Parking stories in the News/media

Thorndorise

ANPR and cashless car parks to be trialled

BBC News - Staffordshire Moorlands to trial ANPR and cashless car parks - BBC News

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/ckg0mp8mp0mo

Planned changes at some car parks in Staffordshire could raise tens of thousands of pounds for a local authority, according to council officers.

Staffordshire Moorlands District Council bosses plan to introduce charges at 10 currently free car parks and extend charging periods at some from 15:30 to 18:00.

The authority is also planning to introduce automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) cameras, and card-only payments in some car parks.

Coupon-mad

Thorndorise said:

ANPR and cashless car parks to be trialled

BBC News - Staffordshire Moorlands to trial ANPR and cashless car parks - BBC News

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/ckg0mp8mp0mo

Planned changes at some car parks in Staffordshire could raise tens of thousands of pounds for a local authority, according to council officers.

Staffordshire Moorlands District Council bosses plan to introduce charges at 10 currently free car parks and extend charging periods at some from 15:30 to 18:00.

The authority is also planning to introduce automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) cameras, and card-only payments in some car parks.

None of which fits within Government MHCLG off street policy... 

Coupon-mad

Coupon-mad said:

Who wants to whistleblow and report Nuneaton & Bedworth Borough Council to the DVLA?
https://www.coventrytelegraph.net/news/local-news/two-nuneatons-biggest-car-parks-26193488.amp

And Gravesham Borough Council too:
https://www.kentonline.co.uk/gravesend/news/new-way-to-pay-in-town-centre-car-parks-281226/

https://www.kentonline.co.uk/gravesend/news/amp/new-parking-system-to-go-live-in-town-centre-290008/


Edit, add to this
Hastings Borough Council:
https://www.sussexexpress.co.uk/news/people/priory-meadow-car-park-in-hastings-goes-ticketless-as-from-today-here-is-what-you-need-to-know-4066543


And West Northants Council:
https://www.northamptonchron.co.uk/news/politics/council/northampton-pensioner-slams-new-anpr-system-at-busy-council-owned-car-park-following-saturday-night-chaos-4054537

Absolute mayhem!

EDIT: 
Add Rochester:
https://www.kentonline.co.uk/medway/news/amp/town-centre-car-parks-to-introduce-anpr-cameras-286736/

And add Runnymede Borough Council:
https://www.getsurrey.co.uk/news/surrey-news/waitrose-egham-disabled-parking-row-26982863.amp


And even worse is Bodmin Town Council are letting PPS operate COUNCIL car parks as if they are private land, and ANPR has been installed despite it being banned for local authority use (for parking enforcement) in the Deregulation Act 2015:

https://www.cornish-times.co.uk/news/bodmin-town-council-car-parks-face-price-hike-and-anpr-camera-enforcement-615095


So are Chelmsford City Council:
 illegally letting Smart Parking operate with ANPR at a Council-owned shopping centre for THREE YEARS:

https://www.echo-news.co.uk/news/23671421.canvey-knightswick-shopping-centre-parking-changes/

I feel a FOI request coming on for the number of contract law 'PCNs' issued and a copy of the landowner/parking firm contract.


More questions about possible use of ANPR in Council car parks, this time I suspect it here from Derby City Council:

https://www.derbytelegraph.co.uk/news/derby-news/council-raises-60000-parking-tickets-8631304.amp

Edit:  
And Doncaster:
https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/80322965/#Comment_80322965

2018 Doncaster Parking Strategy includes the following:

"East Leith Gate and NCP Frances Street Car Parks are privately managed but owned by The Council (elsewhere in the document the car park name is spelt correctly as East Laith Gate). "

But seriously:

Their legal advisors seem to have missed the fact that Councils aren't allowed to use ANPR for parking enforcement. It became illegal as part of the Deregulation Act in 2015.

Let's hope they are spending that budget wisely and only using ANPR to "assist with smooth payments" (which is allowed) and not to use the data to send to the DVLA to issue PCNs (illegal).

Look what happened to Wycombe Council when they tried out ANPR for parking enforcement in car parks:
http://parking-prankster.blogspot.com/2014/08/wycombe-district-council-banned-for.html?m=1

Just reminding us all of these (above) which I gathered on page 75 in 2023.  

