icient payment solution with the Uno-mini.

Based on innovative technology, Uno-mini is userfriendly and a ordable without compromising on quality. With its ultra compact design, this device is an ideal alternative to seamlessly integrate contactless EMV payment capabilities into EV chargers and TVMs, particularly those that are solar and battery powered. O ering simple hardware and mechanical integration, it is the perfect choice for OEMs.

Upgrade your parking space with Nayax Energy Nayax Energy’s EV Kiosk and Uno-mini streamline operations and enhance customer experience by o ering a seamless park, charge-and-pay solution, unlocking new opportunities for your business growth and success.

www.nayax.com

Protecting frontline staff

Derek

Millard-Smith and Georgia Davies of BPA Lawline reveal how best to look after the wellbeing of your workers

Parking attendants are vital for maintaining tra ic flow and ensuring safe, legal parking. They monitor parking areas, coordinate vehicle flow, maintain safety and keep parking areas clean. Additionally, they are responsible for reporting hazardous conditions and breaches of parking rules.

In recent years, reports indicate that parking sta in England and Wales are facing increasing abuse, both verbal and physical. The North Essex Parking Partnership has seen a 175% increase in reported assaults against its enforcement sta over the past three years. As risks to frontline sta grow, employers must take reasonable steps to protect them under di erent, but overlapping legislative regimes.

Health and Safety at Work Act 1974

The HSW Act 1974 requires all employers to ensure a safe working environment for sta , whether they are permanent, casual, self-employed or temporary workers. It also addresses the issue of physical and

verbal violence that workers may be exposed to in the workplace.

A breach of the Act can result in criminal charges, including a fine, imprisonment or both, making it imperative for employers to e ectively address and mitigate risks, while maintaining a documented safety protocol.

Key points of the Act include:

1. Safe workplace

Employers must ensure that the physical workplace meets safety standards, particularly considering that many parking attendants work in the evenings/early mornings when it is dark outside. Adequate lighting in the car parks is essential, as is access to basic amenities, such as toilets.

2. Risk Assessments

Employers must protect the health and safety of their workers “as far as is reasonably practicable”. Which means they have a legal duty to assess the potential risks their employees may be exposed to. There are many di erent types of car parks – indoor and outdoor, multi-storey and underground – all of which will have their own dangers

The North Essex Parking Partnership has seen a 175% increase in reported assaults against its enforcement staff over the past three years

and risks. Each should be considered carefully when preparing the assessment, and reasonable measures should be taken to mitigate a potential risk. If something is identified as a very low risk and would incur significant cost to mitigate, it might not be actioned. However, this should not be used to avoid responsibility. Reasonably practicable means doing what would be reasonable for a business of your size and nature to do to avoid those risks. What is reasonably practicable for a major supermarket, for example, will be much more onerous than that for a sole trader corner shop.

3. Communication

Workers should be aware of any security measures the employer has in place and should have access to a dedicated contact who they can report to with any safety concerns. This person is responsible for ensuring all health and safety duties are carried out and adhered to by workers.

Georgia Davies BPA Lawline Solicitor in the Employment team bpa@jmw.co.uk

Derek Millard-Smith

BPA Lawline Partner, JMW Solicitors LLP bpa@jmw.co.uk

Employers should have an antiharassment policy in place and assess risks associated with employee interactions

4. Safety equipment

Publicity surrounding the treatment of public-facing staff during the COVID-19 pandemic shone a light on harassment experienced by frontline staff in all sectors working outside an office environment, alone at night or with customers. Practically, this led to employers equipping their staff with body-worn cameras and sometimes body armour to reduce the risk of violence and threats by providing an effective deterrent and crucial evidence for pursuing aggressors. That said, recording events must adhere to privacy rules and if misused can bring about issues with the data regulator, the ICO.

5. Employment Rights Bill 2024

The Employment Rights Bill introduced in October 2024 requires employers to take reasonable steps to prevent sexual harassment, particularly for employees in public-facing roles and who may be subjected to sexual or similar harassment by customers or the public. Employers should have an antiharassment policy in place and actively assess risks associated with employee interactions to ensure staff are not put in vulnerable situations, such as an isolated area not covered by CCTV, are not working alone during certain times, or can work in a welllit area. The law is now clear that

sexual or similar harassment by a third party should be treated just as seriously as harassment by a colleague, amplifying the onus on employers to recognise the increased risk for workers who operate alone, at night, or alone with customers, and respond robustly to complaints. Similarly to the health and safety requirements, an equivalent assessment covering these risks is advisable.

