Parking stories in the News/media

Coupon-mad

More 'festering sore on society' evidence and yet again it seems that everyone in PPC World is pretending that there's no such thing as the Equality Act:

https://www.worcesternews.co.uk/news/25126607.worcestershire-royal-hospital-staff-parking-fines-anger/

A  hospital staff member, who declined to be named, said:

"From last week the lovely ParkMaven who now control parking at Worcester Hospital, have decided they are fining staff for parking outside of staff areas on site (knowing full well that there is not sufficient spaces to accommodate the staffing levels needed) irrespective of displaying parking permits.

"They also do not regularly patrol public parking in the staff areas at the new A&E, reducing staff spaces even more.

They’re also fining staff with blue badges, for parking in public car parks. Despite not providing disabled bays within the designated staff areas.

I expect local residents are going to be delighted as there will most likely be an increase in staff using surrounding streets to save the dread of fines and not finding space.”

Take a bow, ParkMaven for causing this unjustified harassment of NHS Staff and patients and a detrimental knock-on effect into local streets to boot, presumably in the interests of your own profits because nobody thinks the Hospital Trust is gaining much, if at all, from the change in 'enforcement'.

The BPA must be so proud.

Coupon-mad

And another one, yet again attacking a vulnerable disabled person:

https://uk.news.yahoo.com/hospital-visitor-fined-170-using-150925341.html

As per usual it's ParkingEye at a hospital and as per usual the client has been seemingly 'fed the spiel' by ParkingEye and are spouting crap:

A spokesperson for Cardiff and Vale University Health Board said:

“It is essential for Cardiff and Vale University Health Board to operate a fair and equitable system for patients, staff and visitors to St David’s Hospital with the aid of Parking Eye.

We have limited visitor parking spaces, and the system ensures that those who need to can park within the time limit and free the space for patients with appointments later in the day. Visitors who believe they have been fined in error may appeal the parking charge via Parking Eye’s website."

"Fair and Equitable"? Jeez. Guess what? That DOESN'T mean applying the same time limit to a disabled person, nor does it mean imposing an extra burden on them to 'register their blue badge' on every visit.

For God's sake ParkingEye - my opinion based on all examples here - get out of hospitals. Just clear off. What damage are you doing to society?

The Equality Act doesn't apply to your members, eh BPA? You must be so proud.

RavingMad

Again, be naive, but what do supermarkets/hospitals etc get from using these services? A percentage of the money? A free parking management service? A fee?

J63320

Not a Parking story per se, but an interesting snippet: I was reading about the Runcorn by-election, and the article mentioned that the count was taking place at the “DCBL Stadium” . I thought these initials sounded familiar, so I investigated and yes, it is that DCBL that sponsors the stadium, which is owned by Halton Borough Council.
The stadium’s own publicity only uses the initials and doesn’t say what they stand for. There seems to have been some local opposition to the 2019 sponsorship deal, and one councillor, who had experience of helping people in poverty, resigned in protest.

Coupon-mad

RavingMad said:

Again, be naive, but what do supermarkets/hospitals etc get from using these services? 

Usually just 'free' parking management and they also fall for old spiel about ANPR being 'new tech' which promises them 'rich data' about trends and footfall. They lap it up.

Snakes_Belly

https://researchbriefings.files.parliament.uk/.../CBP...

I don't know if this has already been posted. It's interesting.

Jenni_D

For some reason your link seems to redirect via Facebook ... 🤷‍♀️

Direct link = https://researchbriefings.files.parliament.uk/documents/CBP-8736/CBP-8736.pdf

kryten3000

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/gift/fad292ca85c3b72b

‘They set the motorist up to fail’: How car parks became a cash cow. 

Kaizen2024

Jenni_D said:

For some reason your link seems to redirect via Facebook ... 🤷‍♀️

Direct link = https://researchbriefings.files.parliament.uk/documents/CBP-8736/CBP-8736.pdf

Riddled with errors.. says a lot really. 

kryten3000

Kaizen2024 said:

Jenni_D said:

For some reason your link seems to redirect via Facebook ... 🤷‍♀️

Direct link = https://researchbriefings.files.parliament.uk/documents/CBP-8736/CBP-8736.pdf

Riddled with errors.. says a lot really. 

The only major error I can see is not mentioning that PPCs are not required to comply with POFA (and mostly don't) and that the keeper isn't always liable as a consequence.