Parking Review Issue 393 by Landor LINKS

Brave will be the minister who strengthens the ability of councils to enforce parking

Curbing the car gets their vote

Will the government act on antisocial parking and SUVs in towns?

The UK government is being urged to provide local authorities with stronger and extended traffic and parking enforcement powers. For example, parent and clean air groups are making the case for curbing the use of increasingly large SUVs in town and cities centres. Active travel, disability and road safety campaigners are keeping up their call for a truly nationwide ban on pavement parking. Likewise, local authorities across England are asking for the cost of penalty charge notices to be increased to enhance their deterrent effect. However, enforcement is a contentious issue that becomes the subject of simplistic public discourse. For the media, parking is a regular source of ‘shock horror’ stories and for motoring organisations the issuing penalties is potentially just a ‘cash cow’ for local authorities and parking operators alike. Many councillors have made the case for stronger powers to mitigate the impacts of antisocial parking, and brought in measures such as school streets and emissions-based permits. Local politicians who make the case for parking controls repeatedly win at the ballot box because freeing up pavements and making streets safer are ideas that resonate with constituents. But curbing the car is not seen to be an obvious vote winner at a national level, so brave will be the government minister who steps up and actually introduces much needed enforcement measures even if they generate the wrong kind of headlines.

Mark Moran Editor

Parking Review online: www.parkingreview.co.uk

Lambeth Council’s deputy leader and clean air champion

Cllr Rezina Chowdury with children campaigning against SUVs in towns and cities

Driving ahead on pavements

Drivers are divided on how to tackle pavement parking in England, but RAC research shows most want to see action

Car park partially collapses

The top deck of the Walkden multi-storey car park in Mansfield fails while structure stands empty awaiting essential repairs

Excellence 2025

Landor LINKS brought together local authorities, campaigners and technologists to discuss a wide range of topical issues

Ensuring access to justice

Caroline Hamilton, chief adjudicator of the Traffic Penalty Tribunal, has published her annual report for 2024-25

Unlocking the value of rail stations

Rail Industry Association study shows best ways to unlock value of railway stations

Car clubs need to become more accessible for disabled people, says collaborative mobility charity CoMoUK

Bridging the charging divide

Inaccessible cross-pavement products prevent many disabled people from switching to EVs, warns Motability Operations

EVolution Magazine

The

developments in electric vehicle infrastructure

Moreton-in-Marsh’s new look rail station

Pavement parking shouldn't be banned (13%)

Don’t support a ban. Councils should be able to enforce a ban on pavement parking on specific roads (41%)

Drivers' views on a pavement parking ban

Support a ban, with councils able to exempt certain roads after consultation (42%)

Driving ahead on pavements

Drivers are divided on how to tackle pavement parking in England, but RAC research shows most want to see action

Eight-in-10 drivers (83%) want the government to take action to tackle pavement parking in England, but they’re split on how best to approach the problem, new RAC research shows. Forty-two percent of people responding to the RAC are supportive of an outright ban on parking on pavements in England, while a virtually identical proportion (41%) instead want to see councils given powers to ban the practice on specific roads more easily than they can today.

The research involved 1,709 drivers, with the survey closing on 6 July 2025. Responses were rim-weighted to be nationally representative of UK motorists in age, gender, socio-economic groups and all UK regions.

Ahead of the government publishing its proposals for tackling pavement parking, the findings confirm the problem is widespread. Most drivers (66%) say they see vehicles either partially or fully parked on pavements close to where they live. Of these, a third (33%) report seeing vehicles blocking pavements every day, with a further 30% witnessing it happening on most days. Just 5% of motorists said they never see vehicles blocking pavements.

Of all those motorists who witness vehicles blocking pavements, 44% say they often see pedestrians having to walk into the road as a result, with the same proportion (44%) seeing this happen occasionally. Just 12% of this group say they never see pedestrians having to do this.

When asked what they would consider to be the most appropriate penalty if any form of ban was introduced in England, 44% of drivers said first-time offenders should be sent a written warning letter, followed by a fine for any future contraventions.

Almost one-in-five (17%) think an immediate fine is appropriate, while a similar 16% believe a written warning followed by a fine and three penalty points for future violations is appropriate. A further 5% favour an immediate fine and three penalty points, while a fifth (18%) don’t think it should be deemed an offence in the first place.

A pavement parking ban has existed in London since 1974, with offenders fined between £140 and £160 depending on where in the city they park. In Scotland, a ban was introduced in 2025, with drivers facing a £100 penalty, reduced to £50 if paid within 14 days. Outside Scotland and London, no such general ban exists. Currently, councils in England must consult on and implement separate Traffic Regulation Orders (TROs) to ban pavement parking on specific roads – a process that can be costly and time consuming.

How often do drivers see parked vehicles blocking pavements?

Base: those that observe vehicles blocking pavements

Source: RAC research of 1,700 UK drivers weighted to be nationally representative, June/July

A previous House of Commons Transport Committee – chaired by the current future of roads minister Lilian Greenwood – highlighted the problem in a report in 2019 and noted that previous action to tackle it had been “slow and… not improved people’s day-to-day lives.”

The last government consulted on plans in 2020, but a response was never published. However, in July the current government signalled its intention to do so.

RAC senior policy officer Rod Dennis said: “There’s no doubting pavement parking is a serious problem in some communities that needs tackling, but it’s still the case that it’s been more than five years since the previous government signalled its intention to tackle the blight in England. No pavement user should be forced into walking or wheeling into the road because of someone parking inconsiderately.

“A clear majority of drivers agree and want to see an end to needless pavement parking that causes accessibility problems, but when it comes to the solution, the jury is out.

“The same proportion of drivers want to see an outright ban on all roads as want councils to be given powers to more easily ban the practice on specific roads. This probably reflects the fact that not all UK streets are the same – after all, some drivers will put a tyre or two on the kerb on narrow residential streets to ensure other vehicles can still pass them, while not blocking pedestrians using the pavement.

“It’s also important to realise that even with an outright ban, councils would presumably still have to allow pavement parking in some places to ensure streets remain passable.

“Any future government policy therefore needs to strike the right balance between stamping out pavement parking that causes a danger to people walking or wheeling, and ensuring some of England’s streets don’t end up being inadvertently blocked by parked vehicles.

“An England-wide ban, plus a simple process for councils to exempt certain streets, is one option. The other is to take away the red tape councils currently need to get through to enforce pavement parking bans on specific streets.

“We look forward to seeing the government’s proposals in due course which we hope will put an end to poor parking practices that put pavement users in danger.”

Pavements: MPs are on the case

Members of Parliament have been actively raising awareness of the problem of pavement parking in Parliament in recent months. James McMurdock, independent MP for South Basildon & East Thurrock, asked the transport secretary what discussions have been had with local authorities on ensuring the safety of wheelchair users, people with visual impairments and parents with prams when pavements are obstructed by parked vehicles.

On 24 July future of roads minister Lilian Greenwood wrote:

“The Secretary of State has not had any discussions with local authorities on these matters. The government fully understands the serious problems that vehicles parked on the pavement, and other obstacles on the pavement, can cause for pedestrians, especially for people with mobility or sight impairments and those with wheelchairs, prams or pushchairs. The Department has been considering all the views expressed in response to the 2020 pavement parking consultation and is currently working through the policy options and the appropriate means of delivering them.

“We will announce the next steps and publish our formal response as soon as possible. In the meantime, local authorities can make use of existing powers to manage pavement parking, and it is up to them to decide where to restrict pavement parking and what enforcement is appropriate. Recent reforms by my Department to the process by which Traffic Regulation Orders are made will make it easier for them to do so.”

Elsewhere, Labour MP Marsha De Cordova introduced a Private Members’ Bill to the House of Commons calling for the law around parking on footways and verges to be amended.

Liberal Democrat MP Helen Maguire held a Westminster Hall debate on the issue in September.

Put people ahead of cars

Sustrans calls for action on footway parking

Pavement parking creates a danger for anyone trying to use the footway, often forcing them to enter the road to continue their journey. Especially problematic for people reliant on mobility aids, parents with pushchairs and people who are visually impaired. Walking, wheeling and cycling charity Sustrans has issued a call for the government to act on the issue.

There is an inconsistent legislative approach to the issue of parking on pavements across the country. So Sustrans wants an amendment to the English Devolution Bill to bring all English authorities into line with London – where councils have had powers to enforce against pavement parking since 1974. Scotland introduced similar powers in 2023. In these areas, drivers cannot park on the pavement unless the council has judged that it is safe and necessary on that street. Flexibility and working with communities to understand their needs is vital – while some councils have exempted lots of streets, others have exempted none.

With just 5% of drivers understanding the rules and advice around pavement parking according to a survey by Living Streets, Sustrans believes clearly marking exemptions would ensure drivers have clear notification and prevent confusion. Sustrans’ Walking and Cycling Index shows strong support for change – it indicates 65% of people want to give councils the power to enforce pavement parking restrictions. That rises to 79% amongst people with mobility impairments and 84% for people who are visually impaired, according to Sustrans’ Disabled Citizens Inquiry (2023).

Research by the Motability Foundation (The Transport Accessibility Gap, 2022) shows pavement parking is putting disabled people off travelling, they take 38% fewer trips than non-disabled people, reducing their opportunities to access employment, training and things we all enjoy.

Rachel Toms, Sustrans’ connected neighbourhoods director, said: “Five years ago, more than 15,000 people responded to a government consultation on pavement parking. However, the government has yet to respond to this and nothing has changed. The obvious next step is for the government to legislate to give councils in England the same power to enforce pavement parking restrictions as those in Scotland and London. This issue is having a huge impact on some of the most vulnerable people in society and it’s time for action to address the problem.”

Phil’s story

Phil Mears from Macclesfield has used a wheelchair for 40 years and wants to see councils across England given the same enforcement powers as those in Scotland and London. Pavement parking creates huge challenges for him. Recalling his experiences, he says: “Every blocked pavement is a small crisis. Whether it is outside shops, school gates, road junctions blocking dropped kerbs or around transport hubs, stations etc. I have had to navigate my wheelchair into the path of busy traffic because a vehicle blocked my route, wait while strangers move that vehicle, or cancel plans altogether and return home. A five-minute trip becomes a lengthy, exhausting operation of checking routes, timing journeys and phoning ahead.

“The physical strain is obvious – jolts, awkward manoeuvres and the real risk of tipping into the path of fast-moving traffic – but the mental cost is deeper. There is the steady drip of anxiety before every journey, the creeping erosion of independence and dignity, and the quiet anger of being made to plan my life around other people’s thoughtlessness. Simple tasks turn into logistical nightmares; social invitations are declined; independence is chipped away, day by day.”

Phil Mears

Amulti-storey car park in the Nottinghamshire town of Mansfield suffered the partial collapse of its top deck. The Walkden Street car park was closed to the public following inspections which revealed structural problems.

Fire and rescue crews were called to the car park on 30 August after the empty car park suffered a structural failure. No one was hurt in the incident.

Mansfield District Council is responsible for the repair and maintenance of the car park, which is leased from supermarket chain Tesco.

Following the incident, a spokesperson said: “Mansfield District Council was made aware of an incident at Walkden Street Car Park at around 8.15am on Saturday 30 August. Nottinghamshire Police and Nottinghamshire Fire & Rescue mobilised quickly to the site and deployed immediate closures around Stockwell Gate and nearby walkways to protect the public. These were lifted at around 7pm that same day.

“A police drone survey identified a collapsed section of the car park’s top deck. Fire and Rescue confirmed that no persons were inside the car park. The area has since been secured with temporary wrapped Heras fencing.

“Mansfield District Council took the decision in February 2024 to close Walkden Street Car Park after a condition survey highlighted several structural maintenance issues. We are now working closely with structural engineers to secure the site and explore future options for stabilisation.”

Three shops located immediately underneath the car park – B&M, British Heart Foundation and Bolek I Lolek (Food Plus) –were expected to stay closed for at least two weeks following the incident.

The spokesperson referred to structural issues with a second car park in Mansfield. “We are aware of similar public concerns regarding the Four Seasons Shopping Centre car park. An on-site engineer inspected the site on Saturday and confirmed it remains safe to use. Remediation works on that car park are also scheduled to begin shortly.”

On 4 September James Biddlestone, chief executive of Mansfield District Council, provided an update: “I’d like to assure all visitors, businesses and residents in the area that public safety remains our primary consideration. We are working on the advice of our appointed engineers to explore further structural support to ensure that the building retains it’s integrity. Our experts are on site, monitoring the situation and we anticipate work starting in the coming days.

“The council has a long-term lease of Walkden Street car park with responsibility for repair and maintenance. Due to ongoing operational challenges and concerns over safety, the car park has been closed for use since February 2024. A structural report identified a requirement for over £2m of repairs which was being considered alongside other capital investments including requirements at Four Seasons Shopping Centre car park. The council had prioritised investment in the Four Seasons Shopping Centre car park following the decision to close Walkden Street and reduce the risk to users.”

Mansfield car park partially collapses

The Walkden Street multi-storey car park’s top deck fails while structure stands empty awaiting essential repairs

A problematic car park

The Walkden Street car park was closed for repairs set to cost £2m

Mansfield District Council made a decision to close Walkden Street multi-storey car park to undertake essential maintenance and inspections in February 2024. The authority decided to close the facilities as a precautionary measure and in the interest of public safety

The inspections, carried out by structural experts, highlighted the need for comprehensive maintenance to ensure the future safety and integrity of the structure. Due to the complexity of the work, and to enable a work programme to be developed, the council anticipates the car park will remain closed for at least 12 months.