Even though the new legislation does not impose a positive obligation to protect employees against nonsexual harassment, employers still have a duty to risk assess their staff’s health and safety to prevent abuse and harassment and enforce robust policies when it does occur. This includes a zero-tolerance approach to harassment; whereby offending customers are prevented from using the car park. Employers should provide a clear reporting line so employees know how to raise concerns and ensure that supervisors receive comprehensive training on how to

respond to third-party harassment when it arises.

Remember the ‘Hansel and Gretel’ approach to ensuring a paper audit trail. Showing the steps you take will provide your organisation with a shield against criticism that adequate measures were not in place to protect employees. This approach of implementing robust policies, providing clear reporting mechanisms, and maintaining an audit trail of safety measures will help protect employees and shield organisations from potential legal repercussions, as well as help to create a secure environment for frontline staff in the challenging parking management sector.

BPA Lawline: find out more

This information is for reference only, if you have any specific legal queries arising from the content of this article or generally you can contact Derek Millard-Smith and his team at JMW Solicitors through BPA Lawline via bpa@jmw.co.uk or call directly on 0345 241 3024. BPA members can receive up to 30 minutes free legal advice from BPA Lawline.

Frontline staff often work alone, or in the early mornings or late at night when it is dark outside

Digital

Patrolling

Do

D-TROs: the traffic revolution coming to your Council (and

why you should care)

Have you ever been frustrated by how long it takes for new parking restrictions to be installed?

Digital Traffic Regulation Orders (D-TROs) promise a smoother, more efficient experience. With the 2025 deadline for D-TROs approaching, we spoke with Mike Potter from AppyWay about this critical change.

Why D-TROs matter?

TROs impact everyone – parking, road closures, and supporting sustainable mobility. D-TROs digitise the associated data, improving accessibility and decision-making. The result is a more effective transport network. For example, residents could easily find parking using a mobile app, while businesses could optimise delivery routes. Our towns and cities can become more accessible with more of a focus on sustainable mobility. Local councils implement and manage D-TROs, but both residents and businesses benefit.

The 2025 deadline - what does it mean to Councils?

The government’s 2025 deadline means councils must act now. For Councils without a D-TRO-compliant system it’s crucial to start the process as soon as possible to best ensure compliance. Implementing D-TROs isn’t just a technical change; it’s part of a broader, fundamental shift in managing traffic data and information.

Is D-TRO compliance difficult?

Not necessarily. With the right software, councils can be D-TRO compliant in days. Only new orders must meet D-TRO standards post-implementation. Solutions like AppyWay’s Traffic Suite simplify the process, while in-house development can be timeconsuming.

Digitising existing TROs takes longer, especially for councils without GIS data, which is a big reason why the DfT is initially focused on only new orders being D-TRO compliant

in 2025. Before deciding whether to build a D-TRO solution in-house or buy one, consider this: If you develop it yourself, do you have a dedicated team to ensure initial and ongoing compliance with evolving DfT requirements? Whichever option you choose, DTRO’s benefits – better traffic management and operational efficiency – are significant, and all existing traffic orders will need to be set up in a D-TRO complaint format in the future.

What should councils do now? Councils should get in touch with software providers and their own GIS teams as soon as possible. The public beta for D-TRO launches this March, with full implementation coming in 2025. Some councils are already on board, but others are at risk of lagging behind. While it’s unclear what consequences noncompliance will bring, financial penalties have been mentioned in recent Department for Transport D-TRO webinars.

Although D-TROs are a legal requirement from the Df T, they offer more than just compliance. A good D-TRO system can lead to significant gains in productivity and better kerbside and parking management – including the potential to increase revenues by improving the efficiency of enforcement. If feedback from our customers is anything to go by, most wonder why they didn’t do it sooner!

If you have questions, where can you find help?

The DfT and British Parking Association provide guidance, and AppyWay offers support, including a free ebook, The Essential Digital Traffic Orders Guide, available on Appyway’s website (in the Resources section).