So this latest move by Staffordshire Moorlands District Council will also need scrutiny.  They can use ANPR to help inform drivers of arrival times (that's legal for Councils) but can't use it for parking enforcement.

Even worse that they want to phase out cash as well which is discriminatory by marginalising older people.

FrankCannon

I have parked my car in council car parks in Rochester, Whitstable and Folkestone that use ANPR to take payment, and I don't think they are used for enforcement. Here's the Rochester one on Streetview ;

https://www.google.com/maps/@51.3902957,0.5068129,3a,60y,226.59h,88.05t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1s5L5UQgRo0xArwCr63A9xfQ!2e0!6shttps://streetviewpixels-pa.googleapis.com/v1/thumbnail?cb_client=maps_sv.tactile&w=900&h=600&pitch=1.945456804000358&panoid=5L5UQgRo0xArwCr63A9xfQ&yaw=226.59109636988202!7i16384!8i8192?entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI1MDEyOS4xIKXMDSoASAFQAw==

It is about 2 years since I've been there, but I think it records your number plate as you enter, you pay before getting back into your car, and the ANPR lifts the barrier as you leave. I guess if you don't have the money to pay, your only option is to drive through the barrier. AFAIK, there is no parking enforcement with this system.

Here's the one in Whitstable ;

https://www.google.com/maps/@51.3620422,1.0284539,3a,75y,58.43h,95.41t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1saje-3ALS2peLHg0OeME4wA!2e0!6shttps://streetviewpixels-pa.googleapis.com/v1/thumbnail?cb_client=maps_sv.tactile&w=900&h=600&pitch=-5.4106068229809665&panoid=aje-3ALS2peLHg0OeME4wA&yaw=58.434052892989406!7i16384!8i8192?entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI1MDEyOS4xIKXMDSoASAFQAw==

1505grandad

Successful Legal Challenge Secures £1,200 Costs Award Against Civil Enforcement Limited

https://www.contestorlegal.co.uk/blog-3/successful-legal-challenge-secures-1200-costs-award-against-civil-enforcement-limited

Key Deficiencies in the Claim

1. No Binding Contractual Obligation: The Claimant failed to establish that Miss O’Brien was subject to the purported parking terms. As a member of the gym, she was entitled to complimentary parking, a right further supported by the landowner’s agreement permitting parking for permit holders.

2. Unparticularized Alleged Terms: The Claimant did not adequately specify the contractual terms, offer, or consideration—essential elements for a valid claim.

3. Discrepancies in Documentation: The dates of alleged Penalty Charge Notices (PCNs) listed in the claim contradicted those on the corresponding Notices to Keeper, undermining the Claimant’s credibility.

Umkomaas

undermining the Claimant’s credibility

Wadya know! Oh dear, never suspected that in the past! New take! 🤣

Castle

1505grandad said:

Successful Legal Challenge Secures £1,200 Costs Award Against Civil Enforcement Limited

https://www.contestorlegal.co.uk/blog-3/successful-legal-challenge-secures-1200-costs-award-against-civil-enforcement-limited

Key Deficiencies in the Claim

1. No Binding Contractual Obligation: The Claimant failed to establish that Miss O’Brien was subject to the purported parking terms. As a member of the gym, she was entitled to complimentary parking, a right further supported by the landowner’s agreement permitting parking for permit holders.

2. Unparticularized Alleged Terms: The Claimant did not adequately specify the contractual terms, offer, or consideration—essential elements for a valid claim.

3. Discrepancies in Documentation: The dates of alleged Penalty Charge Notices (PCNs) listed in the claim contradicted those on the corresponding Notices to Keeper, undermining the Claimant’s credibility.

Did they mean to write that?

Coupon-mad

Coupon-mad said:

Thorndorise said:

This is gold....I mean c'mon...
What I'd love to know - and am considering asking on a public forum like Linkedin....is what % is significant that are cancelled at the appeal stage...

Typically focusing on MSE - and the (Excellent) advice given here....they poo poo it obvs...self-serving detritus...



Watch the 'really interesting' misinformation here! https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7285940164785238016/

I watched it and laughed my head off!

