Robotic systems may soon be inspecting and maintaining our highways and car parks
Discussions about autonomous vehicles tend to focus on the future of cars and trucks, but less attention is paid to the job of maintaining the roads on which we travel. So this month we are showcasing robotic systems that inspect and repair the highway. It may surprise you to learn that cutting edge autonomous technologies are already being trialled on the roads of Britain. In the West Country a robotic dog is being employed by National Highways as part of a pioneering survey project. Spot, a mechanical canine, is being deployed as part of geotechnical surveys to capture data in difficult-toreach locations and terrains which would be hazardous for people to work in.
Meanwhile, a robot vehicle which employs artificial intelligence (AI) to identify potential potholes is being tested out on public roads in Hertfordshire. The Autonomous Road Repair System (ARRES) uses imaging technology to identify cracks or holes and fills them to stop surface water getting in.
So, it looks like the future could actually be one where robotic dogs survey the highways while autonomous repair vehicles fill in the potholes and repaint the fading lines on our roads and car parks.
Mark Moran EditorParking Review online: www.parkingreview.co.uk
The long wait for a government decision on the managing the problem of pavement parking in England was discussed at Westminster last month.
Liz Twist MP secured an adjournment debate on the issue on 7 March. The Labour member for Blaydon in Tyne & Wear told the House of Commons that pavement parking puts pedestrians in danger, including disabled and older people, as well as parents with children.
Twist opened the debate by flagging up how long the issue has been left unresolved. “I am glad to have secured this debate, but I am sad that we are having to revisit the topic,” she said. “My first adjournment debate in this House on 6 June 2018 was on pavement parking. I am sorry that nearly six years on, we are still only talking about preventing it. I am by no means the only person to have raised this subject, as the minister knows. Since that debate, we have had promises to resolve the problem, a few government announcements and even a consultation three years ago, but still no government response, much less any action.”
The MP recounted how the charity Guide Dogs had supported Private Member’s Bills in the House of Commons during 2014 and 2015 which contributed to a decision by the Department for Transport (DfT) to commission research on pavement parking. The DfT subsequently held a public consultation on managing pavement parking between August and November 2020, exploring three options:
• to improve the traffic regulation order process by which local authorities can already prohibit pavement parking
• a legislative change to allow local authorities civil parking enforcement powers to enforce against unnecessary restriction of the pavement
• a legislative change to introduce a London-style pavement parking prohibition throughout England.
Guide Dogs supported all three options, but strongly backs introducing a London-style law across the rest of England. (Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are developing their own approaches.)
Twist referred to a debate in the House of Lords in February during which the transport minister Lord Davies of Gower, said:
“It is time and I am hopeful that in the not-too-distant future we will come out with a report on this.”
Twist pointed out that 1,285 days had passed since the consultation closed, but there had been no substantive update. The MP said: “I can understand that the 15,000 responses that I believe were submitted need to be looked at, and that considering them takes some time, but from hearing those words from Lord Davies, one could be forgiven for assuming that the government were just running a tad over the deadline. We are now more than three years on, and it is disappointing that the government cannot promise us anything better than vague hopes for a response.”
Transport minister Guy Opperman, responding on behalf of the government, said the many responses to the consultation had to properly assessed. He also flagged how there was a need to maintain a free flow of traffic moving on often narrow roads and suggested a nationwide ban may be disproportionate, especially in rural areas. Opperman suggested that, ultimately, whether or not to park on the pavement is a personal decision by drivers.
Closing the debate, Twist said: “It is unquestionably the case we need to send a strong message to the drivers of this country that it is incumbent upon them to park responsibly, to look after their neighbour, and to be conscious of the wider impacts of their decision to own a car, so that in their street and community, they are accommodating the people who are struggling.”
Transport minister Guy Opperman sets out options
The charity Guide Dogs UK has done a lot of work on the issue of pavement-parked vehicles because they pose a particular risk to people with sight loss by blocking their routes, creating trip hazards and forcing them to walk on to roads full of traffic which they cannot see.
Research by Guide Dogs has found that virtually all people with sight loss have been forced to walk in the road due to pavement-parked vehicles. Some 80% of respondents said that pavement parking affects them weekly, while one-in-five said that they had been injured as a result of it. A third of people with sight loss said that they are less willing to go out alone just in case they come up against vehicles blocking their path.
Speaking the House of Commons on 7 March, Liz Twist MP said: “In my last adjournment debate, I talked about my experience of meeting Margaret and Laurel, constituents of mine who are both visually impaired, and taking a walk with them blindfolded, or with restrictive glasses, on my local street. At the time, they told me that they had lost confidence in going out alone, and that their independence was at risk because of the number of vehicles parked on the path. I had the chance to catch up with Laurel ahead of this debate, and I am sad to say that little has changed for her in the past six years.”
Margaret and Tasha’s story
Liz Twist MP shared the words of her constuent Margaret... “Where I live, all the houses are built in the 1950s and many don’t have their own drive. As a result, everyone parks their cars on the pavement. You can’t get past them, and often Tasha, my guide dog, and I have to walk in the road. It’s not just the one car we have to get past – I frequently have to go in the road to get past a few of them, which is so frightening as you can’t hear bikes or quieter cars. If I try to get past without going on the road, I find that I often hit my head on the wing mirrors, which is unnerving in itself.
