Master Plan for Parking 2015-16 Enabling a Mobile Society SETTING STANDARDS PROMOTING PROFESSIONALISM 35m cars in the uk Vehicle licensing statistics: 2013 ADVOCATING SUSTAINABILITY CHALLENGING PERCEPTIONS ENCOURAGING INNOVATION
FOREWORD We are pleased to present our Master Plan for Parking 2015-16, which sets out how we propose to raise standards in the parking profession and provide better services for the motorist. Our Master Plan evolves from year to year reflecting changes in our profession as it develops and responds to the needs of an increasingly mobile society. We will continue to work in a consultative and constructive manner with our members, all UK governments, and key stakeholders. By setting standards, promoting professionalism, advocating sustainability, challenging perceptions and encouraging innovation, and the responsible use of new technologies we will ensure that parking continues to play a key role in the mobility chain, contributing to an equitable and sustainable society. CONTENTS Setting Standards Setting standards for the private parking profession through a single accountable body, with an independent scrutiny board will deliver better parking services and regulations for motorists, operators and landowners. Promoting Professionalism Promoting professionalism is important in the delivery of parking services, ensuring continuous improvement for everyone. Advocating Sustainability Advocating sustainability through the delivery of efficient solutions for safer car parks, with life care plans and fair charging to enable effective mobility. Challenging Perceptions Challenging negative perceptions should improve respect from motorists for those responsible for the delivery of parking services. Nigel Williams Philip Hammer Patrick Troy Chair of the BPA Board President Chief Executive Encouraging Innovation Encouraging innovation, investment and the fair and effective use of technology will improve the delivery and management of parking services.
SETTING STANDARDS Setting standards and achieving compliance will deliver real parking reform for motorists, operators and landowners profession and should enhance standards through an enforceable code of practice. That code should be established following consultation with consumers, motorists, operators and landowners. We believe there should be a single standards setting body for the management of parking on private land. Continuing with multiple codes of practice, multiple appeal services, and variable auditing and sanctions regimes is unfair and confusing for motorists and businesses alike. We have always believed that there is a need for the establishment of a single standard setting body with an independent scrutiny board, which will deliver a single code of practice and a single independent appeals service for consumers. The standard setting body must be accountable to government, should be fully funded by the private parking We will continue to encourage consistency in parking management solutions. We will work with all local authority members to provide effective parking management solutions and where local devolution means some cities have greater transport and planning controls, encourage consistency where it is beneficial for motorists. We believe that the misuse of personal data is wrong. It is unfair that some people can avoid enforcement action by failing to register their vehicle properly in accordance with the law. We will continue to support the DVLA in their enforcement activities where this helps to improve the proper registration of vehicles driven in the UK. Parking service providers need to know who are using their facilities. We will work closely with the Information Commissioner to ensure that motorists data is properly safeguarded and, where data is acquired for parking management
purposes, that it is used responsibly and respectfully, in accordance with the law. We will promote a standard of respect for any data collected and emphasise transparency in how it is processed. We are developing the Professionalism in Parking Accreditation (PiPA). The accreditation will certify that higher standards are delivered by organisations in all sectors of the parking profession; alongside this a range of audited charters will address unique, sector-specific commitments in parking services and encourage compliance. Proper and effective parking policies and traffic management according to properly defined standards is essential; it contributes to less congested streets and increases access to towns and cities with significant economic benefits to enable a mobile society. PROMOTING PROFESSIONALISM Professionalism is important in the management of parking, ensuring continuous improvement for everyone We believe that everyone delivering parking services should be properly trained and appropriately qualified. We will encourage our members to invest in their people enabling them to improve their understanding of customer needs. Working with WAMITAB and others in the parking profession, we will ensure those delivering parking services do so to a high standard. Through continuing professional development of the workforce, higher professionalism in parking and a resulting advancement of standards will be encouraged.