We should be flattered that two PPC-biased solicitors are clearly so worried about this forum and 'misinformation going to the Government' that they staged a Podcast chat that nobody except us will watch!

We are doing something right aren't we?! 

  

But on a serious note, one wonders how they can keep straight faces whilst spouting that:

(a) the ("95% of decisions go against the motorist") IAS and/or

(b) the typical series of dozens of texts, unwanted phone calls, emails and letter threatograms from roboclaim firms - always with the clear message:

"TOUGH! IT'S FAR TOO LATE TO DISPUTE: PAY UP OR ELSE AND IT IS NOW £170 FOR NO JUSTIFICATION WHATSOEVER AND WE DON'T PAY VAT BECAUSE WE DRESS IT UP AS IF IT'S ALL A 'PARKING CHARGE'!"

... are somehow offering a kindly debt 'resolution' stage. Utter codswallop IMHO.

He said it at the start (paraphrasing)  "two lawyers talking about parking; seems like a joke"...

Yep... made me laugh!

Loved the main focus on a quote from the NEWBIES thread which they then used to twist the words into something else.

Update:

I was hoping to find an enthralling new Will/Rohan 'echo chamber' instalment but instead I saw some comments added there, including this unprofessional crap last week:

 Stewart Clure

Managing Director at Debt Recovery Plus

1w

"Thanks for sharing this. Some of the comments in this thread are laughable, keyboard warriors who know little to nothing about the industry giving their views. Time and again we welcome these warriors to step forward on a 1-2-1 and challenge the industry openly. They are too cowardly to step up. A big band of oddballs and misfits hanging on to any thread to give their lives some glint of light at the end of their very narrow minded tunnel."

Anyone could mistake that sad rant as akin to a wheelclamper 'anti-consumer' mentality...

...Oh wait... a little birdie online a few years ago said 'Clure' worked for UKPC waaay back in the day (under a different name).

pinkelephant12

Response from the Minister for Health to a written question from Chris Hinchcliff MP about parking at NHS hospitals, 4th February 2025.

https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-questions/detail/2025-01-29/27409

"National Health Service trusts are expected to comply with the NHS car parking guidance 2022 for NHS trusts and NHS foundation trusts. This guidance states that charges, where they exist, should be reasonable for the area. This applies to all NHS trusts, including those that use private parking companies to operate their hospital car parks.

NHS organisations are responsible for the actions of the private contractors who run car parks on their behalf, and NHS organisations should act against rogue contractors in line with the relevant codes of practice where applicable.

Contracts should not be let on any basis that incentivises additional charges, for example income from parking charge notices only.

All NHS trusts that charge for car parking provide free hospital car parking in England for those most in need. This includes Blue Badge holders, frequent outpatient attenders, parents of sick children staying overnight in hospital, and NHS staff working night shifts. The Department has issued guidance to NHS trusts on the implementation of this commitment."

Fruitcake

pinkelephant12 said:

Response from the Minister for Health to a written question from Chris Hinchcliff MP about parking at NHS hospitals, 4th February 2025.

https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-questions/detail/2025-01-29/27409

"National Health Service trusts are expected to comply with the NHS car parking guidance 2022 for NHS trusts and NHS foundation trusts. This guidance states that charges, where they exist, should be reasonable for the area. This applies to all NHS trusts, including those that use private parking companies to operate their hospital car parks.

NHS organisations are responsible for the actions of the private contractors who run car parks on their behalf, and NHS organisations should act against rogue contractors in line with the relevant codes of practice where applicable.

Contracts should not be let on any basis that incentivises additional charges, for example income from parking charge notices only.

All NHS trusts that charge for car parking provide free hospital car parking in England for those most in need. This includes Blue Badge holders, frequent outpatient attenders, parents of sick children staying overnight in hospital, and NHS staff working night shifts. The Department has issued guidance to NHS trusts on the implementation of this commitment."

We know what should happen, but the answer doesn't say why the parking principles are not being adhered to.

In Karin Smyth's favour, I will say she was helpful towards my son when he received a PCN at Bristol Airport when VCS issued a no stopping charge outside the area where they were contracted to operate. They gave up at the IAS stage.