“I want to be independent and use the pavement without having to get help, but there are so many cars about that it’s getting harder all the time. I recently went to catch the bus but found there were cars parked each side of the bus stop pole, stopping me from waiting there, and preventing the bus from pulling up. I had to step out into the road to get to the door of the bus, which was nerve-wracking. You don’t know what might be coming towards you and you are putting yourself and your guide dog in danger. Because I’d had to step down into the road, the step onto the bus wasn’t at the height I’m used to, and I missed it and fell, really hurting myself. The driver didn’t help and just said he’d report the problem.
“On another occasion when I was coming home, the bus got to my stop and struggled pulling into the kerb because of the cars. The driver actually stopped right in front of the pole so that it was right in front of the doors when they opened. If I’d got out, I’d have walked straight into it, but fortunately my son was with me on that occasion, and he grabbed hold of me to stop me. I feel really angry because people parking on the pavements just don’t realise what problems they cause Tasha and I when we’re out, and I want someone to stop this happening.”
The government recognises the serious of pavement parking, transport minister Guy Opperman told the House of Commons during a debate called by Liz Twist MP. The minister said: “I know that this is a very serious issue that affects individuals up and down the country in a genuine and serious way, including people who are disabled, those who have children, those with prams and buggies, those who are walking their dog and those who are engaging in active travel.”
Opperman pointed out that the consultation on pavement parking generated 15,000 responses that produced thousands of pieces of individual feedback, all of which need to be read and analysed. The minister said it also needed to be recognised that many towns and cities are not designed to accommodate current traffic levels, meaning in some places the pavement is the only place to park without obstructing the carriageway and ensuring a free flow of traffic for emergency services.
Opperman said existing legislation allows local authorities to introduce traffic regulation orders (TROs). “Examples are one-way streets or banned turns, and the TROs also allow local authorities the freedom to decide if and how they wish to restrict pavement parking in their local area. However, we acknowledge – and the consultation clearly shows – that the process of making a TRO can be time-consuming and burdensome for local authorities, and it is clear that requires reform.”
Opperman said there are existing criminal offences that covered unnecessary obstruction of the road. The minister said: “The government is looking at how to amend the regulations to make unnecessary obstruction of the pavement enforceable by local authorities, while leaving obstruction of the carriageway, rightly, as a criminal matter. This would enable civil enforcement officers to address instances of unnecessarily obstructive pavement parking, as and when they find it. The enforcement of these offences would be more targeted than for a general prohibition of pavement parking.
“Parking offences currently subject to local authority civil enforcement are violations of clearly defined restrictions indicated by traffic signs and road markings. By contrast, unnecessary obstruction that could not be indicated by traffic signs or bay marking as an obstruction is a general offence, which may occur anywhere. That is difficult to define and will require case-by-case assessment. The department will likely need to issue very specific guidance to steer local authorities on what might be deemed unnecessary obstruction in order to prevent inappropriate and inconsistent enforcement.”
The option of a national prohibition is being considered, but Opperman pointed out that there has been considerable pushback against it in certain circumstances. The minister said: “One would have to assess how it would possible in circumstances where there are significant and large local authorities, particularly rural ones, which would struggle to make the specific decisions on exemptions. Consideration also needs to be given to whether a ban would be disproportionate.”
The minister concluded by flagging up the role of personal responsibility. “One can talk about the relative merits or otherwise of local government, and whether the London approach is the panacea that we all seek to say it is, but this is ultimately about the personal responsibility of the vehicle owner. I really want to ram home the point that, as is set out in the gospel: ‘Do unto others as you would have done to yourself’.”
Almost every yellow box junction of 100 analysed in London and Cardiff is bigger than it needs to be in order to prevent traffic congestion, says a study commissioned by the RAC. The motoring organisation is worried that oversized box junctions are leading to unnecessary fines being issued to drivers.
The RAC commissioned Sam Wright, a chartered engineer, to examine yellow boxes in the two capital cities. After analysing the 100 junctions responsible for generating the most fines issued in London and Cardiff during 2019, Wright found that 98 were larger than necessary, with the average box being 50% bigger than it needed to be to serve the primary purpose of having a yellow box – to prevent vehicles blocking the path of other crossing traffic.
Under Highway Code Rule 174, drivers must only enter boxes if they can see their exit is clear. The RAC says if a yellow box is so big it is impossible to see where it ends – or if the road markings have worn out – judging whether to drive into or not becomes extremely difficult.
As well as looking at the overall size of the yellow boxes, the RAC study found a fifth of those analysed (22) are also potentially not compliant with the Traffic Signs Regulations 2016 as they:
• extend beyond a junction by at least a car length – making it difficult or impossible for drivers to see where a box ends, increasing the risk of them stopping in them accidentally
• are in a non-permitted location such as outside a private car park or on a roundabout or gyratory that is not controlled by traffic lights
• cover the far side of a T-junction (ruled in several adjudicator cases to be noncompliant, as again if a driver stops in this part of a box they are not affecting the passage of other traffic).
More than half (53) of the box junctions are not under traffic light control. Wright said this means they could easily be converted to ‘Keep clear’ markings to serve the same purpose, without the risk of a driver being sent a penalty charge notice.
Wright said that, while there have been occasions where drivers have successfully challenged fines from councils where boxes are too big, these decisions do not lead to lasting change in the way the law is applied.
There are a number of reasons why yellow boxes might be too big, with the most likely one being they were painted prior to 2016 when the regulations were last updated and demanded that boxes had to extend to the kerbs on either side of the junction.
The RAC and Wright are thus calling on the government to refresh its advice to councils in order to spell out precisely the purpose of yellow box junctions and the terms of preventing the cross movement of
‘98% of yellow box junctions are too big’
Surveys of street markings in London and Cardiff show oversized junctions are leading to drivers being penalised, says the RAC
other traffic, and to make it clear where and how they should be used.