*(D-TRO legislation currently applies to English authorities, with other UK nations expected to follow.)

Potter, AppyWay’s

of Commercial, brings over a decade of experience in local highway authority work. His expertise in managing Traffic Orders for a local highway authority before joining AppyWay has been instrumental in implementing innovative solutions for councils. appyway.com

Mike

Head

A new wave in design

Sunderland City Council’s Riverside Sunderland MSCP has scooped the Infrastructure and Transport Project of the Year at the AJ Architecture Awards 2024. Parking News spoke to Mike Tonkin of design studio Tonkin Liu to find out more

Sunderland City Council’s new multi-storey car park (MSCP) is part of the emerging urban quarter, Riverside Sunderland. Located on the river in the heart of the city, it has been designed to reduce congestion by consolidating parking in one large facility, promoting pedestrian and cycling priority.

The design studio Tonkin Liu became involved in the project after winning a competition organised by arts consultant Working pArts. The final design is a collaboration between Tonkin Liu, Goldbeck, Sir Robert McAlpine and a team of consultants. The brief called for an extensive artwork to enclose the 100-metre long, 16-metre tall concrete car park.

“Car parks of the past were merely functional pieces of architecture,” says Mike Tonkin. “This MSCP aims

“This car park aims to give Sunderland an identity as much as providing a sustainable infrastructure”

to give Sunderland an identity just as much as providing a sustainable structure.”

A winning design

Tonkin Liu’s design draws inspiration from Sunderland’s maritime history and its relationship with the sea. “We envisioned the facade as a vast representation of the ocean, intended to lift the cars from the urban landscape into a metaphorical sea above, creating a visual poetry that resonates with the city’s identity,” says Mike.

A key feature of the facade is the aluminium panels by Maple, lasercut to create a dynamic, wave-like pattern that reflects both the sea and the sky. “The anodised panels mirror the changing light conditions, creating a living piece of art,” says

Mike. “If the sky is blue, the facade reflects the same colour.”

The perforated screens also provide essential shading and airflow for passive and natural ventilation across the car park, while integrated LED

The structure’s anodised panels change with the light conditions

lighting illuminates the structure at night in hues of blue and green, adding to the immersive experience, as well as providing a safe, bright and user-friendly 24-hour parking environment.

Going green

A prefabricated modular car park system by German manufacturers Goldbeck was chosen for its build and cost e iciency and design flexibility. “The whole above-ground system can be dismantled and relocated, including the artwork facade,” says Mike.

Further enhancing its ecological credentials, the car park includes green walls, rainwater harvesting systems, computer-controlled LED lights to minimise energy consumption, and PV panels on the roof feeding charging points for EVs.

On reflection

The project has won multiple awards, including Best New Car Park at the British Parking Awards 2023 and Infrastructure and Transport Project of the Year at the 2024 AJ Architecture Awards. The car park

“Thoughtful design can transform a car park from a necessity into a vibrant part of the landscape”

QUICK FACTS

Car park sqm: 18,580

Number of levels: 11 Total car park bays: 657

Accessible bays: 49 EV charging bays: 4

EV spaces: 115 Other facilities: Motorcycle storage, accessible WC & changing place, plus free secure parking for bicycles on request and 24-hour parking

also has the BPA’s Park Mark Plus and Park Access accreditations.

“It demonstrates how thoughtful design can transform a car park from a utilitarian necessity into a vibrant part of the urban landscape, setting a benchmark for future developments and proving that infrastructure can indeed be both functional and inspiring,” adds Mike.

Share your success

Whether you’ve been part of a new site development, renovation or a simple but transformational new idea, we’d like to hear about it. Share your best practice stories with editor@britishparking.co.uk

Construction budget: £15.4m + VAT

Facade budget: £1.78m + VAT

The exterior perforated screens o er natural ventilation

eventsBPA

REPORTS, PREVIEWS AND DATES FOR YOUR DIARY

Country Conferences 2025

The BPA is pleased to announce dates for its country group conferences in 2025: 23 September: Parking Scotland Conference and Expo, Perth Concert Hall, Perth 15 October: Parking and Transport Wales Conference and Expo, Metropole Hotel, Llandrindod Wells

20 November: All-Ireland Parking Show, Clontarf Castle, Dublin

BPA Live 2025 kicks into gear

THE BPA Live 2025 tour kicked o in Leeds (above) in February with thought-provoking content, expert speakers and networking opportunities, as well as the popular Aspire ‘street food’ lunch. This year featured more peer-topeer pods – dedicated interest group sessions for members in healthcare, higher education, enforcement and technology.

