Parking stories in the News/media

Grizebeck

Whatever2023 said:

They need to do more research.

If the land is subject to bylaws, there is no reason why the Parking Charges would be unenforceable; the operator just won’t be able to use POFA as it’s not relevant land (at this time).

It will never be relevant land

Coupon-mad

Could be ... in years to come, if PPC World persuade the Government to make it so.

I am already aware it's on PPCs' wish list. 

There's a lot of crap like that on the Trade Bodies' wish list though ... and I predict they won't prevail because good people are standing up to them. We aren't going anywhere (neither the Steering Group 'good side' nor the BMPA, nor the good people on this forum).

We - or others like us - will be here to fight the crap and alert the Government.

Unlike in 2011/2012 when the BPA hoodwinked the Government into waving through 'keeper liability' and with embarrassing consumer-attacking haste, ParkingEye then launched c30,000 court claims in 2013 alone, IIRC.

The BPA clearly knew what was planned.

Thing is, for the dark side to persuade the Government of major changes nowadays, they might be best advised to have a good hard look at themselves and spend a few years behaving maybe a teeny weeny bit better (where's the irony emoji when you want one?!).

The BPA is no longer naively believed.

And as for the IPC? Snorts with laughter!

Nellymoser

Liking that line "We will be here to fight the crap and alert the Government"  📢

Coupon-mad

1505grandad said:

ANPR in Council car parks?  -  this sounds like a plan (wonder who benefits)

https://www.msn.com/en-gb/cars/news/blue-badge-holders-to-no-longer-park-for-free-under-new-council-plans/ar-AA1q6uPf?ocid=U148DHP&pc=U148&cvid=66ac74b82b6c4971a5e1eb2a25769469&ei=75

"It added: “The project will enable an assessment of whether the more widespread introduction of ANPR across other council’s car parks should be considered. This may be achieved by using a third party to deliver and manage the project on our behalf.”"

Follow up to this confirms disabled users won't be disadvantaged, but the Councillors have still missed the point that ANPR to issue PCNs by post is illegal:

https://www.kentonline.co.uk/malling/news/amp/council-u-turn-on-blue-badge-holders-parking-charges-312615/

Looks like ANPR is still planned... 

Someone needs to send the following info to Tonbridge/Malling Councillors sharpish before they flush public money down the toilet:

High Wycombe Council wasted £680,000 on ANPR cameras for their car parks before they were forced to remove the cameras after their access to DVLA data was removed.
https://wycombetoday.com/2017-01-22-car-parks-in-wycombe-to-return-to-pay-and-display-as-anpr-technology-is-ditched/

1505grandad

Hope it is ok to post the following in this thread but I sent this email on 10th September (C-m article above is dated 9th):-

Dear Councillor Hood and Councillor Athwal,

I refer you to the following local paper article, in which I note you may have concerns regarding ANPR cameras and third-party operators in Council owned car parks:-

https://www.msn.com/en-gb/cars/news/blue-badge-holders-to-no-longer-park-for-free-under-new-council-plans/ar-AA1q6uPf?ocid=U148DHP&pc=U148&cvid=66ac74b82b6c4971a5e1eb2a25769469&ei=75

It is my understanding that Councils can instal ANPR cameras in their car parks but ONLY as long as it isn't to issue Parking Charge Notices (PCNs) by post.

So, there are some Council PDT car parks which have ANPR to help inform drivers what time they arrived or to calculate the fee on leaving.  That is all it can do.  Any PCNs will have to be issued on foot.

I therefore would like to give you a heads-up regarding the proposed Council scheme to make sure/investigate that any proposals are legal.

To this end I set out below a link to a similar scheme embarked on by High Wycombe Council that caused a lot of problems and expense to the Council and local tax payers:-

https://wycombetoday.com/2017-01-22-car-parks-in-wycombe-to-return-to-pay-and-display-as-anpr-technology-is-ditched/

High Wycombe Council wasted £680,000 on ANPR cameras for their car parks before they were forced to remove the cameras after their access to DVLA data was removed.

I also attach a letter from Robert Goodwill MP which is self explanatory and I believe is still relevant.

Although I am not a resident my family and I have had several holidays/visits to the "Garden of England" in which we have enjoyed the welcoming and friendly attitude of the local people.

I would hate it therefore if these kind people were subjected to any problems and needless expense because of a scheme that may not be legal and is totally preventable.

Hopefully my heads-up will be of use to you  -  perhaps any contacts you have on the local paper may also be interested?.

Of course, any feedback you can give me as the matter progresses will be most appreciated.

As posted previously I received the following shortly after:-

"Re: PROPOSED ANPR CAMERAS/THIRD PARTY OPERATORS - COUNCIL CAR PARKS

Dear XXXXXX 

Thank you for raising these concerns we will certainly ensure that any capital expenditure occurs only after we are assured that the operating system is legal and pragmatic.

Kind regards 

Mark Hood"

Coupon-mad

 Very good to see all that was raised.

Nellymoser

UKPC dishing out PCNs for 'leaving the site'

Drivers are being urged to 'boycott' the St Stephen’s Place Leisure Park car park in Trowbridge in a row over UKPC parking enforcement.

https://www.thisiswiltshire.co.uk/news/24560794.drivers-urged-boycott-car-park-fines-leaving-site/

The call follows a story about a driver who was handed a £100 ‘fine’ for parking there and then leaving the car park to get cash for the ticket machine.

Commenting on the story, others urged drivers not to use the car park and hit its new owner in the pocket.

Nellymoser

Mum fumes after paying for wrong parking in 'misleading' Exeter car park and her appeal is rejected.

She was further angered when she found an article published on DevonLive telling how another car park user had encountered the same situation in April.

https://www.devonlive.com/news/devon-news/mum-fumes-after-paying-wrong-9562866

A spokesperson for APCOA said:

"Unfortunately, the customer's payment was not valid for the station car park in which they were parked, it was made for Devon County Council’s adjacent on-street parking spaces along Bonhay Road."

Did APCOA not think oh maybe the placement of our sign next to the Council’s pay machine might confuse people.

"However, although this was a case of customer error, as a gesture of goodwill we have cancelled the charge on this occasion."

Always customer error. Both appeals were rejected APCOA only cancelled their charges when DevonLive published their stories.

"To reduce the risk of any reoccurrences, we will speak with Devon County Council to discuss the clarity of signage on their paying machine."

APCOA didn't try to reduce the risk. Liaison with the Council should have taken place in April when this story was first published and APCOA should have also looked again at the positioning of their signs.   

This article demonstrates nothing much has been done by the industry to address their 'market failure'. 

Thorndorise

BBC News - Parking fees introduced at forest used by Hollywood

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/czrmme0zer2o

CP Plus t/a GroupNexus have weeded their way onto Forestry Commission land, max charge £50

Half_way

Thorndorise said:

BBC News - Parking fees introduced at forest used by Hollywood

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/czrmme0zer2o

CP Plus t/a GroupNexus have weeded their way onto Forestry Commission land, max charge £50

Forestry commission land - covered with bye laws so this could well be not relevant land if CP plus/group nexus are pocketing the money from parking charge notices:

https://www.forestryengland.uk/sites/default/files/documents/Forestry Commission_Byelaws.pdf

Section 5: Acts prohibited on the lands of the commissioners, part xxxi