Government guidance from 2022, aimed primarily at new councils enforcing moving traffic offences, including yellow boxes, states: “Enforcement action should not commence at any location where contraventions could be avoided by reasonable improvements to the highway or to traffic signs, and not until such improvements are made and appropriate monitoring has been carried out.”
The RAC and Wright argue that this guidance is just as relevant to councils in London and Cardiff that are already enforcing yellow boxes, although it does not formally apply to them.
Sam Wright runs the Yellow Box Guru website and was formerly responsible for the design and approval of yellow boxes on Transport for London’s roads. He said: “Making sure yellow boxes are the correct size is extremely important when you consider that even a car bumper overhanging part of a box can result in a
driver being fined to the tune of up to £160 depending on where they are in the country. Yet in so many cases, drivers can’t avoid stopping in them – a good example being where a yellow box is so big that a driver can’t see where it ends. Throw in some bad weather that reduces visibility, and the potential for unnecessary fines increases still further.”
RAC spokesperson Rod Dennis said: “With more and more councils starting to enforce yellow box junctions, it is absolutely vital that they are designed first and foremost with aiding traffic flow and that they don’t exist simply to raise revenue from drivers. Unfortunately, any box that is bigger than needed – whether that’s due to an oversight on the council’s part or because it was painted many years ago and not been reviewed – risks drivers being fined unnecessarily when their actions haven’t contributed to congestion.”
“What’s more, if a driver can’t clearly see where a box ends, but they know there’s a chance of getting fined if they stop in one, they’re more likely to hesitate – meaning traffic could start backing up, which is the polar opposite of what yellow boxes are intended to do. It’s therefore all the more frustrating to see that almost all of the 100 yellow boxes examined for this study are larger than they need to be. We fear that unnecessary penalties are going to mushroom in the coming years as more councils start enforcing yellow boxes, unless a responsible approach to the design and enforcement of them is taken.
“That’s why we need the government to urgently issue fresh guidance to local authorities – something we have been calling for two years now.”
The Department for Transport (DfT) has launched a tranche of guidance, consultations and research findings across a range of subjects affecting local traffic management to give teeth to the Plan for Drivers.
The papers cover topics including implementing Low Traffic Neighbourhoods (LTNs), setting local speed limits, bus priority measures, and restricting the use of traffic control enforcement measures to generate ‘surplus funds’ for councils.
Transport secretary Mark Harper says that these measures are aimed at ensuring that “drivers are treated fairly” and also that the introduction of schemes has full consultation with local communities before implementation. Harper said: “In October 2023, this government announced the Plan for Drivers, setting out 30 measures that
limits for “sensible and appropriate areas only”, such as outside schools. The DfT says speed limits should be “evidence-led and selfexplaining”, reinforcing people’s assessment of what is a safe speed to travel.
improve the experience of driving through smoother journeys: stopping unfair enforcement, easier parking, cracking down on inconsiderate driving and helping the transition to zero-emission driving.”
The measures would ensure the wishes of local people are taken into account when decisions on traffic management are taken by local authorities, said Harper. Further action on the measures and others in the Plan for Drivers will be announced later this year, he said.
The LTN guidance calls on councils to use engagement and consultations to make sure that a scheme is supported by the majority of residents as well as local businesses and emergency services. Engagement with communities could involve in-person events, online engagement, and leaflet drops to involve the whole community in the process, says the guidance.
Councils are asked to take greater care when introducing 20mph limits. New guidance tells local authorities to reserve 20mph
A new Local Transport Note on bus lane user priority tells local authorities to exercise more restraint. The DfT says measures should only operate when traffic is heavy enough to delay buses so that drivers do not face unfair fines, it says.
The DfT is also seeking to prevent councils from profiting from enforcing traffic restrictions such as fines for drivers going into yellow box junctions or parking restrictions. A call for evidence will quiz local authorities on how revenue raised from fines is spent.
Also announced is: research into noise camera technology; a £50m upgrade of traffic signals; updated policy on lane rental schemes; and consultation on removing the right of uninsured drivers to claim compensation for property damage.
Feature: Page 20
Eight local authorities sign off-street contract with Marston Holdings
The enforcement of both onstreet and off-street parking in Northern Ireland has until now been provided by red-coated traffic attendants through an agreement between the Department for Infrastructure (DfI) and local councils.
Now new blue-coated attendants will be responsible for off-street public parking in some areas. The change follows eight councils entering a new enforcement contract with Marston Holdings.
The local authorities are:
• Belfast City Council
• Ards and North Down Borough Council
• Derry City and Strabane District Council
• Fermanagh and Omagh District Council
• Newry, Mourne and Down District Council
• Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council
• Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council
• Mid Ulster District Council.
The blue coat patrol officers are supplied by Marston Holdings’s NSL division.
Keith Hanshaw, Marston Holdings group managing director, said: “We are thrilled to announce our partnership with eight councils in Northern
Ireland, where we will be providing off-street parking services in pay & display car parks as part of our new contracts.
“Equipped with highly trained frontline colleagues and parking professionals, NSL is dedicated to shaping a parking environment that serves the needs of all users while ensuring maximum compliance.
“We look forward to working closely with the Northern Ireland councils in the coming months to enhance parking compliance among road users and to create a safer environment for all.”
Civil enforcement officers working in Slough have received a pay increase following industrial action that resulted in double yellow lines, pay & display areas and bus lanes not being monitored.
Members of the Unite union employed at Saba Park Services in the Berkshire town went on strike over pay and conditions.