Parkex 2025: register now!

Visitor registration to Parkex on 21-22 May is now open. Scan the QR code to find out more

The first of a series of Learning Labs also launched, o ering hands-on workshops addressing key challenges. One session focused on tackling the rising issue of Blue Badge fraud. The other session was led by our Parking Technology members on Parking & Tra ic Tech: Shaping the future with datadriven solutions, discussing how technology is digitising the parking experience through ANPR, cashless payments and data tools. Both sessions were supported by Technology partner JustPark, while the entire 2025 series is supported by Gold sponsor CDER Group and

Silver sponsor Unity5. On to Brighton and the Amex Stadium for round two, where Brighton & Hove City Councillor Trevor Muten gave the keynote speech before joining the opening panel to discuss how the sector can join forces to ‘transform the future of parking’. This interactive session, guided by BPA Council member Sarah Randall, included questions for the expert panel and the audience, and followed on from Ken Prior, whose numbers game in Leeds got people on their feet to highlight the challenges for the sector in managing the number of vehicles on our roads.

A er more peer-to-peer pods, the day concluded with a session led by the University of Sussex, examining the risks of AI, its impacts and potential influences on the parking sector – both positive and negative. Before Learning Labs began, attendees participated in a City & Guilds taster on conflict management in frontline parking roles.

For a place at BPA Live, Bristol on 19 March go to landing.britishparking.co.uk/bpa-live.

AOS Live is a one-day conference and exhibition taking place in London (venue TBC) on 15 September and will follow the BPA Live format with interactive sessions, breakout discussions and guest speakers.

Other events

6 March: Parking Structures Interest Group, virtual meeting

19 March: Ashton Gate, Bristol 17 April: TFF Smarter Parking Group, virtual meeting

THANK YOU TO OUR BPA LIVE EVENTS SPONSORS:

In loving memory of David Bayliss

Parking News remembers David Bayliss for his contributions and leadership in the field of transportation

David Bayliss was a pioneering figure in transport planning, making significant contributions from the outset of his career. He was instrumental in the Centre for Environmental Studies’ influential paper: ‘New Directions in Strategic Transportation Planning’.

Upon joining the Greater London Council (GLC), David became the lead GLC witness on transport during the Greater London Development Plan (GLDP) inquiry, stepping into the role unexpectedly when the previous lead officer withdrew. Over the next two years, he captivated colleagues and the panel with his technical expertise, charm and wit. Transport dominated the inquiry and colleagues remember him for introducing the panel to the concept of “wet ends” of motorways and, while under cross examination, skilfully

David was also appointed chair of a major OECD study, ‘Better Towns with Less Traffic’, the findings of which continue to resonate 50 years later

countering claims that mathematical transport models were culturally biased, asserting that he found mathematics to be “relatively culture free”.

When the GLDP was adopted in 1976, the notion of urban motorways disrupting London’s historic landscape had been abandoned, leading to the establishment of maximum parking standards.

David led the GLC’s Transportation Branch until its dissolution in 1986, fostering a culture of innovation that produced numerous ideas, such as the Supplementary Licensing study, which laid the groundwork for the 2003 London Congestion Charging scheme.

By the 1980s, the Metropolitan Police had largely abandoned effective parking enforcement. The GLC proposed municipal parking enforcement measures drawing heavily on the Washington DC Parking Enforcement Program.

Unfortunately, these proposals coincided with the government’s decision to abolish the council, leading to their swift dismissal. Six years later, the civil service attempted to revive the project with limited success.

David played a crucial role in keeping the GLC at the forefront of urban transport planning. He and Tony May, who later became a Chair at the Institute for Transport Studies at the University of Leeds, served as advisers to the World Bank for its evaluation of Singapore’s pioneering road pricing scheme of 1975.

After the GLC’s abolition, David became director of planning at London Transport, where he successfully advocated for a delay in the deregulation of bus services, resulting in London switching instead to franchised services. This started a 40-year live experiment on alternative models for managing the bus industry, which is still influencing government policies today.

