A mark of parking excellence

Liverpool Airport secured

To achieve a Park Mark a car park has to achieve standards set out by the police. The Safer Parking Scheme sees facilities undergo a risk assessment that covers the management and maintenance of a facility, ensuring that there are appropriate levels of surveillance, lighting, signage and cleanliness. Car parks that pass the assessment can use signage featuring the Park Mark tick, so that drivers know exactly where to go for safer parking. Currently, 5,000 car parks have the Park Mark award.Car park in the Safer Parking Scheme are reassessed on a regular basis to ensure that standards are maintained.

The Park Mark was created by Police Crime Prevention Initiatives (CPI) as a way of reducing crime and the fear of crime. The scheme is administered by the British Parking Association (BPA), which operates a network of regional managers who liaise with parking operators and local police forces. The scheme is run by the BPA in parallel to the Disabled Parking Accreditation (DPA) and the Safer Bus Station schemes.

The Safer Parking Scheme has recently been enhanced via the introduction of two new awards: Park Mark Plus and Park Mark Freight.

Park Mark Plus assesses a range of criteria from services and operations to design and build. To qualify for the award, the car park must meet Park Mark and Disability Parking Accreditation criteria as a minimum.

Park Mark Freight recognises that providing managed parking and driver facilities that help to deter crime and reduce the fear of crime at all times within lorry parking areas.

Useful links

The Safer Parking Scheme and Police CPI can be found at: www.britishparking.co.uk (for operators) www.parkmark.co.uk (for members of the public) www.securedbydesign.com

Liverpool Airport has retained the Park Mark accreditation for its operations. Sonia Ely, car park operations manager, said: “We are delighted once again to achieve Park Mark accreditations for all our on-site airport car parks, giving our customers the confidence to leave their vehicles with us, safe in the knowledge that all measures in place are in line with the standards set within the Safer Parking Scheme.”

Mark Osmond, BPA area manager, said: “I am delighted that Liverpool Airport has yet again achieved the Park Mark award, demonstrating their hard work and commitment to providing a safe environment for users.”

Hat-trick for Newark and Sherwood

Surface car parks managed by Newark and District Council have had their Park Mark and Disabled Parking Accreditation (DPA) awards renewed by the British Parking Association. The East Midlands council has also gained the new Park Mark Freight award for Newark Lorry Park located in Great North Road, Newark.

The awards recognise the parking facilities have measures in place that actively deter crime and the fear of crime in car parks.

Newark and Sherwood District Council is currently the only authority in the country to have received all three awards.

Cllr Roger Jackson, portfolio holder for cleaner, safer, greener at Newark and Sherwood District Council, said: “I’m pleased to see we are once again being recognised for the safety and security of our car parks. We are dedicated to creating a cleaner, safer, greener district and these awards show that the hard work and investment into security measures is proving successful. I hope these Park Marks reassure car park users that they can feel safe using our sites.”

Red Lion Truck Stop secures award

The Red Lion Truck Stop in Northamptonshire has been awarded the Park Mark Freight award. The Park Mark Freight award is issued to lorry parking facilities that pass a risk assessment conducted by the police and the British Parking Association.

Ali Sadrudin from Red Lion Truck Stop said: “This award is a great asset to us and lets drivers and hauliers know we continue to be serious about protecting them and their vehicles. To receive the award is a fantastic achievement.”

Peter Gravells, British Parking Association area manager said: “I am delighted that Red Lion Truck Stop has achieved the Park Mark Freight award as it demonstrates the hard work and commitment being made in providing a safe environment for the users.”

Sharon Henley, police assessor at Northamptonshire Police, said: “The lorry park provides excellent facilities incorporating all aspects of safety, security and exemplary management practices.”

Dacorum decorated

Three Dacorum Borough Council car parks have had their Park Marks reaccredited. Dan Rodger, Dacorum’s parking services team leader, said: “I am delighted that Dacorum Borough Council car parks at Langley Hill, The Forge and Park Road have once again been awarded Park Mark accreditation. We are proud to support the Park Mark award initiative and are pleased to provide safer and welcoming car parks to all our visitors across the borough.”

Antony Powell, BPA area manager, said: “The Forge, Langley Hill, and Park Road are just three of the 25 Dacorum Borough Council car parks that are on the scheme. These awards demonstrate the council’s hard work and commitment to providing a safer environment for its visitors.”

Sophie Groombridge, Hertfordshire Constabulary’s Designing Out Crime officer, said: “It is great news that Dacorum Borough Council has all of their 25 car parks in the Park Mark scheme. Dan Rodger, the parking services team leader and his team do a fantastic job.”

Double win for Q-Park NHS sites

Two NHS car parks operated by Q-Park in the West Midlands have been awarded Park Mark Plus status. The multi-storeys at Birmingham City Hospital and Sandwell General Hospital are run on behalf of the Sandwell & West Birmingham NHS Trust.

BPA area manager Matthew Robinson said: “I am delighted that Birmingham City Hospital MSCP and Sandwell General Hospital MSCP have achieved the Park Mark Plus award, demonstrating their hard work and commitment to provide a safe environment for users.”

Ross Badham, business manager, Sandwell & West Birmingham NHS Trust, said: “To achieve Park Mark Plus is excellent news and I would like to thank Matthew Robinson for his time on site and patience during the process. Q-Park is really proud to achieve this award, especially with healthcare sites, and I know alongside Q-Park that the NHS Trust holds Park Mark in very high regard, so to obtain the plus award across two hospital sites will be very well received.”