The 40 workers will receive a pay increase of 25.6%, taking the lowest hourly pay from £10.50 to £13.20.
Unite said it had also achieved a continuous pay increase to match the Retail Price Index rate of inflation over the next two years.
The union said its membership at the car park
operator increased from 13 to 40 members during the course of the dispute.
Unite regional officer
Richard White said: “Over the last year we have seen our membership rocket at Saba Park Services, highlighting how important it is to come together to work towards a common goal.
“The increase, as well as monumental recognition and new representatives, will have massive improvements on the workplace for current and future employees of Saba Park Services.”
Saba has managed a contract to provide car parking services for Slough Borough Council since 2018.
pay for parking.
“Through the RingGo app, we hope to provide a fast and convenient solution which will drive future efficiencies for Irish councils and bring increased choice and flexibility for Irish drivers.”
Meanwhile, the DfI retains responsibility for regulating onstreet parking in Northern Ireland and its parking attendants will still wear red coats. The red-coated attendants are also supplied by NSL.
The JustPark app will continue tol be used for the DfI onstreet parking.
The new off-street regime in the eight council areas has also seen the introduction of the RingGo cashless parking system at public car parks, although cash will still be accepted at pay & display machines.
Peter O’Driscoll, managing director at RingGo said: “We’re excited to be announcing this partnership with Marston and our expansion into Northern Ireland. The current trend towards a more cashless society across the UK means that more and more drivers are choosing to use their mobile phones to
Figures published by the Department for Infrastructure show more than 690,000 parking offences were penalised in Northern Ireland between January 2018 and September 2023. More than 70% of these were for on-street parking and almost 30% were for off-street parking offences.
The DFI confirmed to BBC News NI there had been more than £12m in revenue generated from fines for on-street parking and bus lane contraventions between April 2022 and December 2023.
The DfI said it did not hold the figures for off-street parking fines as these would be held by individual councils.
The Lisburn Road in Belfast had the highest amount of onstreet parking fines, with more than 10,000 between 2021 and 2023.
A civil enforcement officer was so severely assaulted that he needed hospitalisation.
The APCOA employee, working for Sandwell Council, was given treatment at the scene before being taken to hospital following the assault at around 12.30pm on 19 March.
West Midlands Police arrested a 35-year-old man on suspicion of grievous bodily harm after the assaulted on Castle Road West in Oldbury.
Cllr Kerrie Carmichael, leader of Sandwell Council, said: “We are appalled to hear of this incident and our thoughts and best wishes are with our contractor APCOA’s team member and his family at this
time. Public servants working for the council do a fantastic job for our community and no one should be subjected to violence in the course of their work.”
Kim Challis, regional managing director UK and Ireland at APCOA, said: “All our thoughts are with our colleague and his family as he continues to receive treatment in hospital for severe injuries.
“This was a terrible incident; no one should be the subject of physical or verbal abuse as they carry out their duties.
APCOA thanks our client, Sandwell Council, for their immediate support, and we will do everything we can to assist the police investigation.”
New approach embraces sustainable transport thinking
A port city which is bounded by water on three sides, Portsmouth has been shaped by its geography and naval history. Portsmouth is one of the mostly densely populated urban areas in the UK outside of London, with a population of approximately 217,000 that is expected to grow to 236,000 by 2041.
Car ownership has increased significantly in recent years; at the end of 2021 there were around 17,000 more cars registered in Portsmouth than there were at the end of 2011.
Over 8,000 business are located in the city, which receives 9.3m visitors a year. All this means there is a high demand for parking for residents, businesses and visitors.
Portsmouth City Council has developed a parking strategy that aims to enhance travel options and alleviate parking congestion in the city, as well as encouraging the use of sustainable transport alternatives.
Portsmouth City Council is embarking on a trial of innovative parking measures designed to promote more compliance with parking regulations and efficiency within residential parking zones (RPZs), marking a significant advancement in parking management for residents.
Central to the new measures is the deployment of a camera enforcement vehicle that will be tasked with identifying vehicles without permits within RPZs during operating hours.
Ordinarily, civil enforcement officers (CEOs) have to conduct manual inspections, walking down streets and individually checking parked vehicles using handheld devices. The CCTV vehicle will streamline the enforcement process enabling CEOs to conduct a greater number of checks across a wider area in a significantly shorter timeframe.
The automatic number plate recognition vehicle is being supplied by Yunex Traffic and will be deployed during the summer.
The parking strategy is aligned with key initiatives such as the Portsmouth Transport Hub, South East Hampshire Rapid Transit, and the decarbonisation agenda. It was developed collaboratively with input from various stakeholders and underwent extensive public consultation from 18 September to 29 October 2023.
Over 2,000 responses were received, reflecting a broad range of perspectives across age groups and geographic areas.
The city council says the consultation revealed broad support
Feedback from residents in parts of Brighton & Hove looks set to drive a decision not to change the make-up of their controlled parking zones (CPZs).
The council had considered scrapping the ‘light touch’ schemes, which are designed to discourage people from leaving vehicles for more than a few hours at a time. Instead, they would have become ‘full’ parking zones, with restrictions from 9am to 8pm.
A report presented to the Transport and Sustainability committee set out the results of a consultation in five CPZs.
Residents, services and businesses in Zones L (Wish Park area), P (Hove Park area), S (Hanover & Elm Grove area), U (Coombe Road area) and W (West Hove) were asked if they would like their existing ‘light touch’ schemes changed to ‘full’ allday schemes.
Across all five zones, 82% of the 2755 responses said they wanted their ‘light touch’ scheme to remain as it is.
