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An appealing prospect
The debate over an independent appeals service for the private parking sector has been slow to reach a conclusion. Here, Patrick Troy outlines the decisive action taken by the BPA and members of the AOS to provide a pilot appeals service by the autumn
E
very now and then you get a chance to take a bigger step forward than you expect. I believe we are about to take
such a step with the delivery of an independent appeals system for the private parking sector. Te government has been slow to react
to the issue of delivering redress for the consumer. Following strong lobbying by the BPA, the last government did include provision in the Crime and Security Act for such a service, but only for the vehicle immobiliser sector. Because government has been
uncoordinated on the issue of the private parking sector, it has not achieved the holistic approach needed to properly
Appealing for
justice… the BPA is leading the way
By establishing this pilot, we are sending out a clear message to the public and the media
meet the needs of the sector and of the public, something for which we have been lobbying for some time. But the BPA has come up with the
solution, thanks to the unswerving support of the members of the Approved Operator Scheme (AOS). We will deliver an independent appeals service. A pilot
for this service will start in September, with three members of the AOS participating and two adjudicators drawn from the Parking and Traffic Appeals Service (PATAS). When motorists’ appeals to those
operators are rejected, they will be given the opportunity to make a further appeal
to the adjudicator, who will consider their case under contract, or other pertinent law, before making a decision. Tat decision will be binding on the operator and we hope the motorist will accept it, too. Of course, we can’t insist the motorist
accepts the decision as they still have their statutory right to challenge it in the courts, but we intend to inform district judges of this pilot and believe that they should take account of these decisions, should motorists make applications to have their cases heard. Tere are still many questions to
answer, including how a formal service will be paid for. But, by establishing this pilot, we are sending out a clear message to the public and the media that we are serious about providing redress for the motorist. It is also a message for the government
that there is a need for them both to speed up their reforms and to re-scope their plans so they can deliver a statutory appeals service for the whole sector. We are also sending a powerful message
to those private parking operators not in the AOS: that time is running out for them to improve the way they deliver their services.
MAKING THE CASE FOR PARKING
The BPA Annual Conference – Parking: It’s Everyone’s Business – will take place at the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea’s
Conference and Events 4 AUGUST 2010
Centre on Wednesday 6 October 2010.
A full programme will be announced shortly. Among those already confirmed to speak are: Nick Lester, London Councils and European
Parking Association president; Daniel Moylan, councillor for Kensington and Chelsea and deputy chairman of Transport for London; Richard Moore, transportation
manager, Canterbury City Council; and Gareth Davies, director of business development, Creative Parking Solutions. Masterclass topics on offer include:
‘Innovation in Parking Management’, ‘Efficient Management of Parking Services’, and ‘The Green Agenda’. See p14 for more information and how to book your place.
www.britishparking.co.uk
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