Raising the standards in parking

The public and media often perceive parking in a negative light. The real picture is the parking and traffic management sector in the UK is continually striving, through innovative projects and initiatives, to improve and set standards within the industry. The goal is to create real, workable solutions for local authorities, organisations and the public that benefits everyone.

Fair and consistent parking
One of the key themes at Parkex 2008 is engaging with the consumer. On 31 March 2008 new regulations will be introduced that will see the first changes to on street parking since 1993. The new powers will provide motorists with a fair and consistent service across the country.

Everyone dislikes congestion and delays to journeys. It is important that the message is communicated clearly to the public that effective parking enforcement is there to prevent congestion and delays and is necessary to ensure that the roads are safe for motorists, emergency vehicles and pedestrians.

The free Parkex seminar workshop will help delegates understand how best to engage with and promote parking to the public and will look at the Consumer Guide to Parking being produced by the BPA in association with Which, which will form an easy to understand guide to parking in the UK.

Making sure people involved in parking management have the support and training to improve their knowledge and skills with a structured career path is very much part of raising the standards. A new City and Guilds certificate for Civil Enforcement Officers has been launched in line with the new Civil Parking Enforcement regulations, which will ultimately help to improve the quality and consistency of the service provided to the public.

The changing face of parking
In October 2008, the BPA introduced a new Approved Operator Scheme (AOS), backed by the Code of Practice for Parking Enforcement on Private Land and Unregulated Car Parks. To ensure best practice and to meet the evolving needs of the parking industry an updated comprehensive code covering wheel clamping, vehicle immobilisation and ticketing on private land will be available in 2008.

The Approved Operator Scheme provides a level of self-regulation to parking enforcement on private land and unregulated public car parks. Over 40 company operators are fully signed up and 23 applications are currently being processed. Landowners wishing to protect their property should only contract with ‘approved operators’ and those that act in accordance with the recognised Code of Practice.

Continued BPA membership is dependent on operators in this sector signing up to the Code of Practice and joining the AOS.

At Parkex you can also find out about the new revised Model Contract being launched this spring by the BPA and why it will help your organisation create greater transparency and increase confidence in the on-street parking industry. The British Parking Association with the support of the Department for Transport developed the Model Contract as a means to standardise on-street parking enforcement throughout the UK. Since its introduction in 2005, work has been undertaken to update and modify the Model Contract to embrace the new Civil Parking Enforcement regulations.

Find the right direction
With over 120 companies from the UK and Europe exhibiting and 1,300 delegates attending Parkex, the conference, now in its 17th year, is the place to find out about the latest innovations and technology available in the parking industry.

Parkex 2008 is fee and it takes place from the 23rd – 24th April 2008 at the Manchester Central Convention Complex.

For more information visit http://www.parkex.co.uk
For more information on the British Parking Association visit www.britishparking.co.uk