Cllr Trevor Muten, chair of the transport and sustainability committee said: “We wish to thank residents for providing such a clear steer. We’ve listened very carefully to
what they’ve have had to say, and I’m pleased the report will recommend no change to these controlled parking zones.
“It’s vital that people in Brighton & Hove are listened to, especially when it comes to how something like how parking is managed in the area where they live. Building our plans and budgets on residents’ feedback rather than assumptions provides a stronger
for the draft objectives and policies. Of those who responded, 68% supported the objectives, with only 12% disagreeing.
The final draft strategy incorporates changes based on the feedback including clarifications on policies, more resident parking zones in the city and a range of other actions, including plans to increase the amount of people using Portsmouth’s park & ride.
Cllr Gerald Vernon-Jackson, cabinet member for transport, said: “We know that parking can be a significant issue in Portsmouth, so I welcome the opportunity to discuss solutions that will make it easier for people to park their vehicles, whether at home or while visiting shops or attractions in the city.”
The parking strategy is a component of the Portsmouth Transport Strategy and compliments the emerging Portsmouth Local Plan, and seeks to optimise existing resources, including repurposing underused car parks in the city centre to enhance productivity and economic benefits.
The transport strategy will guide decision-making processes, ensuring that future initiatives contribute to the city’s long-term strategic objectives, including economic growth and environmental sustainability.
foundation. Residents’ parking is a big part of our citywide parking review which will report later this year. We’re determined to make parking simpler, fairer and accessible for everyone.”
Cllr Muten said the decision reflected public opinion after 2,755 responses to the council’s consultation, with 2,268 of those wanting their area to remain a light touch parking zone.
The budget implications of retaining the ‘light touch’ schemes would be addressed as part of a city-wide parking review.
The committee also discussed a recommendation to go ahead with installing additional on-street parking spaces in Kew Street, Brighton. This would be to help meet high demand in Zone Y where there is currently a waiting list for resident parking permits. Kew Street formed part of a review of the area to identify where additional parking could be implemented.
• A programme to install 150 residents’ cycle hangars across Brighton & Hove has been completed. The final batch of hangars have been installed at 39 locations around the city in the last few weeks. Hangar number 150 was placed on Langdale Road in Hove.
WPS is a leading supplier of parking payment systems in off-street car parks. We can provide the motorist with the widest choice of payment options, either through cash, credit/debit card or digital payments.
Our Marketplace, which is available to all WPS customers hosts the leading apps in the UK. Including popular payments apps such as RingGo and JustPark, leading edge permit software in ZatPermit plus our WPS PAY solution.
WPS is National Parking Platform (NPP) ready, so an investment in our products has future proofing built-in.
A hospital in Norfolk has bought a plot of land in order to provide parking for staff members. The James Paget Hospital in Gorleston will create over 370 parking spaces on land acquired from an allotment association.
James Paget University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust has completed acquisition of land adjacent to its current site that will be used for enabling works ahead of construction of a new hospital due to open in 2030.
Potter’s Field will be initially used to create over 350 temporary car parking spaces for staff working at the hospital.
The additional parking spaces will provide urgently needed parking on site for staff, relocating parking spaces that have been moved through the estates work currently taking place across the main hospital site in the creation of the new concept ward, diagnostic and imaging facilities, and theatre space.
Work has begun on the Potter’s Field site to prepare parking facilities for staff at the hospital, with 376 spaces in total being created in two phases
– phase 1 will provide 220 spaces, and phase 2 will deliver a further 156 spaces.
The hospital purchased Potter’s Field with support from Great Yarmouth Borough Council and the Gorleston Allotment Association.
Mark Flynn, director of strategic projects at the hospital, said: “We continue to work closely with Great Yarmouth Borough Council to follow planning processes in developing our masterplan for a new hospital and to acquire additional land to the rear of our current site where elements and buildings
within the new hospital estate will be located. The hospital is very grateful to the Great Yarmouth and Gorleston Allotment Association and its members for helping us acquire Potter’s Field, and their work with us in understanding the vision for our new hospital for local communities.”
Michael Horton, head of property and asset management at Great Yarmouth Borough Council, said: “We will continue to work with the James Paget as a key partner in the development of the new hospital, and through the planning applica-
NHS Grampian has submitted a planning application to allow staff to use a car park which was built exclusively for patients and visitors.
The Lady Helen multi-storey at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary opened in February 2018. It was funded by the Wood Foundation. The charity, set up by oil tycoon Sir Ian Wood, said it supported the change of conditions.
Staff have been able to park on certain floors since the pandemic, but this temporary arrangement is set to come to an end.
The health board says the availability of car parking was one of the most contentious issues it faces. The board has thus applied to Aberdeen City Council for the permission to
allow staff to park on levels 6 and above permanently, while ensuring patients and visitors are prioritised.
NHS Grampian also wants to introduce an automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) system alongside parking patrols in order to deter unauthorised vehicles parking on site.
Alison MacLachlan, UK director of the Wood
Foundation said its investment was designed to ensure there was adequate parking for patients and visitors to the Foresterhill campus. She said: “NHS Grampian has assured us that continuing to allow staff access to the upper floors of the car park will not jeopardise this position. The team will continue to monitor parking levels to ensure this remains the case.”
tion processes. We are pleased to conclude the sale of the Potter’s Field site, which allows important enabling work to begin.”
Donna Miller, chair of the Great Yarmouth & Gorleston Allotment Association, said: “On behalf of our allotment members, we have engaged with the hospital to understand the vision for the future new hospital, and how Potter’s Field will be used in moving the project forward and are happy to have been involved with something that ultimately will benefit the whole community.”
