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

Protest

"And here we go again…In 2025, it looks like the Government has accepted some unknown cherry-picked figures behind everyone's backs………The good guys & gals haven't been tirelessly attending meetings on the damn Steering Group for six years only to accept [this current outcome]….." Coupon-mad: 18 Mar 26

Sadly these "consumer rep" groups formed by civil servants are often no more than a smoke screen, providing an appearance of public contact, while in reality being a sort of plaything for officials. Useful fools. Not unlike the newbie MPs group who have tried but also cannot find any point of leverage. Naive fools.

It is amazing (and depressing) that there seems to be no effective mechanism to bring the force of Parliament to bear on the continuing CoP inaction. The current Government struggles with major areas of policy so it is no surprise that the CoP issue gets inadequate attention - and it is likely they won't be in the hot seat after the next election.

So ATAs will win simply because no politician cares enough about implementing the cross-party will of Parliament.

Could the Steering Group members gain traction by a unified and planned resignation or would that be just one more futile effort to influence "the blob"? They then could at least write the screenplay for the next "Mr Bates" expose? Or the online "can you solve this puzzle" policy game! Code of Practice - a rather tame version of Game of Thrones

Kaizen2024

Autumn it is then 🍿

Nellymoser

Number of responses received to Private parking CoP consultation (2025)

Update - MHCLG FOI confirmed the reason the post/email figures didn't tally in their original reply was due to a row being missed from the table. This missing row was ‘Other’ and accounted for 16 responses.

Coupon-mad

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81935290#Comment_81935290

Indeed.

The MHCLG told me today that the response to a PQ asked in the HoC last week was:

‘The Government intends to lay the Private Parking Code of Practice in autumn 2026.’

But in fact, it wasn't answered like that:

https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-questions/detail/2026-03-11/120184

However, the MHCLG clarified to me today that there was a question asked in the HoL this afternoon about the delay in the statutory Parking Code of practice.

And that DID confirm the Autumn.

patient_dream

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81935520#Comment_81935520

And in the meantime, the public continue to be scammed

Coupon-mad

Indeed.

As I said, there was a question asked in the HoL today about it:

https://hansard.parliament.uk/Lords/2026-03-24/debates/4D00679D-97B3-4672-9C4D-ED34C896C486/Parking(CodeOfPractice)Act2019

Reported (and I use term very loosely indeed, as it's GB News) here:

https://www.gbnews.com/lifestyle/cars/labour-driving-rules-parking-fines-roads

Protest

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81935520#Comment_81935520

https://hansard.parliament.uk/Lords/2026-03-24/debates/4D00679D-97B3-4672-9C4D-ED34C896C486/Parking(CodeOfPractice)Act2019

Headline - action in Autumn 2026.

Subtext - but there will be no actual regulator.

So who will act to stop the CoP being voluntary?

Surely the whole point of this sorry story was to regulate via a regulator!

In the absence of a person as a focus for action, what effective mechamism is proposed to provide the surveillance and the teeth? OFWHO? Twin of OFWAT?

Perhaps more practically, will the CoP include chapter and verse explaining the process of regulation in sufficient detail to reassure the public (especially consumer bodies) that it is/will be active and effective? The CoP should include a formal review within 5 years

Nellymoser

@patient_dream Lord Spellar (Lab) agrees

"Motorists are still being ripped off, companies are still behaving badly, and the appeals system often does not work. Should we not just take action and get on with it? It might even be rather popular."

Yes get on with it. Autumn ?? couldn't Govt be more specific. Autumn lasts 3mths 1st Sept - 30 Nov...bet they wait to 30 Nov.

https://hansard.parliament.uk/Lords/2026-03-24/debates/4D00679D-97B3-4672-9C4D-ED34C896C486/Parking(CodeOfPractice)Act2019

Coupon-mad

I reckon it'll be in September after they all reconvene.

And I wonder if we'll see an official response to the Public Consultation in mid July, first? Gap between. Then Code?

The House of Commons is scheduled for the 2026 summer recess on Friday, 17 July 2026, and will return on Monday, 31 August 2026.

Car1980

Personally I think the fees level isn't the main issue. Whether it's 14.4 million x £60 or 14.4 million x £170, nothing changes on the ground.

Clip their wings properly and that 14.4 million can become 5 million.