THE British Parking Association (BPA) welcomes progress on delivery of the Parking (Code of Practice) Act 2019 with the launch of two consultations. The British Standards Institution (BSI) is consulting on a Publicly Available Specification (PAS) for the private parking sector, which will in effect create a single code of practice as described in the Act. The BPA has worked closely with government, BSI and other stakeholders throughout the process to inform the development of PAS 232.

In parallel, government is also seeking views on how to improve regulation of the private parking sector for the benefit of consumers, parking operators and landowners alike. We have listened to Governments’ and MPs’ concerns and share their desire to produce standards that enable effective parking management that is fairer, clearer and more proportionate.

The value of a Parking Charge has always been contentious. We have therefore put forward a proposal for a Three Tier Parking Charge plus an Appeals Charter, which will be fairer, clearer and more proportionate for everyone.

Having a three-tiered Parking Charge provides for more effective deterrents for anti-social parking that no stakeholders would condone, such as occupying Blue Badge bays. At the same time it provides for lower tier charges for less serious breaches of parking terms and conditions, such as parking longer than permitted, or that has been paid for. Underpinned by the Appeals Charter this will remove many of the perceived and real injustices, for example a permit falling off a dashboard or a simple keying error.

Steve Clark, BPA Head of Business Operations says 

“We are pleased to be working closely with Government and others, including consumers and motorist groups, to design a parking code and associated arrangements which provide an even fairer outcome for motorists, landowners and parking operators alike. We’ve always wanted a standard setting body, a single code of practice, and a single independent appeals service, all of which are vital if we are to truly enable effective parking management on private land.”