Northampton General Hospital is introducing a camera enforcement system in order to improve the parking experience it offers.
Automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) cameras will record when people enter the car parks and they will only need to pay at a machine when they leave. This means an end to the need to pay & display, which involves them predicting the period of stay. It will be possible to extend parking sessions via a mobile phone app, but the hospital feels not everyone is familiar with apps and there is a risk of patients being unable to access digital devices during appointments.
Ian Howson, the hospital’s head of hotel services, said: “The new process will mean patients and visitors won’t have to worry about car parking tickets running out.”
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Outside London (PATROL) has launched the Driving Improvement Award, a new competition recognising local authority communication activities. The 2024 programme aims to drive positive change in the delivery of enforcement services and public engagement.
The Driving Improvement Awards are an evolution of the Promoting Awareness of Civil Enforcement through Reporting (PACER) Awards. The new approach will shift the focus to celebrate authorities’ customer service, innovation, improvement and engagement more generally.
The Driving Improvement Awards offer authorities the chance to submit a bid for funding to carry out a communication campaign or activity to effect change, both in their local area and replicable nationally. This could include, for example, new public information, social media, marketing, branding or PR.
Bids will be encouraged around a specific theme each year, based on current or pressing events, issues and trends in the parking and traffic enforcement landscape.
In its inaugural guise in 2024, the Driving Improvement Awards is focussed on the issue of abuse experienced by civil enforcement officers and other enforcement staff, which speaks to an intensity of negative public sentiment towards parking and traffic enforcement, generally.
Recent research and media reports highlight the frequency of abuse faced by such staff,
with 84% of parking managers reporting their staff experience verbal abuse at least once per month. Even more concerning is the fact that 20% reported physical abuse occurring with the same frequency.
PATROL is offering its local authority members access to funding of up to £25,000 for bids that focus on a proposed communication campaign or activity that delivers on objectives aimed at addressing the current year’s theme. Bids will be assessed on their scope for implementation locally, but also for how the chosen campaign or activity can be replicated by any England and Wales authority, or taken forward by PATROL to be elevated on a national scale.
Winning authorities will be recognised at PATROL’s Annual Reception in July, which will be held at a prestigious venue in Westminster – the heart of UK policy making – where MPs and ministers from the government departments with whom PATROL interfaces are likely to be in attendance.
The PATROL team will then support winning authorities to implement their campaign or activity ahead of next year’s event, with the outcomes, learnings and best practice shared with the wider authority cohort.
Laura Padden, director of PATROL, said: “The awards offer a fantastic opportunity for local authority teams to showcase their creativity in and commitment to addressing local challenges, helping to drive change nationally. Participating in the awards will not
only highlight an authority’s dedication to improving community engagement, but also position their team as a leader in innovative problem solving.”
PATROL is a joint committee of over 300 local authorities and charging authorities in England (outside London) and Wales that enforce traffic restrictions.
Authorities need to submit bids online by Tuesday 30 April.
PATROL member authorities can submit a bid to enter the Driving Improvement Awards via on online form at: www.surveymonkey.com/r/ PATROLAwards2024
JustPark, a UK app-based parking reservations technology and payments platform, is to merge its business with ParkHub, a North American provider of parking management software and payments solutions. As part of the transaction, ParkHub secured a strategic growth investment led by FTV Capital with participation from existing investor LLR Partners.
“After 18 years at the forefront of transforming parking experiences for millions, our merger with ParkHub catapults JustPark to new heights,” said Anthony Eskinazi, founder and chief executive of JustPark.
“Our dedication to improving the parking experience for drivers continues, and with our cutting-edge technology and unrivalled support, we’re set to revolutionise parking for our customers and partners both here in the UK, and now also in North America.”
JustPark’s Eskinazi will continue to lead the UK business, which will continue to offer an online marketplace in the UK by matching drivers with available parking spaces and monetising unused parking capacity.
ParkHub facilitates payments and delivers real-time business insights for parking operators and venue management companies across North America, serving sports and entertainment venues, universities, municipalities and commercial asset holders.
Together, ParkHub and JustPark currently serve more than 20 million drivers and more than 500 B2B customers, representing $1bn-plus (£790m-plus) in booking volume.
“We are excited to invest in JustPark’s vision to provide the world’s best parking experiences and look forward to leveraging the combined company’s capabilities for our marquee customers across North America and the UK,” said Jeff Shanahan, chief executive at ParkHub. “Having successfully worked with FTV in the past, I’m confident that their track record and extensive expertise within the vertical software and payments space make them the ultimate value-add partner to complement LLR as we chart this next phase of growth.”
“The accelerating transition from cash to digital payments and growing adoption of prepaid parking has precipitated a need for an end-to-end platform that helps highvelocity parking facilities more efficiently manage their parking operations.
“Adding to this momentum, primary ticketing vendors are increasingly relying on partnerships with prepaid parking providers for on- and off-venue parking to help improve ingress and effectively manage parking reservations. With this acquisition, we believe that ParkHub is well positioned to capitalise on these industry tailwinds by leveraging JustPark’s parking reservations and mobile payments capabilities.”
Kyle Griswold, partner at investor FTV Capital, said: “Both ParkHub and JustPark stand out as category-leading vertical software as a service (SaaS) and payments platforms in their respective markets, and we’re excited to help these two complementary, yet distinct, offerings come together and accelerate growth in the expansive parking software and payments market.
