BPA demands Parking Summit

27 Nov 08

The British Parking Association (BPA) is leading the industry call for a UK-wide Parking Summit to discuss and debate the ‘Rethinking Parking’ agenda.

By Brian Sims

As the largest independent professional association in Europe for parking and traffic management, the BPA is now actively lobbying the Department for Transport to bring together political parties, motoring organisations which represent the motorist and consumer, the police and industry experts so that they can thrash out the future of on- and off-street parking.

Problems for security companies

The parking and civil enforcement sector continues to grow both in size and profile, and affects every road user in the UK (including, of course, security companies and their patrol vans as well as Cash-in-Transit vehicles. The BPA has proposed the Parking Summit to rethink current parking policy – and how enforcement is undertaken – in order to reduce the so-called ‘heat and emotion’ that the present system is so obviously generating.

Security companies and the BSIA have been complaining for some time about the fact that Cash-in-Transit vehicles are being hit with what many feel to be ludicrous parking fines when they’re attempting to provide a vital service to the local community and the overall economy.

Proper enforcement is essential

Addressing the BPA Members’ Dinner, President Lynn Witham said: “Illegal or inconsiderate parking needs to be seen as anti-social. Without proper parking enforcement almost everyone would be affected, and many people could not go about their daily lives. While most people accept the need for sensible regulations and enforcement, the current system doesn’t appear to be working.”

For Witham, now is the time “to bring together everyone involved in parking, from industry to consumer, to look at where we are, where we want to be and to set the goals for achieving a system that’s fair, workable and benefits everyone.”

Proper and effective parking management is absolutely essential for the UK. Without it, economic activity would be severely compromised as the High Streets and roads become even more congested. It’s an essential public service, but one that’s often perceived badly by the public and the media alike.

Despite the very best endeavours of Government and the industry, civil parking enforcement has become overly complicated, with too much time and energy expended on claims and counter claims for non-conformity in documentation or signs and lines.

The industry has a duty to ensure that Traffic Orders are necessary, proportionate and correctly made. For their part, motorists need to recognise that inconsiderate parking causes congestion, inconvenience and risks road safety.

Rethinking parking policy and enforcement

In a nutshell, this is why the BPA has proposed that now is the right time to stand back and rethink parking policy and enforcement, in the process involving all corners of society in the debate.

Founded in 1968, the BPA represents 650 member organisations spread across the parking and traffic management industry. Members range from technology manufacturers and car park operators through to local authorities and theme parks.

The organisation is firmly dedicated to promoting and representing knowledge and standards in every type of parking facility, both on-street and off-street, and to bringing together the interests of Government, local authorities and commercial organisations in providing a Forum for the exchange of information and ideas concerning parking.