Walkden Street multi-storey car park is of reinforced concrete framed construction and was built in 1975. It provides around 300 parking spaces, 48 disabled parking spaces, and one motorbike space.

The concrete decks to each floor are covered by asphalt and waterproof membranes. A full structural condition survey identified defects through visual inspection and intrusive surveys.

A total of 162 defects were recorded and require structural repair and strengthening. These defects relate to structural induced corrosion of steel

reinforcement. Testing of the floor decks identified moisture entering the slabs due to failed membranes. Defects were also identified in the drainage system.

The repairs were costed at £2.1m, including the replacement of four lifts.

In a normal full year of operation the car park returned an income of around £150,000 in ticket sales which helps offset annual running costs of around £430,000. However, closure of the facility has led to a reduction in operating costs, including electricity. The council believes it is unlikely that the closure has stopped people parking in Mansfield, just displaced them to other facilities in the town, so the income and footfall is not lost to the town.

During 2024 the council also evaluated its Four Seasons Shopping Centre car park, where an inspection determined its future refurbishment needs, with small areas of the car park cordoned off. It was decided to prioritise repair works on the Four Seasons car park.

The Walkden MSCP

The collapsed top deck of the Walkden MSCP

BCP Council trials higher parking fines

Department for Transport will review results of summer trial

A trial exploring the impact of higher parking fines on driver behaviour along coastal roads on the Dorset Coast has concluded. The Department for Transport (DfT) is now examining the trial data in order to determine the next steps.

In July, the transport secretary Heidi Alexander approved BCP Council’s request for a trial of tougher measures to tackle irresponsible and dangerous parking. The trial took place during August on a stretch of roads between the resorts of Sandbanks to Southbourne.

Permission for the trial was granted after repeated surges in illegal parking during busy weekends this summer, with more than 4,000 penalty charge notices (PCNs) being issued by BCP Council over just three weekends across June and July.

The usual fines for a penalty charge notice in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole are:

• £50 for lower tariff offences (reduced to £25 if paid within 14 days)

• £70 for higher tariff parking offences (reduced to £35 if paid within 14 days).

A car being removed during BCP Council’s enforcement trial

During the trial, these fines were increased to:

• £110 for lower tariff offences (reduced to £55 if paid within 14 days)

• £160 for higher tariff offences (reduced to £80 if paid within 14 days). The cost of the fines increased further if not settled promptly.

BCP Council goes solo with RingGo

Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole (BCP) Council will adopt RingGo as its sole cashless parking provider across all its car parks.

From 1 September, RingGo will be the only parking app accepted for payments in the Dorset council’s car parks.

The move follows the end of existing contracts with JustPark, PayByPhone and RingGo, and a competitive

BPA: ‘A summer of parking chaos’

England is in the grip of a parking crisis warns the British Parking Association (BPA), which cites figures seeming to show a sharp rise in anti-social and illegal parking.

The BPA has collected data that it says paints a worrying picture: residential streets are overwhelmed, yellow line violations are climbing, and thousands of drivers are refusing to pay for parking.

Over the past year alone, the BPA has observed:

• Authorities with between a 24.7% and 76% increase in vehicles parking in residential zones without valid permits.

• Authorities with between a 9.8% and 24% rise in cars parked illegally on yellow lines.

A BPA spokesperson said: “Repeat offenders are treating fines as little more than a daily parking fee to enable them to

park wherever they like. A local authority told us they had seen a 30% increase in vehicles with three or more paid penalty charge notices (PCNs). Another council reported that the driver of a gold Range Rover openly admitted they preferred to park in loading bays, knowing they would be fined, because it was more convenient than using a car park. This behaviour is not confined to tourist hotspots such as Bournemouth or Brighton. Local authorities across the country, from Newcastle to Cornwall, Chelmsford to rural Gloucestershire, are all reporting the same trend.

“This is not just a nuisance, it’s a serious threat to public safety. Illegally parked vehicles can block emergency services, obstruct vital access routes, put pedestrians in danger and deny residents the parking spaces

Parking penalties issued by BCP Council have returned to their standard level whilst the detailed data from the trial is collated and shared with the DfT who will decide on the next steps. To inform the DfT’s decision-making process the council is encouraging people to provide feedback via an online form which will remain open until the end of September.

Helen Taverner, head of parking operations and enforcement at BCP Council, said: “We have collected a huge amount of data and feedback over the last month and are in the process of analysing that alongside the Department for Transport.

tender process to select a new supplier, which resulted in RingGo being awarded the contract.

By consolidating payments into one platform, the council expects to reduce operational costs and save staff time in processing multiple providers’ administration. It says this will help to keep parking price increases for motorists to a minimum where possible.

they rely on.”

The BPA warns that the root cause is a lack of meaningful deterrence. “We’ve said it time and again, the current penalty charges are simply not strong enough to change this kind of poor driver behaviour,” the spokesperson continued. “In cities like Nottingham, motorists are happy to gamble on a fine rather than parking legally. That cannot be allowed to continue.”

The BPA is urging the UK government to raise penalty charge notice levels in England, outside London, and Wales. The association says higher charges already in place in London and Scotland have been proving effective in reducing illegal parking.

“This is about fairness, safety, and respect for communities,” the BPA concluded. “The government must act now before the situation spirals even further out of control.”

“Feedback is still very much welcome and will be crucial in helping inform what happens next; and we encourage everyone to have their say. We will be in a position to share these results, in more detail, in the near future and will continue to work alongside the DfT who will outline the next steps.”

There are over 150 parking locations across the three towns that make up the council –Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole – totalling more than 18,000 spaces.

BCP Council said civil enforcement officers continue to fine motorists who choose to park illegally and put lives at risk.

Code of practice consultation extended

The government has extended a consultation on a code of practice for parking on private land, The deadline has been extended by almost a month to 26 September.

The consultation seeks views on the government’s proposed measures aimed at raising standards in the private parking industry before launching a new version of a code of practice.

The code was withdrawn in 2022 following legal action by a group of parking operators.

The Parking (Code of Practice) Act 2019 requires the Secretary of State to prepare a code of practice containing guidance about the operation and management of private parking facilities.

The Act is applicable across England, Scotland and Wales.

Richmond targets vehicle idling

London borough plans to bring in Public Space Protection Order

The London Borough of Richmond upon Thames is planning a boroughwide trial that would strengthen practical enforcement against drivers who unnecessarily leave their engines running while stationary.

The consultation, which opened in August, forms part of the council’s commitment to improving air quality across Richmond upon Thames.

If implemented, the Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) would give authorised officers the power to issue fixed penalty notices (FPNs) to drivers who fail to switch off their engines when parked or waiting.

Currently, officers can only issue a FPN if a driver refuses to stop idling when asked. As a result, just one fine has been issued in the last six years, despite officers asking drivers to stop idling over 65,000 times.

The council says that without

the real threat of a fine, drivers have little motivation to change their behaviour.

A public consultation on the PSPO trial runs until 28 October, with feedback helping to shape the final decision later this year.

Cllr Alexander Ehmann, chair of Richmond’s transport and air quality services committee, said: “We’ve made significant strides in improving air quality in Richmond, but we know there’s more to do. Engine idling is a needless source of pollution, especially harmful to children,

older people, and those with respiratory conditions. This proposed PSPO sends a clear message: clean air matters, and we’re prepared to act. I urge residents to take part in the consultation and help shape a healthier future for our borough.”

The proposal builds on Richmond’s Air Quality Action Plan 2024–2029, which sets targets aligned with World Health Organization guidelines, and includes introducing cutting engine idling near schools and level crossings.

Slough removes persistent fine evaders’ vehicles

Slough Borough Council’s new vehicle removals policy targets drivers who do not pay their parking tickets. The week after the policy came into force on 28 July, the Berkshire borough removed 23 vehicles from the streets of Chalvey, the Diamond Road estate, and from the High Street area.

Of the removed vehicles, one had accumulated a total of 134 unpaid tickets, another had 117 tickets outstanding. Seven others had more than 30 tickets each still waiting to be paid. None of the removed vehicles had fewer than eight outstanding tickets.

Paul Kelly, lead member for planning, parking, highways and transport, said: “The policy we have brought in tackles this problem by literally removing those offending vehicles from the streets, forcing drivers to pay the fines they owe or lose their cars forever.”

The removed vehicles are stored at a secure compound. The original fines and storage costs have to be paid before the vehicles are released to their owners.

How can you be sure that your customer service is at the level you require, that your staff are conforming to your procedures and legislative requirements or that a speciﬁc change is working effectively? Our Parking Mystery Shopping checks help in all these areas.

Call for cities deter use of sports utility vehicles

Clean Cities releases data on SUV dangers, reports Deniz Huseyin

Measures should be introduced in UK’s major cities to discourage the use of SUVs, argues campaign group Clean Cities in a new report. Cities such as London, Birmingham, Bristol, Cardiff, Edinburgh, Leeds, Liverpool and Manchester should take similar action to Paris, where SUV parking has been cut by two- thirds, it states.

SUVs have been shown to be far more dangerous for children and other road users in the case of a crash, the study found.

The latest research shows that SUVs on UK roads are 14% more likely to kill a pedestrian or cyclist and 77% more likely to kill a child, as compared with a traditional passenger car, says Clean Cities.

“For young children the effect is even larger: SUVs are three times more likely to kill a child pedestrian or cyclist aged 0 to 9 years than a traditional passenger car,” the study says. “These large negative effects in the UK are mirrored in the international evidence, and result from the extra weight of an SUV and

Oversized SUVs pose a risk to children, says Clean Cities

design features such as a taller and squarer bonnet.”

Clean Cities points out that Cardiff has consulted with the public on a new city-wide parking management plan, including a weight based threshold, while Lambeth is working with two other authorities on similar. In Edinburgh, the council has restricted advertising for SUVs similar to tobacco-style restrictions, says the campaign group.

Research published by Clean Cities shows that “carspreading” in major urban areas in England has increased from 3% to 30% of existing cars between 200203 and 2022-23).

There have been similarly large increases in smaller urban areas (3% to 28%) and in rural areas (6% to 33%), Clean Cities found.

In London, the number of SUVs has increased from around 80,000 SUVs in 2002 to around 800,000 SUVs in 2023, according to the study.

Polling conducted for Clean Cities found 59% of Londoners support higher parking charges for SUVs (18% disagree) while nearly six-in-ten are concerned bigger cars make it more dangerous for children to walk and cycle (16% disagree).

Dr Anna Goodman, an academic transport researcher and

Police told to pause use of journeycam footage

New code of practice will cover use of personal camera evidence, reports

Rhodri Clark

The National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) has told forces to cease the practice of forensic analysis of “journeycam” footage from the public, until compliance with a national code of practice is agreed. It has also said that only forensically trained personnel can carry out the analysis.

Increased ownership of dashcams, helmet cams and mobile phones with video filming capability has helped police forces to continue to take action on moving traffic offences while policing resources have reduced.

The pioneering Welsh camera partnership reacted by introducing a temporary suspension of action where evidence of “close passes” is submitted by members of the public. In 2016 North Wales Police created an online portal to facilitate submission of video evidence. GoSafe, the Welsh safety camera partnership, rolled out the portal across Wales the following year. Many other forces introduced similar portals, and now an estimated 150,000 pieces of journeycam footage are submitted to

police every year.

The main offences that resulted in police action in the early period of the Welsh portal, known as Operation Snap, were vehicles crossing solid double white lines, followed by vehicles passing red lights. The portal also exposed widespread concern from the public, cyclists in particular, over vehicles overtaking in close proximity.

However, this summer GoSafe has been rejecting video evidence of alleged close passing, telling submitters: “A decision has been made to temporarily suspend taking action on evidence submitted to Operation Snap whereby pedal cyclists, horse riders and pedestrians feel that the subject vehicle has passed them too closely. This decision has been made following national guidance from the Forensic Science Regulator (FSR). Operation Snap remains in service for witnesses of driving offences and will evaluate each incident on a caseby-case basis taking into consideration aggravating factors present.”

However, the FSR told Parking Review’s sister magazine Local Transport Today it had not issued national guidance on the subject. It said police must ensure that forensic units estimating speed or distance from video footage complied with the regulator’s code of practice, and for

director of Transport for Quality of Life, collaborated with Clean Cities to conduct the research.

She said: “SUVs increasingly dominate our streets. In just two decades, the share of SUVs in English cities has grown tenfold. In London, the number of SUVs has swelled by around 720,000.

“This has important implications for congestion, public space, and road safety. The evidence is clear that SUVs increase road danger for people walking and cycling, particularly for children.

“Many cities around the world are bringing in targeted measures to discourage SUV ownership and use, and early reports from Paris indicate that these measures can be successful.”

Clean Cities are one of the founder members of The SUV Alliance, a campaign made up of a coalition of 14 environmental and transport groups.

The alliance has published a manifesto calling for changes to Vehicle Excise Duty (VED) to tax SUVs and the heaviest and most polluting vehicles more when they are sold and allowing local authorities to introduce higher parking charges on SUVs and other heavier, more polluting vehicles.

forensic units to declare compliance or non-compliance in any reports made. “This does not preclude the use of the evidence, and the declaration would only be required if an analytical test such as speed estimation was performed,” said the FSR. “The requirements do not cover nonanalytical viewing to assess a road users’ actions or the consequence of their actions. The regulator has not issued any local or national guidance on the topic, and certainly nothing that would suggest forces suspend taking action on evidence submitted for ‘close pass’ incidents.”

A NPCC spokeswoman told Local Transport Today the police were grateful for the public’s support and wanted to ensure journeycam footage submissions led to a positive outcome. “Journeycam provides a real opportunity for partnership between the public and police to protect vulnerable road users and improve both the safety of our roads and road user behaviour,” she said.

