Parking stories in the News/media

Car1980

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81895919#Comment_81895919

Ironic considering a couple of the consultation responses were from PPCs that were complaining their office costs are higher because they're based in London and so they should be able to charge more.

Nellymoser

Up for discussion on Jeremy Vine show too…

What do you think?

Should we make parking fines cheaper?

The Government is considering banning the extra £70 debt recovery fee

But the British Parking Association warns of 'gridlock' and legal issues.

https://x.com/JeremyVineOn5/status/2026569418101149701

kryten3000

According to my research from 2023 using figures from the IPC conference and data from the BPA, the average income per PCN issued was £69 (IPC) and £60 (BPA).

This includes payments at all stages of a PCN: £60, £100, £170, and an assumed Claim figure of £255.

Assuming the same percentage of motorists paid up at the debt recovery stage with the PCN still set at £100, this would reduce this to £65 and £55 respectively which is about a £50 milllion total reduction in income across both (£10m for IPC, £40m for BPA) and the real reason why they don't want the fess banned,

It's hard to say if there would be a higher percentage paid at this stage with the lower amount.

patient_dream

I watched this on Breakfast through the slow BBC IPlayer

The BPA guy reminded me of old upskirt from the BPA …. TOTAL RUBBISH from a not fit for purpose ATA

If government believe the BPA, they deserve the lose

kryten3000

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81899520#Comment_81899520

It was Derek Millard-Smith

"Derek is the leading specialist Lawyer in the UK Parking Sector, leading the recent related judicial reviews resulting in withdrawal of legislation that if left unchallenged could have caused significant detriment to compliant motorists, landowners and the local and national economy. In this capacity and a such he and his team are appointed by the British Parking Association (BPA) to represent its broad membership and in particular those parking enforcement companies and Local Authorities who are BPA Approved Operators. Derek assists these members with compliance to ensure they treat consumers fairly."

https://www.jmw.co.uk/people/derek-millard-smith

(note to moderators, this individual was named on a national TV programme)

patient_dream

Derek assists these members with compliance to ensure they treat consumers fairly

CLEARLY THAT IS NOT WORKING IS IT

kryten3000

CLEARLY THAT IS NOT WORKING IS IT

They're obviously more converned about their bank balance than actually doing anything to fix the underlying issue.

Nellymoser

https://www.gazettelive.co.uk/news/teesside-news/middlesbrough-foodbank-parking-fines-ukpc-33480702

The foodbank have been parking up in the drop-off/pick-up zone at Tesco Extra, Parkway Shopping Centre for over four years without issue. But, since the start of 2026, the team have been struck with three £100 pcns from UKPC.

The first notice didn't arrive until after the van had parked up in the same spot for the third time. One pcn shows they were just 51 seconds over the signposted 10-minute limit.

The project manager said: "While we're trying to do a service for the people of Middlesbrough we're getting penalised by car parking firms. It's ridiculous."

A spokesperson for Tesco said: “We are really sorry to hear about this as we have long been a supporter of the Middlesbrough Foodbank and the important work they do. We do not own or operate the Parkway Shopping Centre Car Park outside our Coulby Newham Extra store but have now logged the details of the Foodbank van to prevent it receiving further parking tickets.”

It is understood that Tesco has spoken Parkway Shopping Centre team, who are encouraging the foodbank volunteers to call at their office to help deal with the existing pcns.

And UKPC's offer of help..…make another appeal to POPLA....… 👎 😡 👎 😡 👎

Coupon-mad

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LOL!

Move offices outside of London then!

But that argument makes no legal sense, given that in alleged breach of contract cases, the defendant can be pursued (in terms of costs) ONLY for those costs reasonably contemplated as arising as a result of the breach.

• Not existing office running costs and staff wages.
• Not even a % of the cost of installing the ANPR kit or signs & lines.

Clueless of the industry to say that in their responses to the Consultation!

Coupon-mad

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81899710#Comment_81899710

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He wasn't very good today, was he? Normally coming across as smarmy & confident, he seemed very nervous.

Probably because:

• he knew he was spouting utter rubbish about the Bournemouth PCN trial, which actually saw the number of PCNs issued in car parks significantly rise and the number of PCNs issued in the 'control' area (Christchurch, where PCNs remained at £70) significantly fall … and guess who has already pointed that out to the Government? 😎
• the longer the delay in the MHCLG responding to the Consultation, the more likely it probably seems to the BPA and IPC that the new Minister responsible will realise what a pig's ear of an Options Assessment was trotted out in 2025 by her predecessor;
• the long delay points to the MHCLG having a re-think, perhaps. Otherwise they'd have pressed ahead with the tone deaf non-options and kicked the can down the road by now. But they haven't.

Interesting times, Derek. Eh?! Nervous?!