New BPA President launches Master Plan for Parking
The British Parking Association (BPA) welcomed its new President, Graham Brown at the President's Reception held at the House of Commons. The event was attended by the Honourable Norman Baker MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport
The new president, Graham Brown, launched the BPAs Master Plan for Parking, which sets out the Associations priorities for what government must do to achieve success in the parking arena. The issues covered include the regulation of the private parking sector, charging for hospital parking, the Blue Badge Reform Strategy, and establishing a regulator for the bailiff sector. The document has been distributed to MPs and stakeholders, with further versions for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland due to be published later this year.
In his time as president Graham aims to work towards supporting the BPAs local authority members during periods of harsh public sector cuts, ensuring that the Associations events continue to meet the members needs, whilst being self-financing, and also to push forward the regulation of the private parking sector. He said The BPA has done much in the last three years to implement self- regulation [of the private parking sector] which has seen excellent progress. But government now needs to help with further regulation, especially in respect of an independent appeals service which will allow us to continue to put the user the parking public - at the heart of our decision making at the BPA.
Graham thanked Norman Baker MP for attending and invited him to address the guests. Mr Baker started by acknowledging that: if we didnt have [parking] controls if we had a complete free for all if we didnt have proper organised parking provision, wed have complete chaos which would affect our town centres, our businesses and others and confirmed that the Department for Transport will co-ordinate as far as possible to provide a clearer framework for parking in both the public and private sector. He also outlined key areas that the new coalition government will focus on including Blue Badge Reform, private parking wheelclampers, the Traffic Signs Review and devolving power to the local authorities.
Mr Baker closed his speech by thanking the industry, stating that [The parking industry] bring value, not simply in regulating the use of the street and providing parking space which is much needed, you contribute in your own way to road safety, to reducing traffic congestion, to cutting emissions from vehicles, and supporting measures like park and ride. [Parking] is an essential industry, important in terms of the commitment which we have to pleasant towns and cities, important to development of good economic performance and job creation, important, ultimately, to the reduction in carbon emissions, so were very keen to work with you. We recognise the good work that you do and we want to build on that in the months and years to come.
Also addressing the guests was Nick Lester, President of the European Parking Association (EPA) who called on the government to help address the issue of foreign-registered vehicles.
Graham Brown brings to the role of BPA President over 20 years of experience in the parking sector having worked for printer Liberty Services since 1990. He has been a member of the Executive Council of the BPA since 2004 and is a founding member of the Institute of Parking Professionals. He has also been Chair of the Parking Forum and Vice Chair of the BPAs South East Regional Group.
Graham will be supported in his role by new senior vice-president Paul Necus of Cambridge City Council and vice president Anjna Patel of Sandwell and District Borough Council.
In his time as president Graham aims to work towards supporting the BPAs local authority members during periods of harsh public sector cuts, ensuring that the Associations events continue to meet the members needs, whilst being self-financing, and also to push forward the regulation of the private parking sector. He said The BPA has done much in the last three years to implement self- regulation [of the private parking sector] which has seen excellent progress. But government now needs to help with further regulation, especially in respect of an independent appeals service which will allow us to continue to put the user the parking public - at the heart of our decision making at the BPA.
Graham thanked Norman Baker MP for attending and invited him to address the guests. Mr Baker started by acknowledging that: if we didnt have [parking] controls if we had a complete free for all if we didnt have proper organised parking provision, wed have complete chaos which would affect our town centres, our businesses and others and confirmed that the Department for Transport will co-ordinate as far as possible to provide a clearer framework for parking in both the public and private sector. He also outlined key areas that the new coalition government will focus on including Blue Badge Reform, private parking wheelclampers, the Traffic Signs Review and devolving power to the local authorities.
Mr Baker closed his speech by thanking the industry, stating that [The parking industry] bring value, not simply in regulating the use of the street and providing parking space which is much needed, you contribute in your own way to road safety, to reducing traffic congestion, to cutting emissions from vehicles, and supporting measures like park and ride. [Parking] is an essential industry, important in terms of the commitment which we have to pleasant towns and cities, important to development of good economic performance and job creation, important, ultimately, to the reduction in carbon emissions, so were very keen to work with you. We recognise the good work that you do and we want to build on that in the months and years to come.
Also addressing the guests was Nick Lester, President of the European Parking Association (EPA) who called on the government to help address the issue of foreign-registered vehicles.
Graham Brown brings to the role of BPA President over 20 years of experience in the parking sector having worked for printer Liberty Services since 1990. He has been a member of the Executive Council of the BPA since 2004 and is a founding member of the Institute of Parking Professionals. He has also been Chair of the Parking Forum and Vice Chair of the BPAs South East Regional Group.
Graham will be supported in his role by new senior vice-president Paul Necus of Cambridge City Council and vice president Anjna Patel of Sandwell and District Borough Council.
About
The British Parking Association (BPA), founded in 1970 and celebrating its 40 th anniversary this year, is the largest independent professional association in Europe, representing 650 member organisations in the parking and traffic management industry. Members range from technology manufacturers and car park operators to local authorities and theme parks. The BPA is 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, providing a forum for the exchange of information and ideas concerning parking.
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