David remained committed to an evidence-based analytical approach to transport planning throughout his career, culminating in his work as a trustee of the RAC Foundation and writing a series of reports on transport expenditure, taxes and subsidies, and on local road conditions. His last paper, in a memorial edition for Christopher Foster, was: ‘Motoring towards Net Zero – Old Problems and New Challenges’ (Journal of Transport Economics and Policy, 2023).

Throughout his career, David provided support and encouragement to young professionals, not least through his leadership of the newly formed Transport Planning Society, leaving a lasting legacy in transport planning.

Everyone at the BPA is saddened to hear of the passing of Donald Shoup, described by the BPA’s CEO Andrew Pester as “a true legend of parking” (see page 3). Read a full obituary in the next issue of Parking News

Thanks to: Ken Gwilliam, Tony May, Peter Mackie, Geoff Havers and Peter Guest, who all worked with David over the years.

Donald Shoup

“I’m

excited for the next chapter”

We catch up with Mark Wilson to find out more about his new role as CEO at Unity5

Following the announcement that David Herbert will be stepping down as CEO at the end of March 2025, Mark Wilson, current CCO, has been appointed as his replacement.

What interested you about the role?

Unity5’s founders, Dave Herbert and Lukasz Kieruczenko, have built a reputation for delivering customercentric, innovative solutions, and I love their motto: ‘making the complex simple’. The company has grown rapidly, and I’m looking forward to retaining its culture, while scaling to meet the demands of our growing customer base.

David’s passion for helping customers is infectious and, while it’s daunting to fill his shoes, I’m excited to lead Unity5 into its next chapter of growth. I want Unity5 to maintain its leadership position and continue setting the benchmark for excellence in customer service and technological innovation.

When does the job start?

I o icially step into the CEO role on 1 April, following Dave’s transition to vice-chair and acting CTO.

What are the biggest technology challenges facing the industry?

More complex car parks and increasing costs mean operators must move beyond traditional patrolling models. We support our customers on this journey by focusing on digital patrolling – developing

new ways to use camera technology to meet evolving challenges. AI and data-driven enforcement will also play a crucial role, but the real challenge lies in ensuring these technologies are simple to adopt and deliver real value. At Unity5, we empower customers with integrated solutions that enhance e iciency and improve experiences.

Can you reveal any new developments?

We are expanding our flagship products, Zatpark and Zatpermit, to o er enhanced features. Key investments include advanced analytics and AI-driven tools, allowing clients to gain deeper insights and improve e iciency. We are also exploring smarter solutions for EV management and integration with future technologies.

Tell us an interesting fact about yourself?

I have a deep love for old Volkswagens and own two 1960s models. Their timeless design and practicality resonate with me. As an engineer, I appreciate their mechanical simplicity and ease of maintenance. These vehicles embody principles that align with my business approach: simplicity, accessibility and a focus on quality that lasts. Unity5 is committed to applying these principles –developing innovative, reliable solutions to make life easier for our customers.

Introduce your parking people If you have new faces, movers and shakers you would like to share, please email editor@britishparking.co.uk

Movers and shakers

A round-up of the latest hires, departures and promotions across the industry.

• Baz Street joins Be.EV as its new head of business development. Prior to joining Be.EV, Baz worked at EV charging network Gridserve.

• Anthony Cashel has been appointed COO of PaybyPhone. He’ll be responsible globally for marketing, implementations, technical operations, client and customer support, and partnerships.

• Martin Bemba has been appointed managing director of Scheidt & Bachmann Parking Solutions. He succeeds Martin Kammler, who will take on the role of Group CEO.

We are committed to innovating with our customers’ needs in mind, ensuring our values are reflected in everything we do

NEWS, AWARDS, NEW MEMBERS, AND MORE...

Membership tiers: the difference is clear, the choice is yours

ollowing an in-depth review of your association’s membership fee structure, the BPA is excited to launch a new membership benefit tiers offering. The new fee options will allow members to decide which tier best meets their needs based upon the benefits they use.

