Parking stories in the News/media

Coupon-mad

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82071460#Comment_82071460

I don't believe so. I think it's on track.

This stuff is soooooo timely!

kryten3000

I've now read the CMA Letter to Miatta Fahnbulleh MP, the current Minister with the off-street parking portfolio.

It is well worth looking at, but the TL:DR is that the CMA are not pulling many punches. :)

Humdinger1

Thank you @Coupon-mad for your relentless focus on this. The nation is in your debt! Massive movement on several fronts, after so much pushing. The times they are a-changin, no?! Humdinger

Nellymoser

Ditto Humdinger post above.

Oh twas a joyous start to yesterday! Four emails from GOV.​UK, links to the latest from CMA...😃 https://www.gov.uk/search/all?parent=competition-and-markets-authority&keywords=Parking+&organisations%5B%5D=competition-and-markets-authority

Agree with Kryten3000 CMA letter to govt is worth reading and it was a delight to read in CMA Open letter to the parking sector the BPA/IPC will be receiving letters too...

16. We have also today written to the two Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (‘DVLA’) accredited trade associations representing the parking industry – the British Parking Association (‘BPA’) and the International Parking Community (‘IPC’), outlining what they could do now to support better outcomes for consumers ahead of the new code of practice.

Odd CMA didn't share their letters to ATAs on their webpage, maybe post later or a FOI request will be needed.

You do wonder if BPA knew this was coming, that article from BPA's Kelvin Reynolds MBE was certainly a surprise

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82070018#Comment_82070018

Maybe Kelvin's concerned he like Post Office Paula could be stripped of his MBE.

And then the day got even better with GrannyKate's post, the Lords on airport charges https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82071848/#Comment_82071848

🤞 the good news for motorists continues.

GrannyKate

@Nellymoser - I wasn't sure if you had picked up my misread ANPR from a few months ago to add to your thread

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6580882/pcn-horizon-parking-not-my-car-in-picture

You will not be surprised to know that I have not yet had a response to my FOIA request about parking to a hospital trust that featured on this thread. The target deadline is today.

Nellymoser

Yes @GrannyKate you're #101 on the ANPR error list!

Not surprised a reply to your FOIA request is still awaited. You have great knowledge of data protection, I worked in NHS and missed that issue you raised of keeper getting pcn who may not know car driver was attending the hospital/GP surgery.

Half_way

This issue around informing the registered keeper that their vehicle has been to a Hospital or other NHS facility could have extremely serious, even life threatening implications if the registered keeper finds out the driver had visited a hospital/clinic without their knowledge or "permission"

NHS organisations go on about data protection/patient confidentiality and so on to the point where it makes legitimate access difficult, but the presence of a PPC on NHS sites informing registered keepers completely destroys that pretence

GrannyKate

I think the reason many hospitals use cameras and barriers but not third party enforcement relates to their awareness of information governance implications. There is generally held to be a greater public interest in ensuring that people seek confidential medical care, particularly vulnerable people, than there is in assisting with solving low level crime. You would never confirm that a person had been on NHS premises for a civil matter such as a parking violation. The risk is not insignificant either as I have dealt with more than one scenario over the years where relatives become aware of hospital or clinic attendances which they shouldn't have known about. I will be interested to see if the hospital I have asked can produce a Privacy Impact Assessment in relation to their parking contract.

Nellymoser

Short response from POPLA….wonder if the BPA wrote it for them...

https://www.popla.co.uk/news/popla-statement-on-cma-package-of-actions

The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has today published its findings and recommendations following its review of the private parking sector.

You can read the full announcement on the GOV.UK website: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/parking-charges-cma-takes-action-to-drive-improvements-for-motorists

We welcome the Competition and Markets Authority's work to review standards across the private parking sector.

We'll be interested to see how the Government and the wider parking industry respond to the CMA's recommendations. As an independent appeals service, we'll continue to provide a fair and impartial service for motorists and parking operators.

Poor POPLA trying to distance themselves…like they’re not part of the 'wider parking industry'

Umkomaas

Poor POPLA trying to distance themselves…like they’re not part of the 'wider parking industry'

Sinking ship syndrome? 🐀