The FSR’s code of practice improved evidential standards and set stringent expectations for police officers dealing with such footage, improving consistency, the spokesperson added. “The NPCC has created guidance for journeycam practitioners around the code and its implications which sets out what it means in practice.”

Location Data Visualisation and Analytics

Concerns have been raised by the RAC over enforcement of box junctions. The motoring organisation says it has uncovered major disparities in the number of fines issued by councils across the country. Drivers in 10 local authority areas that are newly enforcing yellow box junctions paid fines worth a combined £998,640 last year after falling foul of the rules governing them, RAC data analysis suggests.

Up until May 2022, only councils in London and Cardiff could enforce yellow box junctions and other moving traffic contraventions, such as driving the wrong way up a one-way street.

Freedom of Information requests sent by the RAC to other councils in England that had applied for the powers since this time show that as of the start of this year, 36 separate boxes outside the two capital cities were being enforced – with a total of 32,748 penalty charge notices (PCNs) being issued to drivers stopping in them in 2024 alone.

PCNs are generally £70, reduced to £35 if paid within 21 days of the notice being issued.

The RAC’s analysis found varying numbers of PCNs being handed out in different council areas, with one authority bringing in almost half (49%) of all yellow box revenue outside London and Cardiff.

Manchester City Council, which is enforcing six yellow boxes, issued 13,130 PCNs for infringements last year – the equivalent of 36 a day – leading to £446,706 in fine revenue.

Second in terms of revenue from yellow box fines was Medway Council in Kent, which issued 4,433 PCNs last year for the five yellow boxes it enforced, raising £145,162.

Buckinghamshire County Council came third, issuing 3,618 PCNs from four yellow boxes, raising £139,798.

The RAC says these three councils alone issued more than six-in-10 of all yellow box PCNs outside London and Cardiff last year (21,181 PCNs, 65% of the total), accounting for almost three-quarters (73%) of the total fine income (£731,666 of £998,640).

The highest PCN income from a single yellow box was in Surrey where the Dennis Roundabout in Guildford saw 4,250 PCNs issued to drivers over a seven-month period, with drivers paying £81,445 in fines.

The RAC suggests the fact so few councils account for so many yellow box fines suggests there may be issues with the design or location of the boxes themselves – something which the RAC has warned about previously.

The RAC points to several councils that are issuing comparatively small numbers of PCNs compared to others, which suggests yellow boxes in these places are working well and are easy for drivers to negotiate.

Gloucestershire City Council issued just 30 between May and December 2024, with drivers in total fined only £945 from a single yellow box.

Leeds City Council handed out 50 PCNs in four months to the end of 2024, raising £605 from two enforced yellow box junctions.

The Highway Code states drivers must not enter yellow boxes unless they can get through them without stopping; the only exception is if they are waiting to turn right

PCNs generated from yellow box junctions in 2024 Councils with new moving traffic offence powers in England only; excludes London and Cardiff councils

RAC flies red flag over yellow box junctions

Drivers were fined almost £1m by local authorities at just 36 yellow box junctions last year, reports the RAC

to deliberately flout the rules and get fined.

“The enormously high number of penalty charge notices being raised in just a few council areas suggests things are awry. The large number of penalties being dished out over a small number of locations and in a short space of time should send alarm bells ringing in council offices.

but are prevented from doing so by oncoming traffic. The RAC has, however, previously uncovered problems with as many as nine-in10 yellow boxes that councils were seeking to enforce. Issues included drivers not being able to see where boxes end, boxes being larger than they need to be and ones extending beyond T-junctions.

During the first six months of enforcing a yellow box, statutory guidance for councils states they should issue warning notices to drivers caught infringing the box for the first time, with penalty charge notices issued after.

RAC senior policy officer Rod Dennis said: “Yellow boxes serve an important purpose in keeping traffic flowing at busy junctions. But with councils outside London and Cardiff enforcing them for the first time, it’s now more important than ever they do everything they can to ensure drivers don’t get unfairly caught out. After all, very few people set out

“As the data shows, not every council now enforcing yellow boxes is generating a huge amount of money from fines. In fact, a small number of fines – and a small number of appeals – indicates a yellow box that’s working as it should. This should be the ambition behind any yellow box that a council is looking to start enforcing, rather than being seen as a revenue-raising opportunity.

“It’s vital box junctions are used in the correct places and are only as big as absolutely necessary. They must be fairly set up so that drivers don’t find themselves stranded through no fault of their own. Sadly, we are aware of several locations where this isn’t the case.

“We’ve previously expressed concern that drivers would get fined unnecessarily without the government updating its box junction design guidance. This must clearly set out the locations where they can be used and, crucially, ensure they are sized correctly so as not to trap drivers unwittingly. With more local authorities likely to enforce yellow boxes in the coming months and years, it’s vitally important this happens.”

Drivers must not enter yellow boxes unless they can get through them without stopping

Table: RAC press & policy office.

Source: Freedom of Information requests to local authorities enforcing yellow boxes.

Booked, Not Blocked

The kerbside revolution cutting congestion in Southwark

Almost every high street in the country has them, but there’s always a nagging sense that they don’t work as well as they could do: Loading Bays –places for businesses to receive deliveries and for deliveries from their premises to be collected.

But these are also places where people ignore the rules – where drivers stop to quickly nip into a shop, or people see as a place to unload the children, as some sort of drop-off zone. And, when too many delivery vehicles turn up at the same time, there’s a Wild West-style free for all for spaces with vehicles causing congestion as they wait in the main carriageway to get their turn, or circle around the neighbourhood until a space becomes available.

There are more than 7,000 high streets across the UK, some thriving, some in need of improvement, but in most cases suffering from issues with parking, access and loading.

But there’s now order to the kerbside chaos, in one area of London at least.

Streets for People

The London Borough of Southwark has worked with tech entrepreneurs Grid Smarter Cities to introduce a new bookable loading bay solution on the busy Walworth Road, a typical example of a London streetscape. It’s part of Southwark’s ‘Streets for People’ strategy, which seeks to reduce the impact of freight and support businesses to operate sustainably and efficiently. Southwark chose to partner with Grid because it saw the potential for the bookable kerbside

management system to deal with the problems faced in the area, due to high levels of non-compliance.

The Kerb® Delivery booking platform is a new technology for freight vehicles that enables drivers, operators and businesses to book loading and unloading space, both on desktop and mobile app, in advance, reducing the hassle of searching for suitable places to stop.

Bookable bays really work

Once registered, approved users download the driver app to make and manage bookings. A web-based platform supports fleet operations staff to manage logistics movements with five loading bays, with an HGV-specific bay available to facilitate larger deliveries, across both sides of Walworth Road alongside four dynamic, double-sided, e-ink smart signs providing real-time visibility of bay availability and usage.

The platform underwent a structured and phased development and proving process in 2023, beginning with its first real world deployment along Bankside, Southwark as part of the Kerb Dock Project with a specific focus on last-mile, river-to-road deliveries. This initial implementation served as a highly impactful trial with the goal of validating the platform’s ability to coordinate multiple users within a limited kerbspace.

The bookable bays were first introduced in 2024 for an initial 18-month trial period. However, that trial was considered so successful that the scheme was actually made permanent just 12 months later.

When you see the figures, you understand why. Independent calculations by global transport and infrastructure consultancy Stantec of the benefits of implementing the Kerb® Delivery Scheme on Walworth Road show a 40% reduction equivalent in PCNs for operators and time savings for a single supermarket supplier would mean it could make up to 66 more deliveries a year. This adds up to a Benefit to Cost Ratio of 3.8 for Southwark in 2024 thanks to Kerb® Delivery.

“We’re proud to be leading the way with this innovative approach. This benefits local businesses, reduces parking stress and congestion, and makes life easier for delivery drivers too. It supports our Streets for People plans which are all about making Southwark’s streets cleaner, greener and safer,” enthused Councillor James McAsh, Cabinet Member for Clean Air, Streets and Waste for Southwark Council.

“We’ve had some great successes so far. Tesco uses it for their multiple HGV deliveries every week, which need to access a specific

The Kerb® Delivery mobile app

bay at particular times of the day. Previously, if the bay was in use, Tesco drivers had to stack their trucks further away, preventing them from fulfilling deliveries. Now, drivers can pre-book bays in advance, ensuring they have a designated parking spot whenever they need.”

The scheme in Southwark also deployed a “rogue vehicle” feature which notifies Civil Enforcement Officers in real time via Grid's API. This sends bay and booking details direct to enforcement personnel when a rogue vehicle is reported, meaning they only need to visit the site when there is a potential contravention, saving them time and allowing them to concentrate on other areas. Developed in partnership with Southwark's back office partner Polaris, and on-street enforcement partner APCOA.

Delivering for business

Driver uptake has been supported by leafleting and on-street Grid team presence, which is aimed at actively educating drivers and local businesses on how to join the platform and the benefits of doing so. This has been enthusiastically embraced by the freight and logistics industry. With 20-plus weekly users delivering to more than 15 stores, the scheme achieves an average 80% utilisation rate.

Warburtons are among the 26 regular users making multiple deliveries each week to more than 15 stores. “Consistent customer service is key to ensuring Warburtons customers remain fully stocked with the freshest possible bakery products throughout the day,” commented James Norton, Head of Distribution Network Transformation at Warburtons whose drivers use the booking system in Walworth Road.

“Being able to pre-book a loading bay gives us the assurance that we will be able to unload at the most optimal time from a service and efficiency perspective. Additionally, deploying the app to the drivers’ PDA allows them to modify the booking enroute if there is a delay. Overall, our first time delivery attempt rate has increased, and the number of fixed penalty notices issued has decreased through the implementation of this system.”

The bays have significantly enhanced the daily operations of local businesses and are now an integral part of a streamlined delivery process. This has led to increased efficiency and a reduction in noise and vehicle

congestion directly attributed to the designated loading bays which have discouraged indiscriminate parking and created a more organised traffic flow enhancing the overall environment for both businesses and residents.

“Being able to pre-book a loading bay gives us the assurance that we will be able to unload at the most optimal time from a service and efficiency perspective.”

James Norton Head of Distribution Network Transformation at Warburtons

On-site engagement with operators, local businesses and drivers remains ongoing to ensure the successful use of the scheme and usability of the bays, gathering feedback from users as well as ongoing and continuous collaboration with Southwark Council, enforcement teams and external partners.

“At Grid we have recognised that one of the fundamental High Street problems –freight, servicing and delivery activity – is still being carried out in a random ad hoc manner, a first come first served free-for-all. Our platform facilitates streamlined and efficient management of the kerbspace enabling commercial vehicles to book delivery slots to load and unload,” commented Grid’s founder and CEO Neil Herron.

“The Southwark scheme has achieved seamless and efficient deliveries – double parking and non-compliant activity has been all but eliminated, and circling the block is a thing of the past. We’ve seen congestion reduced, air quality improved and the high street’s become a more attractive destination. In the future the bookable bays could be used for click-and-collect at times of the day when deliveries are less frequent.

A route to the future

The project points the way to the potential benefits of improved kerbside management if implemented in busy high streets across the UK.

Congestion delays around moving people and goods cost the UK over £8bn a year in lost revenue, as vehicles spend time circling looking for somewhere to unload their goods, park, and/or charge. It’s estimated that 30%

of all vehicle miles and associated emissions in towns and cities is generated looking for parking, and the financial burden for managing roads and kerbside assets costs local highways authorities in excess of £2bn a year.

Add Decarbonisation, Net Zero, Air Quality targets, and Climate Emergency declarations, and you have a perfect storm of new, missing, and imperfect data sets not being aligned with actual kerbside usage patterns, leading to the kerbside chaos we see all too frequently today.

In Stantec’s ‘Loads Easier’ report, it found scaling this solution across Greater London could enable 21% more deliveries, reduce CO₂ emissions by 15,000 tonnes per year, and save more than 3 million hours in wasted delivery time. It could lead to an annual reduction in freight kilometres of 20 million removing the equivalent of 12,600 cars off the road.

“The Walworth Road deployment can be rolled out simply to any other high street in the country,” added Neil Herron. “The Kerb® Delivery platform can similarly be deployed to pedestrianised areas enabling access for only permitted vehicles improving safety and the amenity of the urban realm. Kerb® Delivery is a valuable digital innovation platform able to deliver great benefits for the council and high street businesses alike and can be implemented with minimal cost and disruption.”

So, what’s the message to other local authorities struggling with congestion exacerbated by uncoordinated kerbsides?

Southwark’s Parking Quality and Policy Manager Mark Palmer is in no doubt. “If you have a location with high levels of noncompliance, just give it a go,” he says. “We are seeing bookings increase week-on-week and the number of PCNs issued is reducing. The scheme is starting to build its own momentum, indicating that motorists and shop keepers are slowly embracing the innovation and in terms of kerbside management, that’s a huge success.”

The loading bay solution on the busy Walworth Road

Marston Recovery launches overcharge refund scheme

Debt recovery business apologises for erroneous visit fees

Enforcement Conduct Board takes action

Adebt recovery company that incorrectly applied multiple visit fees for the collection of unpaid road traffic and parking penalties is sending refunds to affected people.

Marston Holdings is a major player in the collection of public sector debt, working on behalf of local authorities and public bodies such as Transport for London (TfL), National Highways and HM Courts & Tribunals Service (HMCTS). The overcharges occurred when the group’s civil enforcement agency, Marston Recovery, was pursuing unpaid parking and road traffic debts and fines.