We will deliver the Professionalism in Parking Accreditation (PiPA). We will promote professionalism in organisations and across their workforce and ensuring compliance of universal, high-level principles in the parking sector, identifying and celebrating those who deliver excellence. We believe that parking enforcement should be delivered effectively, fairly and responsibly. To ensure this we will continue to work with all parking operators and the Government to ensure motorists have access to an independent dispute resolution across the UK enabling them to challenge parking tickets issued on private land. Parking tickets issued on private land are not regulated by law. We believe anyone undertaking parking enforcement should be a member of an Accredited Trade Association. Motorists and parking professionals need clear rules and regulations that are easy to understand and use. We will seek a review and update of the law where it seeks to control and regulate the management of parking to bring about clarity and purpose. We will work with associated stakeholders to develop the Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions providing for local flexibility, yet maintaining national consistency and promoting road safety. 65,000+ appeals registered since POPLA launched in October 2012 51% won by operators 6,000+ motorist inquiries and investigations dealt with since January 2014 49% won by motorists We will encourage the reduction of traffic sign clutter and simplification of the Traffic Regulation Orders Procedure. We will promote continuing professional development across the parking community to ensure specialised knowledge is kept upto-date and those charged with enabling a mobile society do act professionally by adopting and implementing best practice.
ADVOCATING SUSTAINABILITY Safe and well maintained sustainable parking facilities and fair and effective pricing is key to enabling mobility We believe that every car park in the UK should be a safe place. To achieve this we will endeavour to improve all UK car parks for the motorist by increasing the number of Park Mark awards and campaigning for greater awareness of the Safer Parking Scheme, which has contributed to a significant reduction in vehicle crime in car parks. 1 in 4 car parks hold the Park Mark award We will encourage investment in life care planning for all parking facilities. Car park owners and operators have a responsibility to ensure that their parking facilities are safe, properly serviced and maintained. We will provide knowledge and guidance to ensure structural safety and integrity of car parks remains paramount. We will encourage our members to use, low consumption lighting, renewable energy, solar power and support lowemission vehicles. People across the world are starting to become aware of the importance of reducing their carbon footprint and parking services must join them. Investment in low energy lighting and using other sustainable energy systems is important for lowering our dependency on single-occupancy cars and vehicles powered with fossil fuels, reduce parking demand, and increase accessibility.
We will encourage fair pricing in car parks and statutory penalty charges. Out of date charges are unsustainable, promote disregard for local traffic regulations and contribute to congestion, delays and road safety. We will call for the regular review and appraisal of statutory penalty charges. This will ensure that the level of the charge is sustainable and continues to achieve its objective of encouraging compliance with parking rules. These measures focus on finding solutions and promoting sustainability; helping to prevent crime and the unplanned closure of car parks, and supporting regeneration in the communities they serve, enabling a mobile society. 20% less PCNs issued in London over last 5 years CHALLENGING PERCEPTIONS Motorists and operators should respect each other and use parking services responsibly We believe that there needs to be better recognition and understanding of how and why parking is managed. To achieve this we will campaign to improve motorists access to our information service Know Your Parking Rights, explaining the rules for parking to improve parking behaviour.
We believe that parking on and obstruction of the footway is wrong. We will work with Guide Dogs UK, Disabled Motoring UK, Living Streets, and other organisations to promote the development of common standards in the management and enforcement of parking on footways and areas used by pedestrians across the UK. We believe that abuse, misuse and fraudulent use of blue badges and parking spaces set aside for people with disabilities is wrong. We successfully campaigned for new enforcement powers for local authorities and their agents to deal with this and will now encourage greater use of these powers to more effectively manage and enforce the Blue Badge scheme. Image: Guide Dogs UK We believe that abuse and assault of civil enforcement staff and people involved in the provision and management of parking services is wrong. We will seek better protection and respect for people delivering parking services and for a reduction in abuse and malicious behaviour towards them by collaborating with stakeholders to raise greater awareness and improve education on the issue. of Civil Enforcement Officers say their presence is welcome. It is essential that towns and cities are accessible and kept safe and free of congestion. Compliance by the motorist alongside fair and effective management of parking will improve accessibility to our towns and cities for everyone. Evidence shows this underpins economic regeneration and enables a mobile society.