“We’re also thrilled for the opportunity to once again partner with both Jeff and LLR. Jeff has been a leader at several successful FTV portfolio companies and has extensive experience growing and scaling vertical software and payments companies.”
Ryan Goldenberg, partner at LLR Partners, added: “We are thrilled to announce our combination with JustPark, and to partner with Anthony and the entire JustPark team. Together, we will continue to provide our customers and partners with industry leading parking software and payment solutions, In addition, we welcome FTV Capital to
ParkHub’s board of directors and look forward to a successful strategic partnership.”
As part of this growth investment, Kyle Griswold and Adam Hallquist, principal at FTV Capital, have joined ParkHub’s board of directors.
JustPark was founded by Anthony Eskinazi, at the age of 23, back in 2006. He appeared on the BBC’s Dragon’s Den in 2007, one-year post-launch, but did not receive any investment.
Based in Camden in London, JustPark says it has generated more than £90m for homeowners across the country. In total over £250m of parking income has been generated for JustPark’s partners.
JustPark has been a pioneer of equity crowdfunding. It was at the forefront of equity crowdfunding, an approach that has not only supported its growth but has subsequently been instrumental in shaping the landscape of equity crowdfunding itself. In 2015, JustPark set a world-record in funding, raising £3.5m through Crowdcube.
JustPark has been supported by nearly 10,000 retail investors including many of their own customers, current, and former employees, alongside venture capitalists such as LocalGlobe, Index Ventures, Itochu and other angel investors.
The company will be returning its Future Fund Investment to the government. In 2020, with revenues down over 98% due to the pandemic, JustPark was weeks away from falling into administration.
Most current and ex-employees have stock options in JustPark.
Chief financial officer will support parking tech firm’s growth
Parking technology provider
Unity5 has hired Oli Pigott as its chief financial officer (CFO).
Pigott joins Unity5 from cybersecurity company Immersive Labs, where he was vice president finance. Prior to this he worked at furniture company Herman Miller and professional services provider Ernst & Young.
Oli Pigott said: “I am thrilled to join Unity5 at such an exciting juncture. The company’s dedication to simplifying complex enforcement processes in a way which empowers and drives value for our clients resonates deeply with my skills and experience. I look forward to leveraging my experience to fuel Unity5’s continued success.”
Unity5’s flagship product, Zatpark, is an enforcement management system. Unity5’s suite of products includes Zatpermit, Zatenviro, Ecomm6, Zatmobile, Zatkiosk and Fleet Checker.
Tim Evans, founder and chief executive of 3ti Energy Hubs, has died after a short illness. Evans passed away on 12 March surrounded by his family.
Evans founded 3ti Energy Hubs in 2019 after a long career in the renewable energy sector.
Leatherhead-based 3ti is a designer, installer, funder and operator of solar car parks that integrate local mains electricity with solar power, battery energy storage systems (BESS) and EV chargepoints.
The 3ti team has installed solar car parks for clients such as Bentley Motors in Crewe, JP Morgan Chase in Bournemouth, and the Ministry of Defence. The company won an EVolution trophy at the British Parking Awards for its innovative
Dave Herbert, chief executive at Unity5 said: “Unity5’s commitment to innovation and client-centric solutions finds a new ally in Oli Pigott. As a seasoned professional in navigating the intricacies of technologydriven enterprises, Oli’s expertise will be instrumental in fortifying Unity5’s position as a leader in the compliance domain.
“With a strong background in customer-centric software as a service (SaaS) businesses, Oli’s strategic financial acumen will play a pivotal role in driving
Papilio3 solar car park system.
Ben Marchant, 3ti’s chief operating officer, is now acting as interim chief executive. He said: “Tim’s departure marks not only the loss of a visionary leader but also a cherished family member and friend. He leaves behind a legacy that is deeply interwoven with his passion for renewable energy and his unwavering commitment to making the world a better place.
“Tim will be remembered for his dedication, tenacity and entrepreneurial spirit. He was driven by a desire to confront the challenges of climate change headon. His belief in the power of renewable energy to transform our world for the better is embodied in 3ti’s motto to ‘Leave something better behind’.
“Tim’s legacy will always inspire us as we remain dedicated to advancing his mission – to drive innovation in renewable energy, battery storage and electric vehicle charging to achieve net zero faster.
“As we reflect on 3ti’s history and look to the future, we are reminded of Tim’s words on our fifth anniversary – ‘It feels like we’re just getting started.’”
YourParkingSpace has promoted Ryan Winkelman to the role of UK commercial director.
YourParkingSpace is an online marketplace and parking reservation service. In 2022, the company was acquired by Flowbird in a deal worth over £120m.
Winkelman joined the parking marketplace provider seven years ago, starting as a commercial executive and progressing through the company to become head of commercial.
Unity5’s growth trajectory to new heights, enabling us to further support our customers.
“With Oli’s appointment, we are poised to accelerate our mission of simplifying enforcement operations and driving tangible value for our customers and partners.
“Oli’s experience in customercentric organisations demonstrates his ability to keep the customer front and centre, which aligns perfectly with our culture. Putting our customers at the heart of everything we do.”
Prior to joining YourParkingSpace, Winkelman worked in online marketing and retail.
We currently supply and have vacancies around the UK for Permanent and Temporary positions:
• Civil Enforcement Officers
• Environmental Enforcement Officers
• Parking Back Office (Appeals/Notice Processing/Correspondence)
• Parking Change Management
• Interim Parking Managers
• Car Park Attendants/Marshalls/Stewarding
• Parking Supervisors (Both Enforcement and Back Office)
• Parking Management (Both Enforcement and Back Office)
• Heads of Parking/Directors
• Parking Technologies (Business Development and Project Managers/
Field Service Engineers/General Managers)
• Off Street Parking (Business Development, Contract Managers and Regional Managers)
• CCTV Operators – SIA and BTEC qualified
Looking for staff or need employment?