In England and Wales, when an enforcement agent – commonly known as bailiffs – visits someone’s home, a fixed fee of £235 is added to the debt. It appears that in a number of cases duplicate visit fees were applied where a single visit involved multiple debt, contrary to standards set out by the Enforcement Conduct Board (ECB).

The board oversees the civil enforcement of debts in England and Wales. All ECBaccredited firms are required to follow the ECB’s Standards. Under ECB Standard FS1.6, firms are required to link enforcement fees where a person has multiple debts and enforcement action could reasonably be carried out at the same time.

Chris Nichols

The Guardian has highlighted serious, long-term breaches of regulations designed to protect the public from excessive enforcement fees. The Enforcement Conduct Board said has been active on this issue for some time, working to ensure Marston refunds those affected and makes urgent changes to its practices.

Chris Nichols, chief executive of the Enforcement Conduct Board said: “Our mission is to ensure that everyone who experiences enforcement action is treated fairly and it is very concerning to see breaches of regulations that are there to protect the public from overcharging.

“This is unacceptable behaviour and the Enforcement Conduct Board is taking strong action to ensure that people who have been impacted are found and refunded and that this behaviour is never repeated.

“We have ensured that Marston has signed up to a robust action plan to put this right. We will closely monitor Marston’s progress in delivering this plan and will not hesitate to take further action to protect the public if necessary.

“We will also imminently launch a wider review to establish whether this behaviour has occurred at other enforcement companies. Should we find that it has, we will take appropriate action.”

Marston Holdings: ‘We’re doing the right thing’

Marston Holdings issued an official statement: “In the spring of this year an issue was identified where some individuals with multiple unpaid road traffic penalties had been overcharged enforcement fees. The issue has been fixed.

“Letters, with cheques for a full refund plus interest at 8%, have been sent out to all of those affected. Those letters include an apology and guidance on how to contact us if there are any questions or help is required.

“Since the issue first came to light, we have worked closely with the industry regulator, the Enforcement Conduct Board, and all of our clients. We take full ownership and have worked hard to do the right thing by repaying people back what they are owed.”

“Everyone affected has already been contacted and been sent a cheque which fully refunds them, with interest.”

Help, support and further information can be found here: https://refundscheme.marstonholdings.co.uk

The ECB said it is working to ensure Marston refunds those affected and changes its practices. Chris Nichols, chief executive of the Enforcement Conduct Board, said: “It is very concerning to see breaches of regulations that are there to protect the public from overcharging. This is unacceptable behaviour, and the ECB is taking strong action to ensure that people who have been impacted are found and refunded, and that this behaviour is never repeated. We have ensured that Marston has signed up to a robust action plan to put this right.”

The Guardian newspaper, which broke the story on 15 August, reported that it had seen minutes of an ECB meeting which stated that Marston was alerted to this issue in April, and that an investigation by the industry oversight body “revealed breaches in multiple cases where more than one [£235] enforcement fee had been charged instead of the cases being linked under one fee”.

The Guardian reported that the minutes from the ECB meeting said Marston had initiated a review of seven years’ worth of cases, and that the company was committed to rectifying the errors via a full refunds scheme, with a dedicated call centre which would operate for three years.

Marston said the systems issue that led to the problem has been repaired and refund cheques had been sent to all of those affected. Marston has not revealed how many people may be affected, but has indicated that fewer than 0.3% of its debtor caseload have been affected. The Guardian said company said the three-year period for the refunds scheme is a precautionary measure to account for scenarios such as this, and it would make every effort to reach everyone affected.

TfL told The Guardian that Marston is “not carrying out any enforcement work for us at the moment. Their contract is under review”.

APCOA supports rugby charity

Parking operator works with rugby legend

Lawrence Dallaglio

The Dallaglio RugbyWorks charity has entered into a three-year partnership with parking provider APCOA and the west London business community.

The collaboration will allow the charity to expand its transformative programmes across all four London regions within the current academic year.

Dallaglio RugbyWorks (DRW) use the values of rugby – teamwork, respect, and resilience –to help young people who are excluded from or struggling in mainstream education.

Through a long-term skills and mentoring programme, DRW supports young people to re-engage with learning, build confidence, and develop the employability skills needed to move into further education, training, or sustainable work.

DRW has already established a strong presence in south, north and east London, and further

afield in England and Wales.

With the support of APCOA and the West London Corporate Leader’s Action Group, DRW can now extend its reach into Hounslow, west London.

Lawrence Dallaglio, founder of DRW, said: “Over the next three years this partnership will enable RugbyWorks to engage even more young people through our unique rugby-based education and employability programmes, offering them the structure, support and skills they

Dallaglio RugbyWorks helps young people who are excluded from or struggling in mainstream education

need to thrive”.

Kim Challis, APCOA regional managing director (UK&I) said: “Supporting young people to return to education, training, or employment not only empowers the individuals themselves, but also strengthens the wider community and serves as a catalyst for lasting change.

“APCOA is proud to be contributing to this new initiative with the support of fellow leaders from across our west London business community.”

PayByPhone signs global partnership with Evopark

PayByPhone has signed a strategic global partnership with Evopark, part of Scheidt & Bachmann, to become part of the Mobility CONNECT smart platform.

The agreement covers parking operators managing over 1,500 gated car parks in Canada, France, Germany, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and the United States.

Jonny Combe, chief executive officer and president of PayByPhone, said: “The partnership with Scheidt & Bachmann significantly expands our gated offstreet reach. It enables the best possible integration for our users via our AutoPay function, using the same app they already trust for onstreet parking.”

Martin Bemba, managing director of Scheidt & Bachmann Parking Solutions, added: “This partnership is a significant step towards simplifying parking journeys globally, aligning with our vision to create seamless, connected mobility experiences for drivers.”

We currently supply and have vacancies around the UK for Permanent and Temporary positions:

• Civil Enforcement Ofﬁcers

• Environmental Enforcement Ofﬁcers

• Parking Back Ofﬁce (Appeals/Notice Processing/Correspondence)

• Parking Change Management

• Interim Parking Managers

• Car Park Attendants/Marshalls/Stewarding

• Parking Supervisors (Both Enforcement and Back Ofﬁce)

• Parking Management (Both Enforcement and Back Ofﬁce)

• Heads of Parking/Directors

• Parking Technologies (Business Development and Project Managers/ Field Service Engineers/General Managers)

• Off Street Parking (Business Development, Contract Managers and Regional Managers)

• CCTV Operators – SIA and BTEC qualiﬁed

Looking for staff or need employment? Please contact our experienced team on:

Tel: 0203 668 5680

Email: parking@unity-recruitment.co.uk

Web: www.unity-recruitment.co.uk

Th e v

o t e s a r e i n !

The judges have deliberated, cogitated and digested… now, it’s time to meet the finalists

The British Parking Awards were created in 2002 by Parking Review to recognise excellence and achievement in a sector providing what is an essential public service.

This year we received a record tally of over 180 entries from across the public and private parking sectors, often working together. Our largest ever jury of independentminded experts have read, assessed, compared and debated the entries to select the finalists.

The winners will be revealed during a gala lunch held at the Royal Lancaster London on 12 September. The awards ceremony will be hosted by the comedian and quizzer Paul Sinha, one of the stars of ITV’s The Chase He will be ably assisted by Roger Tilling, the voice of University Challenge and many other TV shows.

The competition reflects the way in which the sector is evolving, as seen in the EVolution Award, which is dedicated to electric vehicle infrastructure. This year we will also focus on the innovative aspects of parking, both national and global, in the form of the Future of Parking Award and the International Award.

Central to the awards are people working in parking. The competition will honour both inspiring individuals and dedicated teams. We will also recognise the important work being done to enhance the mental and physical health experience of those working within the sector with the Wellbeing Award.

THE FINALISTS

Parking Manager of the Year

Traffic Team Award

International Award

The Front Line Award

Best New Car Park

BRITISH PARKING AWARDS

Special awards

Presented to people and projects that have made a real difference and positive contribution to the world of parking. The recipients will be selected by the jury from either the field of entries or wider parking sector.

MiPermit Inspiration Award

Presented by: MiPermit

The MiPermit Inspiration Award recognises individuals and organisations that have made a significant contribution to improving parking. Inspiration Award recipients are exemplars of excellent practice that have inspired colleagues, clients and the wider parking community.

Lifetime Achievement Award

Sponsored by: The British Parking Association

The Lifetime Achievement Award is presented to a parking professional who has made an outstanding contribution to the sector over the course of their career. Parking organisations and professionals are invited to nominate an individual who has consistently made an outstanding contribution to the industry and represents a 'model of excellence' across their entire career.

Special Jury Award

Presented by: Parking Review

The Special Jury Award is presented to a scheme, project or person that has particularly impressed the British Parking Awards jury, which is a panel of experts drawn from across the parking, automotive, transport and related sectors.

Communication Award

The Back Office Award

Car Park Renovation Award

Car parks are open to the elements and subjected to heavy traffic loads. This award recognises projects and approaches that breathe new life into these important structures.

Christopher Place, St Albans – Cemplas Waterproofing and Concrete

Repairs for Christopher Place Leisure and Bidwells

Q-Park Windsor Royal – Q-Park

Buckingham Road Multi-Storey Car Park, Worthing – BLB Group and Makers for Worthing Borough Council

Parking Partnerships Award

Parking in Action

Parking in the Community Award

Sponsored by: The International Parking Community Parking is an essential service and can be a positive contributor to local communities. The Parking in the Community Award honours teams who have engaged with and supported their local communities.

CDER Group

Lake District National Park Authority

NSL Brighton & Hove

PayByPhone

Perth & Kinross Council

Future of Parking

The Wellbeing Award

Sponsored by: Empira & Gladstones Solicitors

Wellbeing initiatives create a positive, supportive and inclusive environment where employees can thrive, and feel valued and fulfilled in their roles. The new Wellbeing Award recognises work being done to enhance the physical and mental health experiences of people in the parking sector.

RCP Parking

London Stansted Airport

Trellint

ZZPS

Parking Operator of the Year

Parking Technology Award

Rising Star Award

Parking Person of the Year

Parking Team of the Year

EVolution Award 2025

The parking sector is playing a key role in the transition to electric vehicles (EVs). There are two trophies: Parking Provider and Technology Provider.

APCOA and AGS Airports

Believ

Char.gy

Nottingham City Council

PayByPhone

Q-Park

T hinking beyond the t icket

Enforcement technology in action

Enforcement Excellence 2025 showcased smart management processes and innovative systems that can deliver safer urban roads, pleasant urban spaces and well-run car parks.

There were presentations by leading technology providers: Khalid Khan, senior business development manager, Yunex Traffic illustrated the use of automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) camera enforcement as way of keeping mandatory cycle lanes clear of obstructive unauthorised parking.

Enforcement Excellence is an influential Landor LINKS conference that discusses policy thinking, legislative developments and operational best practice in the fields of traffic and parking. This year’s edition took place in London on 15 July. Panels of local authority officers, professional bodies, charities, campaigners and technologists debated issues such as tackling antisocial driving, improving road safety, protecting the Blue Badge scheme and the collection of unpaid penalties.

Mehmet Hassan, senior contract manager, London Borough of Waltham Forest – who is also a Special Chief Inspector in the Metropolitan Police – set out how his borough and its local police team work together to tackle issues such as antisocial driving, dangerous parking, and the misuse of scooters and mopeds.

Mark Frost, director, Fern Consulting Services and advisor to the Heathrow Area Transport Forum, explained how Spelthorne Borough Council has introduced Public Space Protection Orders (PSPO) to tackle the problem of antisocial parking by minicab drivers and prevent unofficial ‘meet & greet’ firms dumping cars in the area.

The event also enabled campaigners to connect with enforcement professionals. James Ward is a counter greenwash campaigner who talked about The SUV Alliance’s ‘carspreading’ campaign. The alliance is a coalition of environmental and transport groups calling for parking charge and taxation regimes that discourage the heaviest and most polluting vehicles in urban areas.

Jeremy Leach of 20’s Plenty explained how reducing speeds to 20mph improves road safety, creates calmer streets and encourages more walking and cycling. 20’s Plenty has assisted over 700 local community campaigns to make the case for 20mph as a norm for their city, town or village.

Karen Weech, commercial director of VREO Innovation, revealed how AI-powered ANPR cameras can monitor the use (and mis-use) of reserved parking and EV charging bays.

Chris Newman, founder and chief executive officer of ScanNeo, explained how cameras mounted on cars and mopeds can deliver instant ANPR and permit verification, collect air quality data and provide occupancy information in real-time.

Challenges and solutions

Enforcement Excellence 2025 also looked at how traffic, parking and street management teams can encourage greater compliance with schemes designed to keep the roads and urban realm of our towns and cities accessible, safe and clean.

In a talk that explored the nature of the social contract, CIVEA’s chief executive Russell Hamblin-Boone spoke eloquently about how the civil enforcement sector plays a key role in ensuring compliance with laws and the payment of lawful debts.

