BPA WALES
FEATURE
HITTING THE HEADLINES
Parking in Wales hit the national headlines last year when a new system of parking enforcement was delayed, leading to chaos and complaints in Ceredigion and Aberystwyth.
The problems came when the responsibility for parking enforcement was switched from police control to the county council
– but the re-implementation was delayed. The council had warned that it would take some time for a new system to be put in place, but nobody expected that there would be little or no enforcement for up to a year. Until order was finally restored in June 2012, illegal parking was rife, with motorists pulling up on double yellow
‘For drivers who do not travel far, this may not be a huge problem, but there is certainly an issue when a driver goes to a different destination where the rules are different. ‘We are currently working on a draft national parking policy guide for those with disabilities so that the rules can be standardised across Wales. There needs to be consistency so that everyone knows what the rules are – drivers, regulators and operators on the ground.’ The BPA in Wales is also looking at other areas where rules need to be standardised – for example, creating signage that gives clarity on rules affecting buses, and those governing the use of cameras to enforce parking regulations.
All in it together
Though there are clearly distinct issues that affect the workings of the BPA in Wales and its relationship with London, it’s clear that Lowe thinks the Welsh are onto a winning formula.
www.britishparking.co.uk
lines, in loading bays and even on pavements, with authorities and businesses complaining of a ‘free-for-all’.
The chair of Aberystwyth Chamber of Commerce, Chris Mackenzie-Grieve, explained: ‘Delivery drivers, disabled people and residents of the town were affected the most.
‘Getting a space in town became a lottery with people parking cars for days at a time, in particular when the students were in situ. The lack of vehicles moving on after allocated time periods, as happened under the traffic wardens, meant the congestion and availability was further exasperated.’
He concludes: ‘I hesitate to blow my own trumpet too much, but I sincerely believe the parking industry nationwide should have a look at how it operates in Wales and how the Welsh Assembly is supporting us all the way.
‘It is a truly collaborative approach that has developed very nicely over the last few years, and I’d be delighted if I thought the Department for Transport was watching us to see how we operate. I’d be even more delighted if they could prescribe what we have been doing across the whole of the UK.’
Collaboration, says Lowe, is the key word: ‘Everyone in the profession has something useful to say. It’s not just about local authorities and regulations, it’s about everyone in the industry from government to bailiffs to suppliers. We invite people from all sectors of the industry across the profession to come to our meetings because the organisation values their opinions and their input hugely.’
FEBRUARY 2013 23
GREG HENRY / SHUTTERSTOCK
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