At the BPA annual conference held at Parkex in Manchester last week, entitled 'The Image of Parking - Conflict or Co-operation', the BPA announced a bold initiative aimed at improving the public perception and image of the industry through a review of the practice of DPE (Decriminalised Parking Enforcement).
Keith Banbury, CEO of the BPA, delivered a paper that sets out a three pronged approach to undertaking such a review. He set the scene by saying a review is timely as DPE has been with us for a decade, and suggested that the on-street parking industry had over this period developed an image problem, fuelled in part by the media's sensationalist approach to reporting parking stories. This media approach has led the majority of the public to believe that the industry is more interested in generating income than ensuring compliance with parking regulations. Mr Banbury pointed out that the on-street industry needs to do more to educate the public as to why parking regulations are needed and also to inform them what the benefits of enforcing these regulations are.
Mr Banbury then went on to announce the three actions that, taken as a whole, will form the initiative.
These are:
1. Examine the operation of DPE to ensure that the industry offers an enforcement service that is consistent, correct, fair and transparent.
2. Develop a sector skills strategy that will provide structured career pathways and growth opportunities for parking enforcement employees at all levels. This in turn will reduce the skill shortage the industry currently experiences and ultimately help the industry deliver the quality of service it aims for.
3. Create a communications campaign that will educate the public as to why parking regulations are needed, what the benefits of enforcing these regulations are, and to clarify what the role of the PA is in enforcing these regulations.
The aim is to input any recommendation from the review into the Statutory Guidance notes being developed by the DfT to support the Traffic Management Act. The BPA will therefore be inviting Government, Local Authorities, Motoring Organisations and the Business Community to join in the review.
The BPA are best placed to spearhead this review as it represents the whole industry, having members from both the public and private sectors. In addition, the BPA have over the past two years been developing initiatives that feed into improving the quality and standard of DPE practice. These include the Model Contract for adoption by Local Authorities when hiring contractors to carry out parking enforcement, and a new PA accreditation scheme.
Click here to view a copy of Mr Banbury’s paper
For a free copy of the paper or more information contact the BPA on 01444 447 300.
Notes to editors:
The BPA
The British Parking Association is a non-profit making organisation set up in 1967 to bring together the interests of government, local government, commercial organisations and the general public. As the recognised authority within the parking industry, the BPA represents, promotes and influences the best interests of the parking and traffic management sectors throughout the UK and Europe. The BPA aims to advance both knowledge and standards of management within areas as diverse as planning, design, enforcement, construction and the maintenance of all types of parking and traffic control.
BPA Model Contract
In close consultation with the Department for Transport, the BPA has drawn up a new 'model' contract that it hopes will be adopted by Local Authorities when hiring contractors to carry out parking enforcement. This contract emphasises that performance be measured on keeping the streets free of congestion, the primary aim of enforcing regulations, not on the number of tickets issued. Currently the contract is being updated following a consultation period with the industry including a trial of the contract by a London Borough. Please contact Jane Hack on 01444 447303 or by e-mail jane.h@britishparking.co.ukfor more information.
New PA Accreditation Scheme
In conjunction with City and Guilds the BPA is developing a national standard for the training of Britain's 20,000 parking attendants (PA's). Please contact Alison Tooze on 01444 447312 or by e-mail alison.t@britishparking.co.ukfor more information.
Press Enquiries
Simona De Michelis, Marketing & PR Manager
Tel: 01444 447 317
Email: Simona@britishparking.co.uk
