Parking stories in the News/media

Nellymoser

And here's another double dip try on...

https://uk.news.yahoo.com/man-hit-10-hour-parking-112504380.html

This time we have National Parking Control issuing £100 pcn to a Liverpool fan claiming he left his car at Myrtle Parade from 10.45am to 8pm.

But the fan had photos taken outside his home during that time period standing beside his scarf decorated car ahead of travelling to Anfield to watch his club play Spurs on April 27th.

The timestamped images seen by the ECHO show that his car was in fact on his driveway during the time NPC are saying he flouted the car park rules and overstayed.

This is a repetative error made by many PPCs who just won't change their practice to prevent error reoccurrence.

The MHCLG needs to sit up and take further note of the DVLA's ATAs refusal to action their members.

Nellymoser

Hundreds of drivers are calling for a second access to and from a North Staffordshire retail park. I expect the PPC won't be joining the call.

https://www.stokesentinel.co.uk/news/stoke-on-trent-news/hundreds-shoppers-want-second-wolstanton-10160137

The current infrastructure of the retail park continues to create daily problems for both resident and visitor drivers who get stuck in a queue to exit the park. This causes them to exceed the 4hr parking limit and attracts a costly PCN. The PPC's management system is not capable of identifying the vehicle queue build-up.

An online petition has been launched calling for the change at Wolstanton Retail Park.

Nellymoser

National newspaper highlights PPCs threatening court proceedings for 6yr old PCNs.

https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/motoring/motoring-news/drivers-face-170-fines-making-31767051

One fuming motorist received two letters from National Parking Enforcement Ltd (NPE) demanding £170.

"I'm told I face court and a damaged credit rating if I don’t stump up." 

The Guardian correctly pointed out the demand was sent days before the six years were up, and the deadline has since expired.

"Moreover, NPE has failed to provide evidence that you breached the terms and conditions," the paper warned.

Nellymoser

Coupon-mad posted about this car park in Broad Oak Drive Stapleford operated by UKPS on 12th April 

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81398004/#Comment_81398004

Here's an update and changes to the payment system UKPS have made in an effort to build goodwill with motorists. 

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c0k31y0rxzmo

Martin Leighton was the driver who started flagging down cars on their way into this car park and posted videos on social media to warn other drivers after he was fined for driving onto the car park for 70 seconds to drop off his sister and perform a U-turn. He said "they've listened to what people have been angry about...they've done something about it".

I respect them for that "however, UKPS would have to stop issuing charges to those who enter the land accidentally to start rebuilding goodwill" and he was concerned that the pay-and-stay option required the use of the internet and a mobile phone, which could limit the accessibility for older people.

UKPS said it remained "committed to being responsive, transparent, and community-focused". They thanked everyone who took the time to share their thoughts - "we value your input and are proud to act on it".

Coupon-mad

Too little too late and it seems they are still using the remote CCTV camera that illegally films people on the the street beyond.

The new (supposedly fairer) '50p for the first 15 minutes' system also helps nobody, if UKPS are still issuing immediate PCNs.

He is right to say this:

 "however, UKPS would have to stop issuing charges to those who enter the land accidentally to start rebuilding goodwill"

Umkomaas

'PPCs' and 'goodwill' should never appear in the same sentence!

Nellymoser

Yes this industry is very good at saying things which doesn't match their actual practice. 

Fruitcake

Sadly it looks like the mandatory code of practice has been kicked down the road again by the government. Instead they want yet another consultation.

New parking law plans hit with delays leaving millions of drivers at risk of £2,000 penalty

Labour has delayed plans to introduce a new Private Parking Code of Practice, which would protect millions of motorists from unfair parking charges.

It comes as the Government instead launched another consultation on the long-awaited legal action, disappointing drivers who expected immediate action after six years of delays.

Baroness Taylor of Stevenage, Parliamentary Under-Secretary for Housing, Communities and Local Government, told the House of Lords yesterday that the Government would launch a consultation "in the near future" rather than implementing the code straightaway.

Jenni_D

Another consultation discussing what? Surely all the details and will of Parliament and consumers (and the PPC objections) are known? 🤦‍♀️

Umkomaas

Jenni_D said:

Another consultation discussing what? Surely all the details and will of Parliament and consumers (and the PPC objections) are known? 🤦‍♀️

I think the Govt might be wanting to re-trace all previous steps and avoid the risk of yet more Judicial Reviews delaying this stuff even more if there are any perceived gaps in the process.