Compex supplies Test Valley Borough Council with new Handheld Technology

Test Valley Borough Council have been a customer of Compex for over five years and use Compex applications for Decriminalised Parking enforcement

The technical advances of the Council have evolved through the expanding remit of new parking schemes. Test Valley Borough Council now issue over 10,000 parking tickets per annum under RTA91 with Compex software.

Before introducing the DAP MF2400 handheld terminals in 2005 under the RTA91 parking initiative, Test Valley were issuing hand written tickets.

The introduction of the handhelds has enabled the Parking Attendants to record more PCN information and this has been an advantage to Lesley Hottinger "Handhelds have the advantage of being programmed to give fixed grace periods for specific contraventions ensuring all PA¹s have applied the same rules. They are also programmed to request expired ticket details and valve positions ensuring that this information is recorded. All PCN's are uploaded from the handhelds and cannot be deleted from the system which safeguards against unauthorised voiding of tickets."

Hottinger continued, "We have found these programming options very useful when dealing with appeals as we can be confident that the PA has followed the correct procedures"

The handhelds have allowed the Parking Attendants to observe the 1hr limited waiting bays more efficiently at Romsey. Chris Adams, PA Supervisor has seen a vast improvement in the ticket issuing.

Jeremy Graham-Clare, Sales Manager for Compex Development & Marketing Ltd, said "Compex has been expanding the range of handhelds available to customers as we appreciate Œone size does not fit all".

"Test Valley looked at various options within the range and finally decided on the Microflex 2240 as their choice due to its highly rugged build and durability in all weather conditions."

A partnership with Compex and Systems Link has enabled Test Valley to take on rugged cases for both the handheld and QL320 printers. "The new cases are a real bonus allowing the handheld and printer to be carried in several different ways," says Romsey.;

Hottinger says "The Parking Attendants had fears the PCN's issued would drop after the handhelds were introduced but in fact we are issuing more PCN's than ever before.

We all agree that the message we give out to the public in using the handhelds are we are professional in our parking enforcement duties", says Hottinger.

About Compex

Compex is the UK's number one provider of IT solutions for both on-street and off-street parking management. Established in 1985 Compex have a first class track record of delivering high quality, cost effective solutions to over 130 authorities throughout the UK.

Compex is part of the Paris based international VINCI construction group one of the largest construction companies in the world with combined sales in excess of £9 billion. VINCI has combined parking interests throughout Europe, the Far East and also in North and South America. VINCI operate around 1.5 million parking spaces making it Europe's largest parking Group.

The VINCI Group gives Compex both long-term stability and financial security in order to continuously invest in new product development ensuring that the Comex systems lead the field in terms of features and ease of use. It also provides the company with the capability to undertake major new contracts both in the UK and overseas in conjunction with our selected business partners. However, Compex still retains its identity as an independent software supplier providing products and services to local authorities and most of the major enforcement contractoprs.