BPA ACTIVITIES SCOTTISH EXHIBITION AND MEETING
Scot-freein Perth
THE SCOTTISH BPA GROUP HAS GONE FROM STRENGTH TO STRENGTH IN THE LAST SEVEN YEARS. THE SECOND EXHIBITION AND MEETING, WHICH IS FREE TO MEMBERS, WILL PROVIDE FURTHER OPPORTUNITY FOR THE GROUP TO RAISE ITS PROFILE, SAYS ALI TOOZE
I
t is now seven years since the BPA established a members’ group in Scotland. Te inaugural meeting in Edinburgh on 28 April 2004 was attended by 15 people, and it was here that agreement was reached to formally set up a group
so that BPA members in Scotland would have access to events and resources locally. Te group would also bring about a better understanding within the Association of the issues affecting Scottish members, and enable the BPA to represent their views with more authority. Michael Brady of Glasgow City Council was duly
elected as the first chair of the group, and under his helm the first-ever Scottish Seminar took place at the Scottish Exhibition and Conference Centre (SECC) in Glasgow, attended by 45 people including eight supporting exhibitors. Brady remained as chair of
the group until the end of 2006, when he was succeeded by Stephen Hardy who, with the support of vice chair Jimmy Owusu and secretary Fiona Reid, set out to continue building on the group’s success. By this stage, attendance levels were now
averaging around 40 at most meetings. Hardy was succeeded as chairman by Fiona Reid in 2007. A short time afterwards, Reid was joined by new vice chair, Gordon Catchlove, and secretary Jackie Tompson. Another successful seminar took place at the
SECC in 2008 and the group was now firmly established – not just with members, but also with government departments and other key stakeholders as the leading voice on parking in Scotland. Reid and her team have worked tirelessly over
the past four years to build on the reputation of the group, and they have booked many high-profile
32 OCTOBER 2011
www.britishparking.co.uk
There is a growing market for parking services in Scotland as more councils move towards adopting decriminalisation
speakers to ensure that agendas continue to attract attendees to these important events. Last year, Reid and Catchlove undertook the job of
organising the first dedicated parking exhibition to be held in Scotland, which saw nearly 40 exhibitors from around the UK descend on Perth to bring the latest in parking products and services to members in Scotland and the north. Tis event was well received and welcomed by members, and has led the group to where it is today. Te point of all of this is not so much to give you a short history lesson but to illustrate how far the group in Scotland has come in a relatively short space of time – this is undoubtedly due to the dedication and enthusiasm of the succession of officers who have generously given their time to ensure that their colleagues can benefit from relevant support and vital links to policymakers. Fast-forward to today, and plans are well underway for a second exhibition, which will take
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