Richard Boultbee, parking consultant for National Blue Badge, discussed how initiatives such as the Blue Badge Day of Action can deter fraud and misuse of a scheme that ensures people with mobility issues and other disabilities can access services and town centres. He also outlined some possible technological solutions to administering the Blue Badge scheme. Watch this space…

Landor LINKS is planning Enforcement Excellence 2026. To find out more email Jason Conboy on: jason@landor.co.uk www.enforcementexcellence.uk

Mark Frost (Fern Consulting & Heathrow Area Transport Forum),

Anjna Patel MBE (Disabled Motoring UK), James Ward (Adfree Cities and The SUV Alliance) and Rob Shoebridge (Derby City Council)

Chris Newman (ScanNeo)

Karen Weech (VREO Innovation)

Kerry Griffiths (Derby City Council)

Russell Hamblin-Boone (CIVEA)

Khalid Khan (Yunex Traffic)

Mehmet Hassan (Waltham Forest Council & Metropolitan Police)

Gavin Manger (Landor LINKS)

Helen Taverner (BCP Council)

Richard Boultbee (National Blue Badge)

Jeremy Leach (20s Plenty)

We serve the public

Civil enforcement plays a central role in underpinning the social contract, says CIVEA’s Russell Hamblin-Boone

Whether it is uniformed officers patrolling streets, camera control centre staff watching over the places we live, work and play in, or enforcement agents collecting unpaid penalties, the enforcement sector plays a key role in underpinning the social contract that shapes the way we live. Recent comments from ministers suggest that civil enforcement is built into the Labour government’s growth plans.

CIVEA has a good relationship with government officials and we will be offering some thought leadership on where we can improve the enforcement process – things such as sustainable repayment plans, data sharing and social and added value requirements.

The government’s position on enforcement was perfectly demonstrated by a comment from a justice minister in a parliamentary debate earlier this year. Alex Davies-Jones MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Justice said: “The enforcement sector therefore plays an important role in supporting economic growth, funding public services and underpinning the rule of law.”

We couldn’t have put it better ourselves!

While the minister’s personal observation in a parliamentary debate was encouraging, we have debt adviser campaigns that have put the blame for problem debt onto councils for using bailiffs to recover unpaid taxes, fines and penalties.

At the same time, there is a less coordinated but more worrying change in public attitude to figures of authority and those acting for the establishment, including enforcement agents.

Since the pandemic there has been a loss of trust in the government, which manifests itself on our streets.

It’s what I call the “fracturing of the social contract”.

I mentioned this at last year’s Enforcement Excellence conference, and it continues to be a feature of society and bears repeating.

We need to communicate the value that civil enforcement brings to the economy and to society

Russell Hamblin-Boone

Fracturing of the social contract

People are no longer bought into the social contract that says we will forgo some freedoms and act in accordance with the law in order to enjoy the protection of the state. A group of people don’t feel protected and no longer believe in their obligation to behave for the good of society.

A significant proportion of the population have given themselves licence to ignore government and act according to their own rules. They no longer care about their neighbour and are looking after number one. As a result of this disfunction in our communities, more people have given themselves permission to act with impunity.

Anti-social behaviour is being normalised and you see selfish actions daily. Motorists not respecting rules, parking where they want and ignoring traffic regulations. People refusing to pay Council Tax and fly-tipping on the streets – 34 million tonnes is flytipped each year at a cost of over £13m to councils.

And, of course, we have our own brand of anti-social behaviour with persistent evaders.

We know that enforcement agents are experiencing abuse on the doorstep. Recent industry analysis indicates that there were on average four incidents of abuse and assault each day in the space of six months last year. It cannot be tolerated or go unchallenged.

In May there was an incident in Kent, where an enforcement agent enforcing a liability order was set upon by a group of men, resulting in him losing sight in one eye. The men told police that they were acting within their rights because the agent was trespassing. The individuals involved were arrested at the scene, interviewed, and have since been released on bail. I understand that they have admitted to the assault.

But we are not the only industry having to work harder to protect our frontline staff. It’s a problem for those working in retail, transport and hospitality, as well as our emergency services. The RMT union has threatened strike action unless its train crew members are given more protection.

Possibly the difference in our sector is that it’s considered to be an occupational hazard and assaults on enforcement agents are not treated with the same degree of importance or concern.

As well as a reaction to the restrictions of the pandemic, the social contract has also been fractured by austerity and changes in social mores. When was the last time you saw a public information campaign – with the exception of the pandemic?

Maybe we have created a false sense of protection through all the CCTV coverage we have watching us. The United Kingdom has the most CCTV cameras in Europe, with an estimated 5.2 million cameras. But we do not have powers of enforcement.

The need for positive action

What is needed is a critical mass to lead positive action against the minority of deviant individuals by setting a good example and instilling that in our children and young people. Closer to home, we as a sector need to be less apologetic and declare the pride we have in our sector and the work our agents do. We need to evidence our successes and keep doing good things well.

We were disappointed this spring when Luke Charters MP used Citizens Advice data from 2023 to tell Parliament that one-in-three enforcement visits breached Ministry of Justice (MOJ) standards.

We would expect the Enforcement Conduct Board (ECB) to challenge this with its own far more robust and independently assessed analysis that showed a 94% compliance rate.

We also have a good story to tell on complaint handling. Recent figures by the Local Government & Social Care Ombudsman (LGSCO) are revealing.

Enforcement agent inquiries: April 23 to January 25

26,100 complaints received on all subjects

1,658 cases could involve enforcement agents (local tax, parking and road traffic)

326 complaints did involve enforcement agents

71 cases involving enforcement agents investigated.

Of these 73% (43) cases of these found fault and in 37% (19) cases were enforcement agents at fault.

The ECB has investigated 184 complaints since 1 January. It investigated 41 and ruled on four – none were fully upheld.

Supporting the social contract

Enforcement work supports many of the government policy agenda. If we reflect on the minister’s summary of civil enforcement being valuable for economic growth, local services and maintaining the legal process, we have an opportunity to demonstrate the value of a sustainable and viable enforcement sector. We need to recognise and communicate the value that civil enforcement brings to the economy and to society. Aside from £1bn recovered by enforcement agencies, the government must recognise that our work impacts on many of its policy areas.

How civil enforcement is supporting government policy

Justice: enforcing debts and fines

Justice: CIVEA data on magistrates courts warrants Crime: courts and persistent evaders

Crime: National Persistent Evader Database (NPED) data on illegal vehicles and links to crime

Communities: anti-social behaviour and civil order

Communities: evidence on anti-social behaviour

Communities: CDER data on demographics (any others)

Transport: Traffic management and safety

Transport: British Parking Association data on parking enforcement

Environmental: clean air zones, low emissions zones, Ultra Low

Emission Zone (ULEZ) and road tolls

Environmental: data on clean air zones, ULEZ, road tolls, etc.

Health: mental and urban issues

Health: Data from breathing space or other sources

Social welfare: benefits checks and identifying the vulnerable

Social welfare: CIVEA data on vulnerable cases identified

Business: economic benefits

Treasury: revenue and free public-private partnership

Business & Treasury: European economies and CIVEA data on value to economy.

There is more to do to professionalise our industry and raise standards across the board. But, equally, we can be proud of how we have adapted and evolved, setting up independent oversight and supporting the government’s social agenda.

Russell Hamblin-Boone is chief executive of CIVEA www.civea.co.uk

Uniting to protect Blue Badges

Disabled Motoring UK joined BBFi on the Blue Badge Day of Action 2025, reports Zoe Rush

Local authorities and enforcement agencies across the UK participated in the Blue Badge Day of Action. The annual Blue Badge Day of Action seeks to raise awareness about the misuse and abuse of disabled parking spaces, and to highlight the importance of the Blue Badge scheme for disabled people. The day also helps promote the need for consistent enforcement, better signage, and improved public understanding.

On 30 May, Disabled Motoring UK chief executive Graham Footer and I joined Paul Slowey, founder of Blue Badge Fraud Investigations (BBFi), on the streets of west London to witness firsthand the reality of Blue Badge misuse as part of the fourth running Blue Badge Day of Action. In just two hours on two streets, located less than 10 minutes from Shepherd’s Bush Westfield shopping centre, the scale of abuse was astonishing. Two vehicles were impounded, one Blue Badge was confiscated, and several others were flagged for further investigation.

On one street alone there were 29 parked vehicles, 18 of which were displaying Blue Badges. Based on the immediate enforcement action taken by local authority officers, conversations on the ground, and wider knowledge of common misuse patterns, it’s unlikely that all 18 were being used lawfully. This not only highlights the scale of the problem, but also shows how improper use directly prevents genuine Blue Badge holders and residents from accessing essential parking spaces.

So, what kinds of misuse did we witness during our time with BBFi? Thanks to the Blue Badge database, on-the-ground intelligence and discussions held, BBFi officers were able to quickly identify a counterfeit Blue Badge. In another case, previous patrols and reports from residents revealed that someone was regularly using their sister’s Blue Badge for their own benefit, a clear breach of the rules.

Since its introduction in 2021 by new DMUK trustee Tom Gallagher, the day has continuously grown in popularity. The Blue Badge Day of Action reinforces the urgent need for continued enforcement and better education around Blue Badge rules.

Zoe Rush is marketing and campaigns manager at DMUK www.disabledmotoring.org

Blue Badge Day of Action 2025

On Friday 30 May 2025, local authorities, enforcement agencies, and members of the public came together to support the correct use of the Blue Badge scheme.

DMUK’s Graham Footer and BBFi’s Paul Slowey

Ensuring access to justice

Caroline Hamilton, chief adjudicator of the Traffic Penalty Tribunal, has published her annual report for 2024-25

The work of the adjudicators at the Traffic Penalty Tribunal encompasses parking, moving traffic, clean air, road user charging and littering from vehicles. The adjudicators’ annual report to the statutory PATROL (Parking and Traffic Regulation Outside London) not only delivers a transparent insight into the work of the tribunal, but it also provides all stakeholders with a broader understanding of the law and its application in the determination of fixed penalty appeals under the civil statutory schemes within our jurisdiction.

In the reporting year, the independent adjudicators have continued to deliver efficient and proportionate justice, with cases addressed without delay, supported by our automated case management system, FOAM (Fast Online Appeals Management), providing our users with ready and easy access to the tribunal. This paperless system allows appellants to lodge appeals, providing the parties with an efficient means of making representations, uploading evidence, as well as viewing and commenting on evidence submitted by the opposing party.

Such an automated appeals portal supports the core principles of the tribunal, facilitating access to justice, transparent evidence sharing and the delivery of prompt outcomes. The tribunal remains committed to supporting those unable to access the online system by providing the necessary administrative assistance. Anticipating such needs ensures that the tribunal and access to justice remains available to all.

Appeal volumes and outcomes

The 2024-25 reporting year saw a small increase in the number of appeals received, with more council authorities adopting

available powers to enforce moving traffic contraventions using government-approved traffic enforcement cameras.

The adjudicators have successfully managed the higher volume without delay or a backlog of cases.

The TPT decides appeals against ~25,000 PCNs each year.

• Most appeals are completed fully online, with attendance hearings (via telephone or video) also available.

• Appellants unable to get online receive Assisted Digital support by phone, Live Chat or post for appeals to be completed ‘by proxy’.

• 40% of cases are completed within 14 days, with more than 75% within 28 days.

In contrast, as expected, the number of Clean Air Zone appeals has decreased, reflecting motorists’ growing knowledge and understanding of these zones, including familiarity with the ‘green cloud’ symbol, now included in the Department for Transport’s Know Your Traffic Signs publication.

Training

The adjudicators annual training conference took place in Birmingham in November 2024. The adjudicators all work remotely using the FOAM case management system. The training

A collection of must read cases

Caroline Hamilton sets out how the Traff-iCase website is evolving into a valuable reference point

The Traffic Penalty Tribunal-curated key cases website, TraffiCase, is now firmly established, with links available to users via the tribunal’s website and the FOAM online appeals system. The ultimate aim of this key cases website is to collate appeal determinations that clarify the law and illustrate obligations, leading to reductions in both the number of unwitting contraventions and appeals without merit.

The key case reports featured on the Traff-iCase site provide our users with access to clear and straightforward information, allowing for a fuller understanding of their rights and responsibilities.

Councils are encouraged to include the URL to the Traff-iCase website in their correspondence to motorists. This would allow motorists who are unwilling to accept the council’s application or assessment of the law as detailed in a formal Notice of Rejection of Representations document to research and consider the law independently for themselves. www.keycases.info

meeting allows the adjudicators (who determine appeals independently) to meet, share their knowledge and discuss best practice, as well as any challenging or unusual issues that have arisen during the year.

Traffic Penalty Tribunal

The Traffic Penalty Tribunal (TPT) decides motorists’ appeals against penalty charge notices (PCNs), issued by local authorities and charging authorities in England (outside London) and Wales for traffic contraventions.

The TPT hears appeals against PCNs issued by over 300 local authorities in England and Wales for parking, bus lane and moving traffic contraventions, as well as for Clean Air Zones and littering from vehicles (England only).

The TPT also decides appeals against penalties from other road user charging schemes in England, including the Dartford-Thurrock River Crossing (Dart Charge) and the Mersey Gateway and Silver Jubilee Bridge Crossings (Merseyflow).

Appeals to the TPT are decided by 24 part-time adjudicators, together with the chief adjudicator, Caroline Hamilton. All the adjudicators are wholly independent lawyers, whose appointments are subject to the Lord Chancellor’s consent. They are supported by a team of administrative staff.

The independent TPT is funded by a Joint Committee of the 300-plus authorities that enforce the traffic restrictions. This Joint Committee is called PATROL (Parking and Traffic Regulations Outside London). PATROL member authorities are fulfilling a statutory duty to make provision for independent adjudication against the civil enforcement penalties they issue. www.trafficpenaltytribunal.gov.uk

Traffic Penalty Tribunal 2024/25

The individual appeal types (parking, bus lane, moving traffic, Clean Air Zones, road user charging and littering from vehicles) had the following numbers and outcomes (previous year shown in brackets).

Unlocking the value of stations

Rail Industry Association study shows best ways to unlock value of railway stations

There are 2,585 railway stations on mainland Great Britain. They could play a huge role in building connected and sustainable communities if commercial investors can be convinced of their value.