The fees have been carefully considered and benchmarked with an emphasis on delivering value across all tier options. This is the first time in 15 years that a full-scale fee review has been undertaken, and the changes will better enable the association to meet the current and future needs of an evolving sector. A more sustainable fee modal enables continued investment in improving and expanding the services

and representation provided to members, whilst catering for an evolving membership base and predicted increases in consolidation of member organisations.

Key takeaways

• Transparent: easy-to-understand fixed tier pricing

• Choice: you choose which tier works for you based upon your needs

• Flexible: greater choice and a clear overview of benefits

• Fair: fees are no longer based simply upon parking-related turnover

• Simpler: one renewal point for all in April (rather than annually on joining date)

BPA members will soon be asked to consider their preferred membership tier ahead of the new structure, which launches on 1 April 2025. Understandably, members may have questions about how these changes affect them, and to assist with most initial questions there are a set of FAQs that can be accessed at britishparking.co.uk/Join-the-BPA

The vast majority of members won’t see an increase in their current fees. If you have any concerns or would like to discuss the tier options further, please email membership@ britishparking.co.uk for assistance and one of the team will be happy to help you.

Welcome to the BPA’s new members!

BML Group

Security and facilities management. bmlgroup.co.uk

Concrete Repairs

Complete service from surveys through to the refurbishment and ongoing management. crl.uk.com

The Coppermines Lakes Cottages

Self-catering accommodation. coppermines.co.uk

Demondo

Financial services debt collection service. demondo.com/en

Digital Ties

Tech company connecting businesses with government and services. digitalties.co.uk

NVA Video Analytics

ALPR experts in designing software to accurately read text on vehicles, objects, labels, forms and parcels. nvavideoanalytics.com

March Networks

Video surveillance and business intelligence solutions. marchnetworks.com

Micromobility Solutions

Fleets of e-bikes locked and charged in dedicated ports across inner city parking locations. port.app

Pair Parking

Elevates your hotel’s parking and charging experience, using tech to digitise and automate the process. pairparking.com

Stirling Park

Enforcement of debt collection in Scotland. stirlingpark.co.uk

Stratford City Car Park

Westfield retail car park. westfield.com

University of Brighton

University educator. brighton.ac.uk

Zicam Systems Group

Integrated smart fire and security systems for businesses in the UK and Ireland. zicam-security.co.uk

AM-GO is a-go at Heathrow

eathrow has become the UK’s first airport to sign up to the BPA’s new Approved Meet and Greet Parking Operator scheme (AMGO), endorsed by Police Crime Prevention Initiatives (Police CPI) making it the only police-backed scheme of its kind. The onboarding process for quality meet-and-greet operators servicing Heathrow is now underway, raising standards and providing

confidence and assurance for customers.

Sara Fisher, BPA head of operations and business development, said: “We are delighted that Heathrow has become the first UK airport to sign up to AM-GO. For over 20 years, we have collaborated with the police to raise safety and standards in parking. This scheme will enable passengers to book their parking with confidence.”

NEW PANEL TO OVERSEE UK PRIVATE PARKING SECTOR CODE

The newly established Private Parking Scrutiny and Advice Panel (PPSAP) will oversee the UK’s private parking sector Single Code of Practice (the Code), formed to provide an impartial oversight mechanism to ensure the Code raises standards for consumers. It will also fast-track updates to the Code to reflect technological advancements.

Andrew Pester, chief executive of the BPA, said: “The panel is an important step in delivering consistency to the oversight of the private parking sector Single Code of Practice. We want to demonstrate that we are serious not only about raising standards, but also about making decisive changes to the Code when issues arise.”

Love your Association?

Let us know!

The BPA encourages its members to share a positive review of their experience with the Association on Trustpilot. Dave Smith, head of marketing and events, says: “Unfortunately, we often receive reviews from the public who are unhappy about a parking ticket. Genuine, positive reviews really help us raise awareness about our schemes, initiatives and company values, and clarify our role as a not-for-profit organisation. This allows us to continue making a positive impact on parking.” Scan the QR code or visit: uk.trustpilot. com/evaluate/www.britishparking.co.uk

Recognising high standards

The Park Street car park managed by Cambridge City Council is the first UKaccessible parking facility to be awarded the Park Access® EV accreditation. Park Street car and cycle park opened last November, featuring two accessible EV charging spaces among 16 Blue Badge parking spaces, out of a total 222 underground parking bays. Twenty-six are active EV charging spaces, with more planned as demand grows.

