40 YEARS OF THE BPA
1973 and served the BPA for many years. Ron was elected president in 1981, serving for two years. David Bayliss, BPA President in 1987 and ’88,
drew on his experience as director of planning at London Regional Transport when dealing with a number of issues while he was president and serving on the BPA Council. During this period, there was growing debate
about using parking as a means of traffi c management, and his focus was also on improving the association’s fi nances. Referring to off -street parking facilities, Bayliss said: ‘Generally, quality was felt to be poor; the structures were mean, and people didn’t feel safe inside them. We were trying something to improve the standards; and discussed the possibility of an awards system, which later became Park Mark.’
a pretty parlous state; the original enthusiasts had grown old or passed away and not much new blood had come in. ‘Peter Bewsey, who was a director of NCP, set up a
committee to look at ways of developing the BPA. ‘We came up with the idea of Parkex and the Safe
Car Parking Scheme (piloted by T ames Valley Police), which was adopted by ACPO (Association of Chief Police Offi cers).’
It gives me a huge sense of pride to see the BPA as it is now
Macmillan recalls a new management structure, with John Heasman serving as director general, being the catalyst for a revival of fortunes.
‘T e BPA owes John a huge debt, and recognises him in the form of the Heasman Bursary awarded to a student involved in a parking project.
‘He really got the dynamo going. It gives me a huge sense of pride to see the BPA as it is now.’ Tony Sedgwick, who served as chair of the BPA seminars committee and was later president, also remembers the early days of Parkex and its success, but recalls that some colleagues needed a little persuasion to see its benefi ts.
Sedgwick said: ‘T e fear was that no-one would come and stay overnight (at this two-day event) and nobody would come to the dinner.
Social success for Parkex ‘Yet virtually everybody did – about 100 people dined the fi rst time. T e parking industry wasn’t as big as it is now. It was a risk, but it was a huge success, and the beginning of a new funding base for the BPA, rather than relying on subscriptions. Early days of the event saw around 70 exhibitors, dominated by manufacturers of barriers and pay- and-display machines.
Bayliss added: ‘During my time, we
met at the London Transport offi ces at 55 Broadway Street and conducted business there.
‘We lobbied the government to allow use of the
‘Denver boot’ (clamps) as they were called then. We wanted greater compliance so we could improve on-street regulation. T e clamping device was fi rst introduced in Denver, Colorado in the 1950s.’
Parking enters a new era T e major piece of legislation of the nineties was the 1991 Road Traffi c Act, which saw decriminalisation of parking and new enforcement responsibilities for local authorities. T e BPA itself had also reached another
watershed, as Alasdair Macmillan, president in 1994, recalls: ‘In the early 1990s, the association was in
26 SEPTEMBER 2010
Sedgwick wanted to increase the regional voice of BPA members during his tenure as president, so launched a series of regional breakfast seminars. ‘We went to places like Cardiff , Exeter, Winchester
and Perth,’ he said. ‘We had hugely enthusiastic members who had not been given an opportunity to shine, due to centralisation. It gave members a way of contributing, as they could form committees and discuss local policies.’ Ian Betts was 12th president and he believed there
was an increase in the professionalism and purpose of the organisation during the 90s. He said: ‘T e BPA has become bigger and more
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Andrew Bennett is a freelance journalist.
eff ective for members. During my time as a council member, chief executive Keith Banbury made a step- change in the BPA’s relationship with government and other offi cial bodies, and changed the image of the BPA with the media.
www.britishparking.co.uk
John Heasman and
current bursary student Karen Anderton
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