A report prepared by Steer and commissioned by the Railway Industry Association (RIA) lays out a number of innovative strategies to deliver the best value from rail stations. The report, Unlocking Station Potential: Delivery model exploration, uses a portfolio of 11 stations in North Kent as a representative sample to understand the commercial realities for stations on the ground, the role they play in communities and their contributions to the network at large.

The report has been published at a policy moment when the UK government and regional mayors are focussed on sustainable, connected development. RIA believes that stations have a huge role to play in reducing car trips, and often have surrounding land that can be released for home building.

The report is part of a six-month-long dialogue between RIA and the public and private sectors to help them identify practical ways to create and sustain a pipeline of investment for realising the potential of this important national estate.

Steer’s report set out to understand the commercial and asset challenges that might arise with the estate and where the potential for value lies.

Mike Goggin, managing director at Steer, said: “Our analysis suggested that transforming stations into high-performing, intermodal and inclusive hubs would aid

connectivity and create community and commercial focal points. Working with the private sector could bring greater certainty, alternative financing routes and improved economies of scale. Our practical research into the realities of stations confirmed that despite the challenges and constraints many locations face, there is the potential to realise additional value for taxpayers.

“Working with the private sector to create high-performing inclusive intermodal hubs offers the potential to generate additional commercial returns, support sustainable housing development and produce economies of scale that can benefit the entire station estate.”

Robert Cook, policy director at RIA, said: “RIA commissioned Steer to explore the ideas raised in our Stations: Engines of Communities discussion paper, testing the proposals on a real portfolio of stations to establish a concept and a potential way forward for a new investment model for railway stations.

“Steer’s work to assess a portfolio of 11 stations on the north Kent coast, offering insight for the wider estate, demonstrates that investments in individual stations can drive up both farebox and commercial revenues, which can not only pay off their own costs in a relatively short stretch of time, but could also be used to upgrade other stations in the region. This does not consider the potential land value and housing development returns that would boost these returns further.

“The research shows that there is a clear opportunity to take these ideas forward, with up to 110 stations identified as potential ‘inclusive intermodal hubs’ suitable for investment. The creation of Great British Railways and the ongoing move towards devolution presents an opportune moment to re-think and re-model how we invest in railway stations.”

Key findings

Generating additional travel is the best driver of commercial return

Station value is best understood through the contribution they make to farebox revenue. Over £11 billion of revenue is generated from travel through stations, and leveraging this can reshape their position in the eyes of investors.

Stations are not all equal generators of value for the costs absorbed

Some stations have low footfall and revenue potential but still absorb material costs and resources. Prioritisation in the use of scarce resources is a natural step to take, and leveraging those resources to realise value offers the best potential for investment in the wider estate.

Creation of high-performing, inclusive intermodal hubs is a path to value

In two worked illustrations, the potential for commercial return was proven, and it provides confidence that an investment delivery model can be created.

Private sector participation can increase confidence in delivery

Private sector participation could increase the potential for economies of scale and the deployment of new methods. To secure private financing and risk-taking, the opportunity needs to be appropriately defined and of scale.

In terms of policy, the time for unlocking station value is now Government missions and Mayoral Strategic Authority ambitions for sustainable housing development and better mobility networks make the realisation of value from the station estate more pressing now than ever.

Source: Steer, Unlocking Station Potential: Delivery model exploration report

Bristol Temple Quarter moves forward

Southern Gateway plans feature landmark multi-storey car park and bike hub

Detailed proposals for the new Southern Gateway at Bristol Temple Meads station have been submitted to Bristol City Council.

The new transport hub will see the creation of a standalone secure cycle building, new bus stops, improved walking and cycling routes, and a new multistorey car park.

The development is part of the Bristol Temple Quarter (BTQ) programme, which aims to deliver 10,000 new homes, thousands of new jobs, infrastructure, and new public spaces across 135 hectares of central Bristol.

The Southern Gateway is designed to play a key role in enabling the delivery of new homes, commercial development and public spaces.

The land around Temple Meads station is currently dominated by car parking, creating a poor experience for people arriving in the city. Much of this parking is regulated for rail staff and passengers. By relocating regulated parking into a single location at the Southern

Southern Gateway Cycle Hub

Gateway, the space to the north of station at the Friary, Station Approach, and in the Grade I listed Midland Shed can be transformed with new development, public spaces, and travel routes.

When complete, the Southern Gateway will feature:

• a new 379-space car park for relocation of rail passenger and staff parking, with accessible spaces, electric vehicle charging, and short-stay parking for dropoff and pick-up

• a separate high-quality cycle hub with secure access for over 530 bikes, including cargo bikes and accessible cycles

• new bus stops and futureproofed space for mass transit

• improvements to the Bath Road cycle path and walkway.

In parallel to the delivery of the transport hub, Network Rail will deliver a new pedestrian access into Bristol Temple Meads station, transforming an existing railway track into a walkway over the River Avon, improving access to the station for residents in the south of the city. The walkway will link directly into the Southern Gateway site.

The planning application is the first to be submitted by the Bristol Temple Quarter Limited Liability Partnership (BTQ LLP), a body created by Homes England, Bristol City Council and the West of England Mayoral

A transport hub for Moreton-in-Marsh

Fatkin develops plans for new gateway to Cotswolds town

Moreton-in-Marsh is a market town in the Evenlode Valley in the Cotswolds.

Architecture practice Fatkin has submitted a planning application for a transport hub at Moreton-in-Marsh’s railway station.

Commissioned by Moreton in Marsh Town Council and Great Western Railway (GWR), the project will deliver a new multimodal transport hub to better connect rail, bus, taxi, cycle and pedestrian networks –encouraging sustainable transport choices – while also providing high quality public realm and a strong civic presence.

Located directly adjacent to the station, the site comprises the existing car park and a former Royal British Legion building.

The hub is a central element of a wider transport and town centre strategy to ease congestion, support active and low-carbon travel, and enable public realm enhancements along the High Street.

With future town centre improvements set to reduce on-street parking, the hub will also re-provide these spaces in an edge of centre location, helping to rebalance

infrastructure and decrease town centre traffic.

The proposed hub will include a bus turning circle, double bus stop, dedicated taxi and drop-off/pick-up bays, and 43 new parking spaces – including an increased number of disabled bays and electric vehicle charging points. Infrastructure will also be in place to allow 20% of bays to be converted for future EV use.

Additional features include Sheffield stand cycle parking, motorcycle bays and improved wayfinding and signage.

The design prioritises pedestrian connectivity with enhanced routes linking the station, town centre and surrounding

Combined Authority to drive Temple Quarter forward. Karen Mercer, chief executive of BTQ LLP, said: “This is a really exciting moment for Bristol Temple Quarter. Southern Gateway is the first piece in the jigsaw to unlock the new homes, jobs and public spaces that the city needs.”

Helen Godwin, Mayor of the West of England, said: “Getting our plans submitted for the Southern Gateway is another step towards transforming the entrances into Temple Meads into something the city and region can be really proud of. We want to make it easier for people to get around – however you’re travelling.”

Councillor Tony Dyer, leader of Bristol City Council, said: “The Southern Gateway is more than just a modern, high-quality transport hub, it is essential for the ongoing transformation of the long-neglected area around Bristol Temple Meads station.”

Marcus Jones, Western Route director at Network Rail, said “When Brunel opened Bristol Temple Meads 185 years ago it was truly world-class with many innovations that are now commonplace at stations everywhere. The station is now going through a transformation to make it an icon once again.”

residential areas. New trees, planting, benches and high quality landscaping will be help create a welcoming, accessible and attractive public space.

“This is more than a transport project. It’s about creating a new distinctive part of the town and making sustainable travel intuitive and enjoyable,” said Josie Venning, project lead at Fatkin. “We’ve designed a hub that not only responds to future transport needs, but also enhances the experience of arriving in and moving through Moreton-in-Marsh.”

Sarah Hart, clerk and RFO (responsible financial officer) of Moreton-in-Marsh Town Council, said: “This transformative project aims to create a welcoming gateway that showcases Moreton-in-Marsh at its best. The enhanced transport hub will ease some of the daily challenges our residents face with parking and provide sustainable and other travel options. It will also ensure that tourists experience a seamless, attractive arrival that encourages them to explore our historic market town and support our local economy.”

Fatkin is working alongside Infrastruct, TTC and QODA.

Planning was submitted in June 2025, with construction expected to begin in summer 2026.

Providing keys for all

Car clubs need to be more accessible for disabled people, says CoMoUK

Discounted rates and flexible cancellation policies would make car clubs across the UK significantly more accessible, says a new report. Collaborative Mobility UK (CoMoUK), the national shared transport charity, is also calling for better support for car clubs from government, through the introduction of new policy and funding streams which would help widen access.

The report, entitled Keys for All, recommends a trial of a range of adaptations to car club vehicles. It also proposes a major awareness-raising campaign and improvements to car club websites and apps so they are easier to use.

The findings follow the first ever in-depth investigation into the barriers facing disabled people in accessing car clubs, with the aim of making them more inclusive.

The project was carried out by CoMoUK in partnership with transport research consultancy TRL. It was grant-funded by the Motability Foundation, whose research has shown that disabled people make 25 per cent fewer journeys than non-disabled people, with almost no improvement in the past decade.

The Keys for All report sets out a vision for inclusive car clubs, where staff would be equipped with the knowledge and skills to provide high-quality support for disabled people.

It proposes a pilot which would test out ways of making car clubs more attractive for disabled consumers, such as more flexible cancellation policies. This could include access to a shorter cancellation window of up to two or three hours before a booking, recognising the unpredictable nature of certain impairments.

The pilot would also trial a discount system for disabled users, ideally linked to existing disability passes, as well as simpler and more accessible pricing.

The report also highlights the need to increase awareness of car clubs among disabled people, explaining how they work and pointing out their benefits. It proposes a “full audit” of the accessibility of car club websites, apps, and communications so they are optimised for disabled people, and specialist training for car club staff. It also calls for better information about the accessibility of car club vehicles to be made available by operators, as well as backing the roll-out of a wider range of adapted vehicles over the longer term.

Other potential improvements include a service allowing car club vehicles to be delivered to users’ homes and collected at the end of their booking, as well as an option for the use of alternative drivers such as a carer, friend, or family member.

The findings come after CoMoUK and TRL carried out a comprehensive evidence review of the barriers facing disabled people in accessing car clubs. They engaged with operators, local authorities, disability charities and disabled people’s organisations, as well as surveying disabled users.

It is hoped that the recommendations will widen access to car clubs, which have more than 870,000 members across the UK and carry a wide range of benefits.

Previous research by CoMoUK has highlighted how the schemes help people save money at the same time as cutting road congestion and improving air quality. However, the market share of car clubs remains limited and disabled users remain in the minority, with little research done into the barriers that they face until now.

Richard Dilks, chief executive of CoMoUK, said: “We are pleased to have delivered the first ever in-depth investigation into car club accessibility, bringing together the needs of disabled people with the views of operators. This groundbreaking report shows that while the barriers facing disabled people in accessing the schemes are significant and challenging, they are not insurmountable. We knew from the outset there would not be a ‘one size fits all’ solution, but we have set out a range of clear actions that are needed to make car clubs more inclusive.

“While operators clearly have a big role to play, the onus is also

Keys for All report sets out a vision for inclusive car clubs

on government to create new policy and funding streams, which are needed to deliver the proposed pilot projects. We would like to see an annual summit bringing together car club operators, local and central government and disability organisations, helping to turn this research into action.”

Dr George Beard, head of new mobility at TRL, said: “This report lays the foundations for making car clubs more accessible for disabled people, but we are keen to ensure that the work doesn’t stop here. We have set out a number of recommendations for how to turn this in-depth research into real-world action. Among key next steps are implementing pilots of inclusive car clubs, which will provide an opportunity to fully test the various solutions we have set out in this report for addressing the barriers faced by disabled people.”

Chelsea Fleming, programme director at the Motability Foundation, said: “We are proud to have funded the Keys for All report, which shows the potential for car clubs to support accessible journeys for disabled people. At the Motability Foundation we believe that disabled people should not be held back from participating in society because they are unable to make a journey, so research like this is crucial in highlighting how we can build transport equity.” www.como.org.uk

Kickstarting London’s car clubs

TfL accused of putting handbrake on car sharing

Decline of active car club members and car club vehicles from 2021-23

Transport for London (TfL) is preventing the growth of car clubs and putting the brakes on progress towards the Mayor’s sustainable transport targets, argues a London Assembly report. The assembly’s transport committee says car clubs can help Londoners to make necessary journeys by car if they do not own one, but is concerned that TfL’s “patchwork approach” is stopping car clubs reaching their full potential.

The transport committee report – TfL’s Stalling Car Clubs –says TfL policies have left councils to create their own strategies, leading to inconsistent provision across the capital and causing some operators to pull out of London.

Key recommendations in the report are:

• in the next London Plan the Mayor should recognise the important part that car clubs can and should play in London’s transport mix

• within the next year the Mayor should, through TfL and working with London’s boroughs, develop a pan-London action plan for car clubs

• TfL should develop a London-wide campaign to raise awareness of car clubs, informing Londoners of what car clubs are, how they can access them, and the benefits they provide.

Chair of the London Assembly transport committee, Elly Baker AM, said: “The benefits of car clubs are obvious – allowing Londoners to use a car when needed, without the ongoing costs of owning a private vehicle, and delivering a positive impact on street space and congestion. Yet TfL’s approach is overlooking these benefits, and not providing the support that the industry needs to grow.

