Parking stories in the News/media

Kaizen2024

I wonder if they will investigate properly and research the lawfulness of a private operator being the creditor in this setting, all be it on a non-POFA basis.

The Robert Goodwill letter (which has no standing in law) relates to LA’s requesting DVLA in their own name which is NA.

Thorndorise

Kaizen2024 said:

I wonder if they will investigate properly and research the lawfulness of a private operator being the creditor in this setting, all be it on a non-POFA basis.

The Robert Goodwill letter (which has no standing in law) relates to LA’s requesting DVLA in their own name which is NA.

In this instance I certainly haven't led them to believe this is wrongdoing on the PPCs part, and been very clear with my wording that the Councils are not allowed to pursue this avenue.

Kaizen2024

I get that, but are the councils in question actually using ANPR? Or have they given a concession/licence to a private company to operate the scheme(s) in their own name as creditor; which is a different matter altogether.

Am genuinely interested if there is concrete evidence that the latter is not permitted; as seems to be a grey area.

Thorndorise

MP supports higher fines for illegal parking on the BBC

An MP has supported a council's upcoming motion to "to urgently raise the cap on fines for illegal parking" which has been causing disruption to coastal communities.
Lib Dem MP for Mid Dorset and North Poole, Vikki Slade, raised the issue in Parliament, saying towns like Poole and Bournemouth "are blighted with illegal parking".


This comes after Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole (BCP) Council officers towed away a record-breaking number of vehicles over the weekend.

"The government controlled level of fines clearly does not act as a deterrent," said Lib Dem Jeff Hanna, who represents Bournemouth West."Just £35 outside of London, but £80 in a London Borough – if paid within [two] weeks.""BCP is as suburban as any London Borough."
Mr Hanna said 1,702 penalty charge notices (PCN) had been issued and 18 cars were lifted and removed on 12 and 13 July, despite sufficient spaces available in car parks "within walking distance of the beach".

He said towing came at a cost to the tax payers and the release fee of £105 was "nothing like enough to cover the actual cost". In London the release fee is £280. "So the difference comes from your council tax", he added.

Mr Hanna said a motion would be coming to the next BCP council meeting from two Boscombe councillors, calling for yet more lobbying of the government on the level of penalties.

You have to ask yourself why people are choosing not to park in car parks? - given that some of these folk will have received a Penalty notice on the road ((£35 according to this) - there's no way it costs £35 to park in those car parks - so what is making people avoid them???

Castle

Thorndorise said:

MP supports higher fines for illegal parking on the BBC

You have to ask yourself why people are choosing not to park in car parks? - given that some of these folk will have received a Penalty notice on the road ((£35 according to this) - there's no way it costs £35 to park in those car parks - so what is making people avoid them???

The two car parks on Bath Road currently charge £26.40 for more than 6 hours.

Thorndorise

Castle said:

Thorndorise said:

MP supports higher fines for illegal parking on the BBC

You have to ask yourself why people are choosing not to park in car parks? - given that some of these folk will have received a Penalty notice on the road ((£35 according to this) - there's no way it costs £35 to park in those car parks - so what is making people avoid them???

The two car parks on Bath Road currently charge £26.40 for more than 6 hours.

Eesh, and ouchy.... I can see the balance of probabilities weighing the parker's minds then, is it worth the risk...possibly...

Nellymoser

Leaked TfL Document...Page entitled “Jack’s list of policies” listed multiple parking rules and costs to impose on motorists.

https://dailysceptic.org/2025/07/13/leaked-tfl-documents-reveal-sadiq-khans-new-war-on-motorists/

A local government official was photographed on the Tube reading a confidential Transport for London (TfL) document that listed a string of anti-car proposals.

They included expanding cash-raising controlled parking zones, hiking the cost of parking permits, increasing the use of double yellow lines and slashing car parking spaces.

Nellymoser

PLEA TO MANCHESTER AIRPORT FOR URGENT ACTION FROM OLDHAM PRIVATE HIRE DRIVERS ASSOCIATION 

https://www.phtm.co.uk/news/7874/phtm-news/plea-to-manchester-airport-for-urgent-action-from-oldham-private-hire-drivers-association

"We write to you on behalf of hundreds of private hire drivers to raise urgent concerns about the current conditions and policies being enforced at Manchester Airport."

"The newly introduced barrier-less pick-up and drop-off system is not only poorly implemented but is deliberately causing confusion and hardship for drivers."

"It is clear that the airport is profiting from this confusion, deliberately exploiting drivers with an inadequate system and disproportionate fines."

Nellymoser

Another example of poor parking management from the private parking sector.

Uber Eats McDonald's driver lands THREE £100 PCNs in SIX days after stopping to collect orders. 

https://uk.news.yahoo.com/uber-eats-mcdonalds-driver-lands-053000907.html

The driver knows there’s a no return within one hour policy, but "how else am I supposed to come in and out to collect the orders?"

He attempted to raise this with Ocean Parking but "the guy on the phone said, ‘Well at the end of the day, it says no return within the hour’ !!!

Looks like Ocean Parking forgot to take this into account when setting up their 'expert parking management system'.

Fruitcake

Although this is about council parking, there are some telling comments in the article.

Parking rules cause fury in pretty UK market town - 'death by a thousand cuts'

Another added: "If you charge too much for parking then people stop buying. Anywhere that has free parking is booming - it's not a hard problem to solve."

Stockton Council says provisional data shows footfall in both Yarm and Stockton was higher from February to May this year than during the same months in 2023 and 2024. But Mr Morton argued that the figures did not reflect what businesses are seeing on the ground - with some traders reporting lower spend and a drop in spontaneous visits.