ENCOURAGING INNOVATION We will encourage innovation and investment in new and existing technology to improve the delivery and management of parking services. We will encourage the development and provision of systems and applications that support connected and smart mobility, with parking and travel planning tools. Technology is revolutionising the way people travel, we will drive innovation, investment and social responsibility in the parking profession. We will collaborate with Innovate UK, identify opportunities to work with government and like-minded stakeholders to inform and influence government about current and emerging technology. Creating trust at both local and national level will ensure proper and effective traffic management which is essential to support growth in our communities. We will promote fair and responsible use of cameras and surveillance technology in the delivery of parking services. Surveillance and ANPR cameras play an important role in the management and use of parking facilities. Technological developments mean that cameras are no longer a passive technology that only records and retains images, but is now a proactive one that can be used to identify people of interest and keep detailed records of activities. The use of ANPR in car parks is a technology which enables the delivery of many new customer friendly systems such as pay as you go and pay on departure.
BPA MASTER PLAN FOR PARKING ANPR helps to improve accessibility for disabled motorists by enabling hands free entry and exit and the use of internet based pre-booking systems and parking accounts. It is also important that protocols are in place to identify unfair or inappropriate enforcement activity. We will continue to work with our members to ensure that where cameras are used they are used fairly and responsibly, and in accordance with data protection rules, providing benefits to operators and motorists. Proper and effective traffic management is vital in our towns and cities and as society evolves and the likelihood of congestion increases, we will encourage public acceptance of advances and innovations in new technology helping to deliver parking solutions and services which enable a mobile society.
BPA MASTER PLAN FOR PARKING SOME OF OUR ACHIEVEMENTS OVER THE LAST 12 MONTHS We appointed The Ombudsman Services to succeed London Councils as the service provider for POPLA from 1st October 2015. We represented the views of members in local and national media and responded to over 18 government consultations. Working with the Department of Health we updated the parking guidelines for NHS Trusts, providing case studies of good practice that other NHS Trusts are encouraged to emulate. We delivered Parkex 2015 providing a more connected conversation about the future of parking and traffic management. We established the Know Your Parking Rights campaign and trusted website for motorists. We successfully held a Park Mark is 10 campaign for the Safer Parking Scheme, which is managed by the BPA; it promoted and raised awareness of Park Mark to the public. We safeguarded the use of CCTV to ensure key areas such as outside schools, bus lanes, bus stops and red routes are kept safe and free of congestion. We commissioned Researching the Research, to combine and build on existing academic research. We delivered the Annual Conference, Parkingtopia, where parking professionals were able to develop their knowledge, share expertise, raise issues, consider the present and look to the future. We Delivered four highly influential Parking Forum events to discuss parking and transport matters. We launched flexible, up-to-date BPA recognised parking qualifications awarded by WAMITAB for both regulated and unregulated environments.
ABOUT THE BRITISH PARKING ASSOCIATION The British Parking Association (BPA) is the largest professional association in Europe, representing organisations in the parking and traffic management profession. Our members include manufacturers, learning providers, consultants, local authorities and car park operators, including those managing parking on private land such as retail parks, healthcare facilities, universities and railway stations. We provide our members with knowledge and a range of benefits and resources that assist them in their day to day work. As the recognised authority within the parking profession, we represent, promote and influence the best interests of the parking and traffic management profession throughout the UK and Europe. We also manage initiatives for the sector including the Safer Parking Scheme (on behalf of the Association of Chief Police Officers), the Approved Operator Scheme (for those managing parking on private, unregulated land) and our stakeholder engagement group, the Parking Forum. We have created separate Master Plans which recognise and reflect the differing needs of England, Scotland, Wales and the Island of Ireland. A shared PARkINg PlAN FoR ThE IslAND of IRElAND 2013-14 Raising standards for everyone Supporting growth for everyone Fairer for everyone Better regulation for everyone BRITISH PARKING ASSOCIATION Parking News British Parking Association Stuart House, 41-43 Perrymount Road, Haywards Heath, West Sussex RH16 3BN Phone: +44 (0) 1444 447300 Fax: +44 (0) 1444 454105 info@britishparking.co.uk www.britishparking.co.uk British Parking Association 2015