“A TfL action plan to support car clubs is needed to fix spotty provision, increase awareness, and help take off the handbrake on car clubs in London.”

Congestion charge curbs clubs

Changes to London’s road user charge scheme will cost the capital’s car clubs over £1m a year

Planned changes to London’s Congestion Charge will cost car club operators more than £1m per year, the UK’s national shared transport charity has warned. Collaborative Mobility UK (CoMoUK) said the proposals from Transport for London (TfL) could force car clubs to increase costs for customers, reduce fleet sizes, cut the high number of electric vehicles (EVs) they run, and threaten the sector’s future in the capital.

It is calling for vehicles in the schemes to be treated differently from privately owned ones, given that they have been proven to cut the overall number of cars on the road, provide low-cost access to cars when they are needed, and support public transport and active travel.

In its response to TfL’s consultation on the changes, which closed this week, it says the proposed 20 per cent increase in the Congestion Charge would “negatively impact the viability” of car clubs in London.

CoMoUK is asking for a reduced Congestion Charge fee level for car club vehicles, and for the current 100% discount for EVs entering the charging zone to be continued for car clubs. It also says that car club vehicles based within the zone should be eligible for a 100 per cent residents’ car club vehicle discount, warning that without this they could become “economically unviable”.

Under TfL’s planned changes, the Congestion Charge will rise from £15 to £18 on 2 January 2026. On the same day, the 100% discount offered to EVs will be cut to 25%.

The 90% discount for people living within the Congestion Charge zone will also be limited to EVs from 1 March 2027, with an exemption for residents already registered.

One car club currently operating in London has estimated that the impact of the first two policies alone will cost it around £878,000 on average over the next five years. This figure is made up of £305,000 to account for the rise in the Congestion Charge fee, and £573,000 for the loss of the 100% EV discount. The annual costs are then forecast to rise to more than £1m per year once the EV discount is cut again to 12.5% in 2030.

In its consultation response, CoMoUK warns that the changes are likely to lead to increased costs being passed onto car club members, potentially making them unaffordable. It says the ending of the 100% EV discount will also “significantly worsen” Londoners’ access to clean vehicles by disincentivising operators from providing them.

Richard Dilks, chief executive of CoMoUK, said: “Car clubs are making a big contribution to reducing car ownership and mileage in London, with members more likely to embrace active travel and public transport too. As well as enabling users to live a car-free or car-light lifestyle, each car club vehicle replaces 31 private cars in the capital, freeing up space, cutting congestion and improving air quality. It would therefore be utterly baffling if car clubs were treated as private cars under these changes. We hope that TfL listens, before it is too late. There are no logical grounds for continuing to discriminate against cars that are shared between many people, including those on lower incomes, in favour of privately-owned cars used by far fewer people.”

Motability Operations wants to make sure that its disabled customers without off-street parking are not excluded from the EV transition

Bridging the charging divide

Inaccessible cross-pavement products prevent many disabled people from switching to EVs, warns Motability Operations

One common barrier to widespread electric vehicle adoption is the lack of access to the cost and convenience benefits offered by home charging. Crosspavement products such as cable channels that allow EVs to be connected from homes to kerbside chargepoints in a safe manner could be gamechangers for drivers without driveways because they enable more people to charge electric vehicles via their home energy supply and so access cheaper energy rates.

Cross-pavement products also allow those who do not have a driveway to connect their car to their home over a pavement and do so in a way that doesn’t affect people needing to get by.

Several products have been developed to reduce pavement obstructions while allowing EV drivers access to home charging. These cross-pavement products fit into three broad categories:

1. Overhead solutions which carry the EV charging cable in a retractable arm above the footpath.

2. Cable channels embedded into the pavement with a closure that allows the cable to remain safely beneath the pavement surface.

3. Other cross-pavement solutions which include a more integrated way of accessing a home energy supply through a permanently installed kerbside connection point.

None of these products are widely available due to the need for individual local authority approval. However, some products are gaining acceptance, with live trials underway in many local authorities, and some councils starting to implement standard installation processes.

However, concerns about the accessibility of cross-pavement solutions are being raised by Motability Operations, which runs the Motability Scheme, where people receiving a qualifying

disability allowance can choose an affordable and accessible vehicle. Interviews conducted with Motability Scheme customers shows that many designs are unusable, and planning processes are often slow, costly, and complicated.

Road testing cross-pavement charging

Cross-pavement product testing with Motability Scheme customers has identified several issues that make many products unusable for disabled drivers. These issues are outlined in the firm’s new report, Home charging for all: Ensuring cross-pavement products are accessible.

A series of four interactive workshops were conducted with Motability Scheme customers. During the tests, participants were invited to use five different cross-pavement products installed in a mock-up pavement with a demo home charger and a standard Type 2 EV cable. While the participants were testing the products, members of Motability Operations’ electric team led discussions about their use of the product. Other participants were also invited to engage in the discussion. After testing each product, participants were invited to discuss their thoughts on the products and give a summary of the products that they found easiest and most difficult to use and why. Throughout the workshops, participants gave feedback about their experience and suggested improvements of each of the products in a workshop booklet.

The accessibility challenges

The key concerns about current cross-pavement solutions that emerged from the workshops include:

• Bending and kneeling: Most products require users to bend or kneel – posing a serious barrier for people with mobility issues.

• Strength and dexterity: Heavy or rigid components and awkward mechanisms create challenges for users with limited grip or motor function.

• Wheelchair inaccessibility: Some products are not usable from a seated position or are difficult to navigate with a wheelchair. In addition, some products can also create physical hazards for disabled people if cables or covers obstruct pavements.

Installation processes are a key barrier

Alongside challenges with accessibility, installation processes of cross-pavement products also present an obstacle as – to install a cross-pavement product – people must receive planning permission from their local authority. This process can cost between £800 and £1,200, and requires significant effort from the individual to provide the council with the right information, including liability agreements; maintenance responsibilities; and local landscape information.

Rose Gee, a Motability Scheme customer, said: “The idea to switch to an EV came from our son. He already had an EV and kept telling us how cheap and convenient it was to run. We started to look into charging options before we switched to an EV and decided on a home charger. The process with the council was long and difficult – we were passed between three different councils and the housing association. Once we got permission for a Gul-e, the installation was quick. Thanks to our EV specific tariff, charging at home costs us about £7 overnight for a range of 300 miles.”

Delivering an inclusive EV transition

According to Motability Operations’ EV Transition Tracker, over a third (34%) of people agree they would be more likely to consider an EV if running costs were comparable to petrol or diesel vehicles. And with around four million UK households living in homes suitable for cross-pavement solutions, these products have the potential to allow more people to benefit from cheaper rates afforded through home charging.

To ensure the switch to EV leaves no one behind and that as many households can benefit from home charging as possible, Motability Operations is working with cross-pavement manufacturers to shape the design of these products.

Similarly, to tackle installation barriers, the firm is partnering with local councils that are planning cross-pavement trials. This includes Stoke-on-Trent Council, where Motability Operations is identifying drivers on the scheme who could take part in the pilot, and funding the provision of chargers where the council approves a cable channel.

The organisation is also making recommendations for how planning processes could be simplified, including applicants being able to provide photographs of properties, rather than complete lengthy application forms.

Andy Broadfield, managing director of electric and insurance at Motability Operations, said: “We welcome the government’s investment, announced last month, for at-home charging solutions for those without driveways. This funding is a vital step forward to ensure thousands are not left behind as manufacturers shift pro duction to electric. However, if the transition is to work for everyone, the charging infrastructure must be accessible and readily available.

“That’s why we have worked with our customers to actively research and understand the barriers facing accessible cross-pavement charging products. Now, we are calling for further collaboration with crosspavement product manufacturers and local authorities to help develop, and swiftly install, accessible solutions that help keep people mobile, now and in the long-term.”

Routes to transform mobility

Ideas like mobility hub networks will open up transport for disabled people, says Sustrans

Disabled people are in danger of being further excluded in society if future changes to transport do not involve them and address their needs, according to a new report. The Transforming Mobility research was led by the UK walking, wheeling and cycling charity Sustrans, with Transport for All, the disabled-led charity working to ensure all disabled people can travel easily and confidently. The project was funded by the Motability Foundation.

The Transforming Mobility report includes findings from Sustrans’ 2024 survey of 1,107 disabled people across the UK, carried out by More in Common, and workshops with disabled people in Birmingham, Edinburgh and Oxford. It found that half (48%) of disabled people think government is not doing enough to ensure accessibility is a priority. Respondents said local authorities should develop a network of ‘mobility hubs’ to seamlessly connect walking, wheeling and cycling with buses, trams and trains. Some 81% of disabled people support providing a better experience when changing between different types of transport.

Legalising ‘side road zebra’ crossings is one of five ‘big ideas’ in the report supported by disabled people, that would improve safety and accessibility on streets, and benefit everyone. The survey found that 72% of disabled people support giving greater priority and investment to low-cost solutions, like side road crossings.

Motability Operations runs the Motability Scheme through which disabled people receiving a qualifying disability allowance can choose to exchange their allowance for a good value, accessible vehicle lease. The scheme thus plays a key role in supporting disabled people with accessing work, healthcare, education and training, keeping them connected and improving their chances of getting a job and staying in the workforce.

By law, all zebra crossings must currently include belisha beacons, yellow flashing lights at either end of a crossing, and zig-zag approach markings. Side road zebras, commonly used across Europe, do not include beacons or zig-zag markings. This ensures they can be used at a side road junction, are quick to install and much cheaper.

The five fixes

The report highlights five ways to help improve transport connections for disabled people:

1. Legalise side road zebra crossings, which do not include beacons or zig-zag markings, to ensure they are quick to install and much cheaper.

2. Rebalance street space, prioritising through traffic on some roads while reducing it on others, which can improve speed and reliability for cars and buses. 65% of disabled people support local councils developing a framework for how streets should be used for different types of transport.

3. Reduce unnecessary car parking to free up public space and declutter pavements. Only 22% of disabled people oppose reducing on-street visitor parking spaces, excluding disabled parking.

4. Develop a network of ‘mobility hubs’ to seamlessly connect walking, wheeling and cycling with buses, trams and trains. 81% of disabled people support providing a better experience when changing between different types of transport.

5. Set up paid access panels of disabled people to inform local transport policy and practice across the country following Scotland’s lead. 65% of disabled people support giving funding to local councils to create access panels to inform and shape transport plans and projects. www.sustrans.org.uk/transforming-mobility

Rethinking streets can improve their accessibility

Authors: Robin Severs Lucy Frank June 2025

The payment experience, often treated as an afterthought in electric vehicle infrastructure, is fast becoming as critical as charge speed and uptime. This would come as no surprise to those working in retail and hospitality, where smooth payments are a key part of the customer experience.

This was bought home by a recent piece of research by Checkout.com – Trust in the Digital Economy 2025 – which emphasises that trust at checkout is built on three key principles: speed, security and transparency. These same principles directly apply to EV charging, where a driver’s – and, in many cases, a chargepoint host’s – confidence can be influenced by a few small but crucial interactions.

In fact, the report highlights a number of lessons that chargepoint operators (CPOs) can learn from a sector that has been honing the art of making payments easy since Mesopotamian market traders first agreed to accept silver for textiles.

Lesson 1: Connect physical charging with digital rewards to incentivise better chargepoint utilisation

Chargepoints are physical entities which offer onsite payments as well as online and app-based tools to engage and pay. Retailers are becoming adept at connecting in-store and online behaviour through the use of apps, QR codes, and location data to offer new customer incentives and capture more detailed customer data.

According to the Checkout.com report, loyalty programmes can now push real-time offers based on location and purchase history, meaning the digital economy is reshaping how consumers do “physical retail”. EV charging networks can adopt similar strategies at chargepoints. For instance, a quick tap or scan at a chargepoint could direct drivers to an app or website that provides real-time pricing, session status, and payment confirmation, all without the need for them to create an account. The time spent waiting for their vehicle to charge could be transformed from a hassle into a perk by offering location-based deals, such as discounts on coffee or loyalty rewards at nearby businesses.

Introducing incentives such as these could encourage repeat visits or boost business during slow periods, attracting users to off-peak charging and encouraging behaviours that are beneficial to both the grid and their own bottom line. This approach not only promotes network loyalty but also enhances long-term engagement with users.

Lesson 2:

Fast host settlements build stronger partnerships

Another interesting insight comes from the gig economy, which has changed the retail landscape for home delivery services. Gig workers are managed via platforms that log their activity and pay them accordingly. They expect to see earnings in real time, and delays can be more than just an inconvenience; they can undermine trust in the payment platform itself. According to the Checkout.com report, as gig platforms evolve, real-time pay will shift from a differentiator to an industry standard.

A similar lesson could apply to CPOs who install chargepoints at hotels, retailers, and other private hosts, with revenue-sharing arrangements. If they can offer options to pay out the host’s share of revenue instantly, or at agreed fixed points, said hosts will be more likely to choose them over competitors, and more likely to promote the use of

It pays to make EV charging a rewarding experience

Paythru’s Sara Sloman shares four lessons EV chargepoint operators can learn from the world of retail payments

chargepoints to customers as they can see an immediate benefit. This requires CPOs to treat host settlements as an essential part of their service. By providing transparent dashboards, live data on session activity and revenue, along with automated and reliable payment splits, payments can become a tool for building trust instead of a source of friction.

Lesson 3: Meet driver expectations of payment speed and user experience

Perhaps unsurprisingly, the Checkout.com report highlights the importance of speed and user experience during the checkout process. Two-thirds of consumers believe that poor payment performance undermines their trust in a brand, and 42% say they will not return after a failed payment. This issue is similar to the experience of charging: a slow, unclear, or glitchy interface can harm customer trust just as much as a failed payment can in an online store.

