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TECHNICAL FOCUS
Kelvin Reynolds, technical
services director, introduces this month’s Technical Focus
Spring is in the air and new ideas are blossoming. April sees the introduction of the scheme of sanctions for the Approved Operator Scheme (AOS) and the third-party compliance audit of all AOS members. This will improve standards across the board
and ensure the integrity of the scheme. Elsewhere in Parking News there are stories of growth in the Safer Parking Scheme, and we are confident this will continue in 2010. There is great synergy between the AOS and the Safer Parking Scheme; all off-street car parks should be managed by AOS members, and hold a Park Mark award. This will ensure good management practices, low levels of crime, and fair and reasonable operation and enforcement. Times are hard but experience has shown that
difficult times can lead to an increase in crime – so now is not the time to consider ‘saving money’ by leaving the scheme; it is actually time to really commit to the scheme, in spirit and in practice, to ensure that Britain’s car parks remain safe places where people can go about their lives without fear of crime and antisocial behaviour.
Review rescheduled
A meeting between the BPA Traffic Signs Task Group and the DfT will be rescheduled after an earlier meeting was postponed. Te following points
will be on the agenda: l Regulatory traffic sign
categories and future
TRO requirements; l A programme for the implementation of
change; l Consideration of new consultation procedures for TRO’s and use of Regulatory Signs; and
parking services performance monitoring, annual reports and the review of penalty charges now being sought by the BPA. Te final
Group work
At the last meeting, the LASIG group was given an update on the DVLA data-sharing work, and the first joint meeting of the BPA Task Group and DVLA. A presentation by the
18
APRIL 2010
Traffic Enforcement Centre (TEC) led to discussions about better understanding and collaboration with the parking industry; it is proposed to set up a TEC User
Group within LASIG. Similar discussions also took place about collaboration with the Local Government Association (LGA) and establishing regular contact on matters of mutual interest. Te DfT spoke
about local authority
presentation was from hosts Richmond upon Tames Council about parking charges related to carbon emissions. If you are a local
authority member interested in joining a task group, please contact Alison Tooze: alison.t@ britishparking.
co.uk or Abdul Traore: abdul.t@
britishparking.co.uk
l A policy paper – for wider circulation. Remember also
that we still have a discussion board open on the BPA website, where you can post your thoughts about the traffic signs review.
news
in brief
Current affairs
The April meeting of EMS SIG will include presentations on current hot topics, including payment processing and electric-charged vehicles. If you feel you could make a contribution to this group or would like to become more involved – hosting a meeting perhaps – please contact Abdul Traore: abdul.t@
britishparking.co.uk or call 01444 447310.
Blue Badge
The BPA’s Joint Study (with DfT, Mobilise and BCSC) into off- street parking for blue badge holders is now complete and published. Stakeholders will meet to decide how best to use the information to provide better parking facilities for people with disabilities.
www.britishparking.co.uk
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