NEWS
SAFER PARKING SCHEME
Police and offi cials from Exeter City Council at the presentation of the prestigious Park Mark award
ARUN DISTRICT COUNCIL SUCCESS
Arun District Council has recently increased the number of awards for parking it holds to 27. This high number of facilities covers the areas of Littlehampton, Rustington, Arundel, Middleton-on-Sea, Felpham and Bognor Regis.
Arun has been a staunch supporter of the Safer Parking Scheme for many years as it has developed under various names – Gold Silver & Bronze, Secured Car Parks and now The Safer Parking Scheme’s Park Mark award. It has consistently kept high standards in its parking facilities throughout this time.
POLICE HELP JOHN LEWIS STORE SECURE PARK MARK
Specialists from Devon and Cornwall
Police have worked closely with Exeter City Council to help secure a prestigious Park Mark award for its John Lewis car park. The John Lewis car park, formerly King William Street car park, reopened for business in September 2012 and has been successful in achieving the Park Mark Safer Parking accreditation for the fi rst time. Previous attempts to secure the award were unsuccessful due to high crime fi gures and on- going reports of anti-social behaviour. Refurbishments
amounting to £900,000 have included the relocation of on-site staff to a more central location, the closure of certain areas after closing time and an overall refurbishment, including painting and repairs. The extensive CCTV system has also been updated. Park Mark awards are
18 JUNE 2013
awarded by the British Parking Association (BPA) to car parks that are rated safe and secure, following a site inspection and review of the operating arrangements, by representatives of the BPA and Devon and Cornwall Police. Following the
recommendations by architectural liaison offi cers from Devon and Cornwall Police, the car park was awarded with the honour earlier this year. Rachel Sutton, lead councillor for sustainable development, said: ‘I’m pleased that in delivering these improvements to the car park we have created a safer and far more pleasant parking environment for shoppers, visitors and residents. It’s reassuring to learn that the site has been awarded Park Mark status and refl ects the new lighter and cleaner feel of this council car park.’
The architectural liaison offi cers will continue to
monitor the car park, ensuring the area remains safe for anyone using it. Chas Cannon, area manager from the British Parking Association, said, ‘I’m extremely pleased that this car park has now achieved the coveted Park Mark award. ‘The parking facility is extremely well managed by Exeter City Council and, following the refurbishment, is now to the required standards for the award. ‘The public can be assured that they are parking in a car park that has a very low risk of crime or anti-social behaviour.’ Inspector Andrew Webber said: ‘I am pleased that a city centre car park has reopened and been developed to a much higher standard.
As a result, the changes should help to reduce anti-social behaviour at the location and encourage people to use this car parking facility.’
Over the past 12 months, despite approximately one million vehicles using its car parks, no criminal activity has been reported to police or to the council, which is an excellent achievement. There are very good management practices in place, which incorporate regular visits by civil enforcement offi cers (CEOs), who are now managed by NSL. Some facilities have electronic surveillance and are regularly cleaned and maintained. Mike Bibby, BPA area manager, said: ‘I have been working with Arun District Council now for more than 13 years and have always been impressed by the efforts of its parking manager, Stephen Whitfi eld. With fi nance becoming increasingly diffi cult, Stephen has always implemented any works asked of him and is constantly striving to ensure high standards are maintained.’
I would also like to congratulate the CEOs who have a diffi cult job, but are dedicated to the task. Another good example of how, with the correct management, a local authority can embrace the Park Mark scheme.’
NEW ALDI FIRST TO
BE RECOGNISED Shoppers will be pleased to know that a new Aldi store in Newbury, Berkshire, has achieved the Park Mark award. It is the fi rst Aldi to win the Safer Parking Scheme’s award in its own right.
The new car park had been well designed, offering good natural surveillance. It’s great for visitors but bad for criminals, thus discouraging criminal activity in the area.
www.britishparking.co.uk
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