Likewise, when drivers encounter confusing pricing, complicated payment processes, or high preauthorisation levels and slow repayments, they will be less likely to return to that charging network. Therefore, chargepoints need to provide fast, intuitive interfaces, along with flexible payment options such as contactless, mobile wallets, or linked apps. A smooth and familiar payment process builds trust, increases successful rates, and ensures that drivers leave with a positive impression of the brand.

Lesson 4: Payment security and trust in EV charging networks

Finally, the report shows that trust in the chargepoint network is closely linked to payment security. According to the report, 40% of consumers will abandon a purchase due to security concerns. Given that payments for EV charging are often made

at unattended terminals, where visible and invisible security measures both matter, this finding should alarm CPOs.

At a minimum, CPOs should comply with PCI DSS 4.0 standards, encrypting cardholder and vehicle data end-to-end to protect against data breaches. For publicly-funded charging infrastructure, compliance is mandatory; for private networks, falling short risks fines, reputational damage, and service disruption.

But security must be more than technical. It needs to be obvious to the user. Clear privacy notices, recognisable and trustworthy payment domains, padlock icons, and immediate payment confirmations all signal that the transaction is safe. This visible reassurance can be as important as the security protocols themselves.

CPOs should also strike the right balance between fraud prevention and payment success. Overly aggressive fraud filters or unnecessary card declines can erode loyalty just as quickly as a breach. The goal is frictionless security, protecting the transaction without slowing or complicating the experience.

When drivers know their payment is both safe and seamless, they’re more likely to trust your network, return for future charging, and recommend it to others

Retail payment lessons for charging networks

Whilst there are differences, the retail sector’s payment practices provide a valuable blueprint for EV charging. If CPOs want long-term loyalty from partners and users, they must treat payments not as a secondary feature, but as a central strategic pillar of the charging experience itself.

Sara Sloman is chief strategy ofﬁcer at Paythru

UK drivers passes 85,000 chargepoint milestone

Zapmap reports 25% annual growth in public charging devices

The UK has passed the 85,000 chargepoint milestone, with 1,234 net new charging devices added to the Zapmap database during August.

Year-on-year growth by device count now stands at 24.7%

At the end of August 2025, there were 85,163 electric vehicle charging points across the UK, across 42,970 charging locations, 113,998 EVSE and 120,379 connectors.

During 2025, 11,464 chargepoints have been added to the UK public network. The power group with the most chargepoints added was Slow (less than 8kW) with 5,594 added since the beginning of the year.

August was a particularly strong month for installation of on-street chargers (899 net new), which enable people to charge near home, at a slower rate and typically at a lower price.

In the year-to-date, Wales has

Number of public chargepoints in the UK

shown the highest regional growth across all power bands, at nearly 22%

In terms of chargepoint utilisation, Friday 15 August was the busiest day for charging, with 126,854 sessions.

Vicky Read, chief executive of chargepoint operator association Charge UK, said: “The UK reaching over 85,000 public chargepoints is an incredible achievement for an industry that is

Scotland’s HITRANS receives £3m for EV charging infrastructure

barely a decade old. This new milestone is further proof that the sector is doing its part for the transition. With a commitment to invest £6bn through to 2030, ChargeUK members are rolling out infrastructure ahead of demand.

“But to ensure this momentum continues, the industry needs continued support from policymakers so that we have the best possible conditions for charging

investment and for drivers. That means helping drivers to access EVs, addressing the rise in standing charges for charging operators, and extending the Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation to include EV charging.”

The Zapmap Insights team analyses the Zapmap database of charging points to track the growth and composition of the UK’s charging infrastructure and provides a series of graphs, which are updated monthly. Individual chargepoints can be viewed on the Zapmap app.

Jade Edwards, head of Zapmap Insights, said: “After a long stretch of attention on hubs and ultra-rapid charging, we’re seeing near-home charging coming into focus. Last month we saw both Ubitricity and Char.gy deliver large-scale on-street projects as well as six new LEVI tenders going live.

“These projects deliver charging infrastructure at scale, help to address regional imbalances, and form an important part of the overall charging landscape.”

More than £3m has been awarded to a group of Scottish local authorities.

The Scottish Government funding will support them to work in partnership with the private sector to expand public electric vehicle charging provision.

The north-west Scotland EV Infrastructure Fund project is being led by HITRANS and incorporates Argyll and Bute, Orkney, Shetland and Comhairle nan Eilean Siar (Western Isles) councils.

Since 2011, the Scottish Government has provided over £65m in public EV charging. As

a result of this early investment, Scotland now has over 7,000 public chargepoints. A target for 6,000 public chargepoints was met in October 2024, two years ahead of schedule.

The Scottish Government is growing the network by leveraging in private sector investment. Alongside this, the government’s EV Infrastructure Fund will target public funding at less commercially viable sites, particularly for rural and island communities, ensuring that all of Scotland has access to the public EV charging network it needs.

Cabinet secretary Fiona Hyslop with project manager Gemma Robinson and driver Pete MacKay.

Hubber will develop urban charging hubs

Ex-Tesla trio secures £60m to plug UK’s urban EV charging gap

Hubber, a high-powered charging platform founded by an exTesla team, has secured £60m in committed equity to scale their acquisition and development of urban charging hubs across the UK.

Hubber’s leadership team, Harry Fox, Connor Selwood and Hugh Leckie, oversaw delivery of 100-plus Tesla Supercharger sites and over 1,200 ultra-rapid chargers nationwide before the company’s Supercharger division was disbanded by Elon Musk in April 2024, laying off around 500 staff. Hubber is now applying that expertise to solve the “urban charging problem”.

The new capital commitment to Hubber is led by James Bayliss, former head trader at Elliott Advisors (UK), and Christopher Fox (no relation to Harry Fox), former chief financial officer of the British Business Bank.

The funding will accelerate Hubber’s growth, building on strong traction and an evolving base of committed customers, enabling delivery of an initial 30 hubs. The £60m investment will fund the acquisition and development of next generation high-powered EV charging hubs across major UK cities, underpinned by megawatt-scale grid connections.

Hubber delivers modular, planning-approved, ready-to-operate

Hubber founders Harry Fox, Connor Selwood and Hugh Leckie

sites to chargepoint operators and commercial fleet partners.

A proprietary site-selection model, turnkey design and delivery, and trusted supply chain enable Hubber to deliver higherquality sites, faster and more reliably than competitors, creating what it says is an institu-

tional-grade platform in a market poised for rapid expansion.

Harry Fox, chief executive of Hubber, said: “Early ultra-fast charging focussed on motorways and ‘range anxiety’, but today the real pressure is in cities. The fleets doing the most miles –taxis, ride-hail, delivery vans,

buses – are electrifying fast, yet city infrastructure is lagging.

“Large, high-powered hubs are the key to enabling continuous, efficient and scalable operations, but persistent delays leave a critical shortfall just as demand is surging. That’s the gap Hubber will address.”

Investor James Bayliss said: “Urban EV charging remains one of the UK’s biggest infrastructure challenges. This uniquely skilled team now has the capital to address it, and we expect their work to make a significant and lasting impact on the country’s electrification.”

Hubber’s first project, in Lewisham, south-east London, opened on 20 August in partnership with RAW Charging.

The company was advised in the process by Tom Dugarin, director of Mireille, in his capacity as senior advisor to Hubber.

RAW Charging works with Hubber in SE London

RAW Charging has launched a new EV charging site in Forest Hill, South London, delivering 12 ultra-rapid charging bays alongside a hospitality experience provided by burger chain MEATliquor.

The site has been launched in partnership with Hubber, a specialist real estate and infrastructure platform founded by an ex-Tesla team, which focusses on transforming underutilised urban sites into next generation high-powered hubs, helping to remove deployment barriers for chargepoint operators and commercial fleets.

Chargers include three 150kW and three 300kW ultra rapid units serving 12 vehicles at any one time, including one priority bay, catering to rapid turnaround and high-volume usage.

Located on Dartmouth Road, just 200 metres from Forest Hill Station, the new hub sits at the

3ti sells solar park business to egg

EV charging infrastructure company 3ti

Energy Hubs has completed the sale of its solar car park construction division to Phoenix Renewables, which trades as egg.

The Papilio3 solar EV charging hub technology allows businesses to install 12 EV chargepoints in a single day.

Installations to date include high-profile sites such as Silverstone Circuits, NHS hospitals and police forces across the UK.

3ti’s solar car park portfolio has generated over 20 GWh of clean electricity to date.

Alex Tupman, CEO of 3ti, said: “This strategic move represents a pivotal moment for 3ti as we focus our resources on what we do best – delivering rapid, reliable EV charging solutions through our patented Papilio3 technology.

“Egg’s backing by Liberty Global Europe

heart of one of south-east London’s busiest commuter corridors. With 26% of Londoners commuting by car, the site provides critical infrastructure for EV drivers heading into central London.

and their experience in the clean energy sector makes them the perfect partner to continue serving our enterprise solar car park clients.”

3ti will continue to work in partnership with egg where their respective technologies complement each other, ensuring continuity of service for existing clients.

Egg is a Liberty Global-backed clean energy company delivering financed solar, battery storage, and EV charging infrastructure to commercial, public sector and residential customers.

Paul Almond, director of B2B at egg, said: “This acquisition lays the foundation for growth in a hugely relevant market. Car parks represent a major untapped energy resource, but complexity and capital costs often delay progress. We now have advanced software that lets us quickly design solar car port layouts, calculate expected generation and CO2 savings, and combine this insight with our financing solutions to build compelling business cases in minutes.”

The transaction includes the transfer of 3ti’s pipeline of enterprise opportunities, intellectual property and three employees.

Divestment of the solar car parks business means 3ti can focus on scaling its Papilio3 technology.

Public can use Arnold Clark Charge

Car dealership has created ultra-rapid charger network

Car dealership Arnold Clark has opened its ultra-rapid electric vehicle (EV) charging network to the public. There are now more than 50 Arnold Clark Charge hubs live across the UK.

As part of a £30m investment, the car dealer is installing 500 EV chargers at more than 100 locations, with up to eight rapid chargers, with the ability to charge up to 150kW.

The first chargers were installed in March, with more locations to be added before the end of the year.

EV drivers will pay an ultrarapid charging rate of 55p/kWh, compared to much higher rates on other networks.

Payment for charging can be made on the Arnold Clark app, or via contactless and roaming cards/apps. Arnold Clark is partnering with Allstar business solutions, Zap-Pay, Octopus Electroverse and Plugsurfing.

The bays at the branches will be split between Arnold Clark app users and Pay & Go customers. Chargers can be booked through the app, with most sites being 24/7 accessible.

Russell Borrie, chief executive officer at Arnold Clark, said:

“We’re committed to investing in the future of the automotive industry and making electric vehicle charging accessible to everyone. With electric vehicles becoming increasingly popular, it’s essential that our charging

Extra MSA expands IONITY offer

Motorway service operator Extra MSA is extending its partnership with chargepoint operator IONITY.

A total of 24 350kW ultrarapid IONITY chargepoints are now live at Extra MSA’s Cambridge (A14(M11) J24), Cobham (M25 J9/10) and Peterborough Services (A1(M) J17 and A605).

The motorway service operator will also be expanding its EV capability across Leeds Skelton Lake (M1 J45), Blackburn (M65 J4) and Baldock Services (A1(M) J10) from now until the end of the year.

Extra MSA is aiming to be the first motorway services provider to surpass the government’s targets of installing at least six chargers at each service area.

Tom Dobson, chief executive at Extra MSA Group, said: “IONITY’s 350kW ultra-fast chargepoints are some of the highest-powered and most economical facilities available, reflecting our commitment to investing in the best possible customer experience.”

IONITY’s partnership with

green energy provider Octopus means all of the energy powering its ultra-rapid chargers is 100% renewable, making EV travel truly emission-free and climateneutral.

Andreas Atkins, country manager UK & Ireland at IONITY, said: “We’ve been partnered with Extra MSA for many years, leading the way in delivering the highest standard of infrastructure on some of the UK’s busiest roads. Increasing to 24 350kW chargers at Cambridge, Cobham and Peterborough shows the demand for more sustainable travel, and aligns with our commitment to more than double the number of publicly available stations and charging points in the UK for the third consecutive year.”

infrastructure keeps pace with rising demand. That’s why we’ve made significant investments in our own UK-wide, bookable ultra-rapid charging network, Arnold Clark Charge. These new charging hubs are designed to provide the public with convenient, reliable, and cost-effective charging solutions while they’re on the move.”

Launched in Glasgow in 1954, Arnold Clark Automobiles is now

MFG EV Power has 1,000 ultra-rapid charging bays

Motor Fuel Group’s electric vehicle charging business EV Power has passed 1,000 ultra-rapid EV charging bays across the forecourt operator’s network.

Launched in 2021, MFG EV Power now represents around 12% of the UK ultra-rapid charging network. It is also the largest open ultra-rapid charging network inside the M25 with 20% of all ultrarapid chargers.

MFG is the largest forecourt operator in the UK with over 1,200 sites, including all Morrisons forecourts, which are 90% freehold.

MFG EV Power says it is installing ultra-rapid and rapid EV charging bays at a pace of more than 20 per week.

MFG plans to install a total of around 3,000 ultra-rapid 150kW, 300kW and 400kW EV chargers at 500 sites by the end of 2030. By 2035, MFG plans to complete its EV roll-out to all suitable remaining locations in its network, including the Morrisons estate.

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infrastructure.

An Arnold Clark Charge hub