Parking Code of Practice Consultation 2025 - now let's see what happens

Coupon-mad

Here's some real news, I just posted in the Parking in the News & Media thread:

@Car1980 said:

My own news today. Visited this fattening American fast food joint and looked for any restrictive signage, poised to agree or decline any ridiculous contract. I was very disappointed to find none. 

After gorging myself, without any need to check my watch, I then decided to visit the completely separate business across the road. I was pleased to discover a pedestrian walkway specifically designed for such a task and accompanied by no insane £100 charges for performing such an action.

At the business opposite it was also a private parking desert and people were free to park in whatever manner they liked.

The most amazing aspect of this small car park utopia was that everything ran completely smoothly. There was plenty of space. Cars were parked correctly in bays with no vehicles over the lines. Disabled bays were half full, with blue badges clearly displayed, although there was no obligation to do so and nobody to check them. The other half of bays were empty, inviting the next disabled driver to make use of the facilities.

I thought such a scenario was completely impossible without a private parking company! Where is the chaos, selfishness and mayhem?

Thorndorise said:

This made me laugh, I've actually visited a few sites of a notorious American coffee chain only to be befuddled by no signage, spaces and pleasantness all around...I've started capturing these sites with the same aim, to show what chaos it was - I mean - there were horns beeping and cars queueing and 'repeat offenders' turning up to offend...oh what mayhem

Coupon-mad said: 
Apparently, carmageddon is coming:

  

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2025/10/08/cutting-parking-fines-chaos-private-ticket-firms/

Well that last bit is news!

OVER FOUR THOUSAND RESPONSES!

That's a lot more than the 2023 Call for Evidence, I think? 

Good show, everyone!

Although lots of those will be PPCs, DRAs and their families, I don't think they will make up more than three figures of that total...

Nellymoser

OVER FOUR THOUSAND RESPONSES!
That's a lot more than the 2023 Call for Evidence, I think? 

It certainly is, a hell of a lot more. The MHCLG FOIA Team revealed to me the 2023 Call for Evidence received a total of 223 responses

163 - Motorist 

  33 - Parking Operator 

    5 - Debt Recovery Agency 

    2 - Accredited Trade Association 

    3 - Motoring Group 

  17 - Other 

Nellymoser

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cgq7nxzvk0yo

Was saddened to read that Lord Lipsey died while swimming in River Wye.

He was a voice that supported a Govt Private Parking CoP. Someone that didn't fall for the private parking industry's propaganda. He held the belief these companies only goal is to maximise the amount of money they could make from the charges issued. 

In 2023 he secured a short debate to ask His Majesty’s Government what plans they have to reintroduce the Private Parking CoP. During the debate he detailed the difficulties he experienced throughout his Apcoa pcn journey. He even went on to say the skills of Apcoa CEO and those of his company would befit the mafia.

https://hansard.parliament.uk/Lords/2023-09-14/debates/BA225AD6-3420-49CD-B9FA-68CF66D32195/details#contribution-8D2AC405-CAE6-4B57-B0C8-9183F861F04B

Sadly his death occurred before the 2025 consultation was released wonder what he would have made of it.

kryten3000

Nellymoser said:

OVER FOUR THOUSAND RESPONSES!
That's a lot more than the 2023 Call for Evidence, I think? 

It certainly is, a hell of a lot more. The MHCLG FOIA Team revealed to me the 2023 Call for Evidence received a total of 223 responses

163 - Motorist 

  33 - Parking Operator 

    5 - Debt Recovery Agency 

    2 - Accredited Trade Association 

    3 - Motoring Group 

  17 - Other 

Only 33 operators seems a bit low but all the big DRAs likely keen to keep their noses in the trough. 

Motoring groups will be AA/RAC/?

Other will include Which? and other Consumer Rights organisations.

Nellymoser

Other motoring groups could be organisations representing the disabled eg. DMUK

17 Other also seems low. I assume MPs will be counted in 'other' along with these organisations Registry Trust, CCUA, BVRLA, Wales Safer Communities Network (their responses are online)

The other two options listed in the consultation were Landowners and Anonymous neither were mentioned in their reply.

Guess when I made the FOI request I really should have specified the breakdown as was outlined in the consultation. Next time...

Umkomaas

Other motoring groups could be organisations representing the disabled eg. DMUK

They have split loyalties, very cosy relationship with the ATAs.

Coupon-mad

BVRLA I suspect.

Landowners.

Nellymoser

Umkomaas said:

Other motoring groups could be organisations representing the disabled eg. DMUK

They have split loyalties, very cosy relationship with the ATAs.

Ahh that explains their suggestions on how to respond to the 2025 consultation.

Thorndorise

I saw this come through from 'What do they know', I know some may be aware of this detail, or is it a case of wishful thinking on behalf of the new MHCLG's head.

James Naish Labour, Rushcliffe

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps he is taking to improve sanction processes for private parking companies that repeatedly (a) generate upheld complaints and (b) lose appeals.

• Hansard source(Citation: HC Deb, 22 October 2025, cW)

Miatta Fahnbulleh Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The Government is determined to drive up standards in the private parking sector.

The Parking (Code of Practice) Act 2019 places a duty on the Government to prepare a code of practice containing guidance on the operation and management of private parking facilities.

My department recently consulted on the new Code and an accompanying compliance framework for private parking companies. As part of this framework, we are developing an independent Certification Scheme to audit the parking industry’s compliance with the new Code. The scheme will operate as a third-party certification process, whereby only organisations accredited by the United Kingdom Accreditation Service as Conformity Assessment Bodies will be able to certify private parking companies.

Parking operators who fail to comply with the Code risk losing access to Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) data. This data includes information on vehicle keepers, so any company blocked from accessing it would be unable to pursue parking charges.

patient_dream

"so any company blocked from accessing it would be unable to pursue parking charges"

This will put many operators AT RISK