Westfield’s car parks in Shepherd’s Bush and Stratford have adopted Park Active, following similar initiatives in Brighton and Colchester. Park Active promotes active travel, improving congestion and air quality. Motorists are encouraged to park at designated locations before completing their journey on foot or by bicycle using Additional Park Active signage.

For more details and a free branding toolkit, please email: communications@ britishparking.co.uk.

Specialist services

Suppliers to support your operation

Marketplace

BPA’s product and services guide

APPYWAY

Helping cities decarbonise, from the kerb up. Faster, more accurate digital tra ic order management. Automated, centralised tari management. Driver-centric parking payments and connected car services. Real-time bay occupancy and insights. EV charge point integrations and data-led rollout. sales@appyway.com | appyway.com

CAMMAX LIMITED

Cammax o er 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 o er flexible solutions along with outstanding customer service. 01977 669946 | info@cammaxlimited.co.uk | www.cammaxlimited.co.uk

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. Conor Greely | 0208 819 7451 | sales@carflow.co.uk | www.carflow.co.uk

CSL

CSL has been providing secure connectivity for critical IoT applications for over 25 years. Their fully managed, end-to-end connectivity innovations utilise technologies such as 4G and are secure, reliable and hassle-free, whilst their expert support teams are here for you 24/7. +44 (0) 7909 991 090 | hiran.ravat@csl-group.com

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. 01932 784040 | sales@designauk.com | www.designa.com

DIRECT COLLECTION BAILIFFS LTD

The UK’s largest parking enforcement debt resolution provider. Letter cycle recovery service with a 25% higher collection rate than our competitors. 0203 434 6132 | enquiries@dcbltd.com

ENTRY PARKING POSTS

Entry Parking Posts is a well established UK company, founded over 30 years ago, specialising in tra ic control equipment, spike barriers, and the original manufacturer of ALLIGATOR TEETH. Our tra ic direction restrictors are superior in design and performance to tra ic flow plates. Our equipment solves any problems you may have controlling access, tra ic and maintaining the security of your site. 01564 773188 | www.entryparkingposts.com

FLOOR & WALL LTD

Floor + Wall operates throughout the U.K. Offering a range of services from specialist waterproofing coatings for parking structures, industrial screeds and specialist resin flooring, structural waterproofing and concrete repairs.

As an award winning family built company we are continuously looking to challenge and develop the way the industry engages contractors.

Floor and Wall Ltd, Kelfield House, Berkeley Business Centre, Doncaster Road, Scunthorpe DN15 7DQ | +44 (0) 1724 281 500 | www.floorandwallltd.com

G24

G24 specialises in providing car park management solutions specifically tailored to suit retailers, retail parks and other corporate and independent organisations throughout the UK. Caroline Sargeant | 0370 0427 215 | caroline.sargeant@g24.co.uk | www.g24.co.uk

HUB PARKING TECHNOLOGY

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

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

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. Jim Williamson | +44 (0)1482 873597 | sales@nagels.co.uk | www.nagels.com

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.

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

Marketplace

NSGL

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

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

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 o er on site surveys and reports.

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

PARKING ASSOCIATES LTD

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

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

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 e ortlessly in a highly connected world. Managing thousands of sites with a 98% client retention rate, our team deliver results which help our customers thrive.

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

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. 0333 332 7930 | info@parksmartsolutions.co.uk

RTA ASSOCIATES LTD

RTA Associates o ers 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. Peter Lowe | 07900 264137 | plowe@rtaassociates.co.uk | www.rtaassociates.co.uk

STRUCTURECARE

With a proven track record of excellence, we specialise in revitalising and optimising multi-storey car parks to meet the highest standards of functionality, safety, and aesthetics, including, concrete repair, expansion joints, deck and decorative coatings, line and bay demarcations, and maintenance programmes. 01270 439909 | info@structurecare.com | www.structurecare.com

SWARCO TRAFFIC LTD

Experts in parking systems, electric vehicle charging solutions, signage & safety systems, and tra ic control & management. SWARCO solutions improve quality of life by making the travel experience safer, quicker, more convenient and environmentally sound. 01748 824624 | info.uk@swarco.com | www.swarco.com

