The British Parking Association Calls for Parking Summit
The British Parking Association (BPA), the largest independent professional association in Europe for parking and traffic management, is leading the industry call for a UK-wide Parking Summit with the agenda of Re-thinking Parking.
The BPA is lobbying the Department for Transport to bring together political parties, motoring organisations which represent the motorist and consumer, the police and industry experts to discuss the future of on- and off-street parking.
The parking and civil enforcement sector continues to grow both in size and profile, and affects every road user in the UK. The BPA has proposed the summit to rethink current parking policy and how enforcement is undertaken in order to reduce the heat and emotion that the present system generates.
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 does not appear to be working. Now is the time, therefore, 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 is fair, workable and benefits everyone."
Proper and effective parking management is absolutely essential for the UK's crowded island; without it economic activity would be severely compromised as the High Streets and roads became even more congested. It is an essential public service, but one that is often perceived badly by the public and the media.
Despite the 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, and the motorist needs to recognise that inconsiderate parking causes congestion, inconvenience and risks road safety. This is why the BPA has proposed that now is the right time to stand back and re-think parking policy and enforcement and involve all corners of society in the debate.
The parking and civil enforcement sector continues to grow both in size and profile, and affects every road user in the UK. The BPA has proposed the summit to rethink current parking policy and how enforcement is undertaken in order to reduce the heat and emotion that the present system generates.
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 does not appear to be working. Now is the time, therefore, 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 is fair, workable and benefits everyone."
Proper and effective parking management is absolutely essential for the UK's crowded island; without it economic activity would be severely compromised as the High Streets and roads became even more congested. It is an essential public service, but one that is often perceived badly by the public and the media.
Despite the 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, and the motorist needs to recognise that inconsiderate parking causes congestion, inconvenience and risks road safety. This is why the BPA has proposed that now is the right time to stand back and re-think parking policy and enforcement and involve all corners of society in the debate.
Notes to Editor
The British Parking Association (BPA), founded in 1968, 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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