TUPUNGATO / SHUTTERSTOCK
URFIN / SHUTTERSTOCK
NEWS
GENERAL
HIGH STREETS ARE NOT SPENDING PORTAS CASH
A recent Freedom of Information Act request has revealed that only seven per cent of a £10m government fund, made available to local authorities, has been used to improve their high streets. This is despite an ever-increasing number of empty shop units and anecdotal evidence of fewer visitors to town centres.
The creation of a £10m government High Street Innovation Fund was instigated after a working group, headed by Mary Portas, outlined the need for town centre regeneration. In the report, issues around parking were cited as one of the reasons for empty shops – and the failure of many high streets. Which is why Kelvin
Reynolds, director of Policy and Public Affairs at the BPA is amazed that parking has not been one of the areas addressed by local authorities with funding at their disposal.
More than 100 councils with the worst affected high streets in England were awarded money under the scheme, but so far only about seven per cent – £519,363.22 – has been spent.
VP’S FINAL SOLUTION
Reynolds said: ‘This would be a great opportunity for local authorities to show publically their commitment to provide town centre parking with quality management, good lighting, effective surveillance and a clean environment. ‘The Park Mark award is a police approved scheme, and what better way is there for a local council to demonstrate that they are keen on welcoming people into town to go shopping, visit a restaurant or simply enjoy a stroll on the high street? We would encourage all local councils, including Portas Pilots and those with government
innovation funds to think about investing in Park Mark.’ A spokesperson for the
Department for Communities and Local Government said: ‘We are absolutely committed to reviving the nation’s high streets, which is why we gave the 100 local authorities with the highest numbers of empty properties a share of the £10m innovation fund to attract new businesses into their areas. ‘We would rather councils spend this money strategically and wisely, to ensure long term success for our high streets, than rush to spend it and waste taxpayers’ money in the process.
A parking company has had its membership of the BPA and the Approved Operator Scheme (AOS) terminated after failing to comply with standards outlined in the BPA’s code of practice. At a BPA council meeting, members voted to end VP Parking Solution’s membership after it was found that the company’s compliance levels were far below an acceptable standard. VP Parking Solutions will no longer be able to make requests to the DVLA for information held by them on the vehicle and keeper registers. This is how parking companies identify the owners of vehicles who do not pay parking charges. The company must also remove all references to the BPA and AOS, including signage in car parks which it manages.
Anyone who receives a parking charge notice from the company will not be able to use the Independent Appeals Service (PoPLA) which is available to any motorist who receives a PCN from BPA member.
NORMAN’S STORMIN’ THE CHARTS
Transport minister Norman Baker has revealed he has another string to his bow after he released a pop single – Always Tomorrow – with his band The Reform Club. The 55-year-old MP for Lewes co-wrote the single ‘Piccadilly Circus’ with his band mates. He appears in the video for the song walking around the famous tourist hot spot in an open-necked shirt and black trilby. ‘Music has always been important to me,’ the MP told interviewers on the Today programme, but he stressed that his song is
8 APRIL 2013
not political, adding ‘That would be naff.’ There is however, a reference to
‘recessionary times’ and a neon sign appears in the video reading: ‘Jesus will soon come and sweep all politicians from power.’ The song has received a mixed reaction, with The Telegraph labelling it ‘pedestrian,’ and The Guardian saying that it is ‘competent.’ Baker joked
that he was not expecting to get mobbed by groupies following his new- found rock star status.
www.britishparking.co.uk
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