TAGMASTER UK

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

4 Caxton Place, Caxton Way, Stevenage, Hertfordshire SG1 2UG 01438 347555 | sales.uk@tagmaster.com | | www.uk.tagmaster.com

TOTAL PARKING SOLUTIONS

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. 01536 680107 | info@totalparking.co.uk | www.totalparking.co.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, o er a seamless payment platform with dual functionality to pay for parking or EV charging. Supported by a unique back o ice system, the Twin range of products is fully OCPP compliant. 0114 3497070 | enquiries@twinpay.com | www.twinpay.com

UNITY5

Unity5 make the complex simple with market leading Zatpark parking enforcement, administration and management so ware, incorporating an ANPR-enabled street enforcement mobile app. Features provide complete control of the full life-cycle of parking enforcement data, from issue to recovery action and every step between. 03333 440515 | www.unity5.com

VIDEALERT

Videalert is the UK’s leading supplier of intelligent tra ic enforcement and management solutions that deliver the highest productivity at the lowest operational cost. With over 2,000 locations installed across the UK, Videalert o ers a comprehensive suite of CCTV tra ic and parking management solutions, comprising attended, unattended, and mobile, using the same intelligent digital video platform. paul.costello@marstonholdings.co.uk | marstonholdings.co.uk/videalert/

Money, money, money

Who actually profits from parking charges? Kelvin Reynolds explores why easy payment options are crucial for compliance, and why the narrative around ‘costly’ parking charges often misses the bigger picture

Politicians o en champion the hardworking taxpayer who pays the price for excesses in the parking sector. Aren’t we all hardworking taxpayers? It could be said “Innocent motorists pay for those who don’t comply with parking rules”. However, that’s not a catchy headline is it?

Clearly, politicians ignore the fact that local authority income from all penalty charges and on-street parking fees is o en ring-fenced, with parliament setting legal limitations on surplus usage. Likewise, local authorities are prohibited from setting out to make a surplus from parking services.

O -street parking charges may be set commercially, with operators (including local authorities) using profits or surpluses as they choose. The operative word is ‘commercially’, because there is no such thing as free parking. Regardless of whether it’s private or public parking, sound business decisions need to be made about what the service o ering will be, who pays for it, and the maintenance of the associated real estate.

Space management

Shopkeepers o en claim they will have to close their business due to the lack of free parking. However, it’s the retail sta who arrive first and typically acquire the best spaces, leaving

customers with limited options. Paid parking benefits everyone by funding services and managing and maintaining space e ectively.

Based on my experience, enforcement people only issue a parking charge or penalty charge notice (PCN) when they honestly believe that a parking contravention has occurred. For me, the key word is ‘notice’. A PCN alone is not a ‘penalty’ or ‘fine’ or ‘charge’. It becomes one only when it’s paid. In practice, a PCN is an invitation to discuss, through representations and appeals, the details of the parking event when the driver doesn’t agree that a contravention occurred. The media o en misrepresent this, focusing on the millions in parking fines, claiming that over half are wrongly issued because they are cancelled on appeal. But that’s the point, surely?

Misleading claims

Transport economist John Siraut, in a recent LinkedIn post, clarified that local authorities are not profiting £1bn from parking fees and charges

annually, as is o en claimed by the RAC and the media. In reality, local taxpayers subsidise driving and motoring generally. So, next time there is a call for realistic penalty charges or parking charges to cover the costs and reduce the burden on local council tax or business rates payers’ money which is actually subsidising the parking facilities – especially when it’s provided for free – let’s hope the Government is listening to fact rather than fiction. Additionally, if we expect people to pay for their parking, it should be straightforward. I recently faced di iculties at a hospital with malfunctioning payment terminals and unhelpful sta , leading to a frustrating experience. Likewise, at a retail centre, I was given five minutes to park, read the rules and decide whether I wanted to stay. I didn’t, because I didn’t have the means to pay because it required me to sign up to pay online only, so I drove out 10 minutes later. I then needed to concern myself over the next two weeks about whether I would receive a PCN. These situations illustrate compliance challenges rather than outright refusal. If we make it complicated, or we make it seem unfair, we will get complaints or we will get non-compliance. Simples!

The key word in PCN is ‘notice’

Copyright:

Matt Cant Photography