Please contact our experienced team on:
Tel: 0203 668 5680
Email: parking@unity-recruitment.co.uk
Web: www.unity-recruitment.co.uk
***Parking Experience Essential***
Local authorities seeking to introduce low traffic neighbourhoods and 20mph speed limits will have to do more to prove they have support among local people, says transport secretary Mark Harper, who also wants to tackle what he views as over-zealous traffic enforcement. The announcements are part of Harper’s desire to deliver the government’s Plan for Drivers, a 30-point document that aims to improve the lives of drivers by shortening journey times and ensuring traffic measures have buy-in from the people they are impacting.
Mark Harper said: “We want local people to have their voices heard, and any traffic schemes to have the consent of those they impact. Well thought out schemes, like 20mph limits outside schools, can make our roads safer, but we are raising the bar to help ensure all traffic schemes work for everyone in the community. We’re on the side of drivers, and these latest measures show we’re getting on with delivering what we promised in our Plan for Drivers – making their lives better, fairer and cheaper, and helping people travel in the way that works best for them.”
Harper’s previous Plan for Drivers measures include a crackdown on disruptive streetworks, cutting traffic and is anticipated to generate up to £100m over the next 10 years. It has also launched grants for schools to accelerate the rollout of electric vehicle chargepoints, making it easier for drivers to make the switch.
The transport secretary states that £8.3bn has also been pledged over the next 10 years for road resurfacing, made possible by reallocated HS2 funding.
The Department for Transport (DfT) has published draft statutory guidance for councils on low traffic neighbourhoods (LTNs), setting out that they must gain buy-in from local residents, businesses and emergency services when considering implementing new schemes. Engagement with communities could involve inperson events, online engagement, and leaflet drops to involve the whole community in the process and will mean that authorities
must consider whether an LTN has local support before it is implemented.
The DfT said the new guidance would raise expected standards for LTNs and will come into force this summer when local authorities will be obliged to consider it when shaping new and existing schemes. Local authorities will be expected to follow the guidance and ensure local people support their plans.
The DfT argues that recent examples of places where councils have implemented these schemes without public support have been shown to cause disruption and have unintended negative consequences. The government warns that if local authorities fail to deliver sensible road schemes that work for local people they could see future funding withdrawn, and under powers from the Traffic Management Act, the government could ultimately take control of an authority’s roads where they are deemed to be widely mismanaged. A consultation will also be launched this summer on measures including the removal of local authorities’ access to Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) data to enforce such schemes by camera.
The transport secretary says his actions on LTNs are supported by a DfT review that highlights only 13% of residents have responded to council planning consultations on LTNs, and just 18% feel that their views have influenced council decisions. The report found that local authorities operating LTNs issue an average of 36,459 penalty charge notices (PCNs) per scheme, with the highest number of PCNs issued for a single LTN scheme exceeding 170,000.
Harper said the review showed only a quarter of people understood the benefits of LTNs and also flagged concerns over the impact on disabled residents, high numbers of penalty charge notices, the cost of LTN schemes and even concerns from emergency services that delays to crews caught up in LTNs could “potentially risk lives”.
The new guidance aims to prevent councils having to reverse
what are claimed to have been poorly-implemented or locally unpopular schemes – as with recently removed LTNs at Jesmond in Newcastle and Streatham Wells in Lambeth, London.
Councils have received strengthened guidance on setting 20mph speed limits, reminding them to reserve them for sensible and appropriate areas only – such as outside schools – and with safety and local support at the heart of the decision. The new guidance could affect funding decisions.
The DfT states speed limits should be evidence-led and selfexplaining and seek to reinforce people’s assessment of what is a safe speed to travel. They should encourage self-compliance. Speed limits should be seen by drivers as the maximum rather than a target speed. Traffic authorities should set local speed limits in situations where local needs and conditions suggest a speed limit that is lower than the national speed limit.
The new guidance is to be used for setting all local speed limits on single and dual carriageway roads in both urban and rural areas. The guidance should also be used as the basis for assessments of local speed limits, for developing route management strategies and for developing speed management strategies that can be included in local transport plans.
The department states traffic authorities should use the right speed limits in the right places. Traffic authorities should also keep their speed limits under review and only introduce 20mph limits and zones in the right places, over time and with local support in urban areas and built-up village streets that are primarily residential, using the criteria in urban speed limits.
In the Plan for Drivers, the transport secretary announced action to address concerns about councils generating surpluses from issuing penalty charge notices (PCNs) for contraventions of moving traffic restrictions including:
• no entry
• no left or right turn
• prohibited vehicles
• unlawful entry into box junctions
• driving in mandatory cycle lanes.
The DfT acknowledges these enforcement powers help free up police time while helping councils to reduce traffic congestion. However, Harper said enforcement should be undertaken proportionately and not used as a means to raise revenue.
A call for evidence has been launched on preventing local councils from turning drivers into ‘cash cows’ by profiting from enforcing traffic restrictions. This includes fines for drivers going into yellow box junctions or parking restrictions. The call for evidence will seek views from residents and will also quiz local authorities on how money from fines is reinvested.
Local people will have their say on whether they think enforcement is currently fair or believe authorities should be restricted in their traffic enforcement powers, and the findings will inform future government decisions on restricting authorities. As with LTNs, the government will also look at restricting local authorities access to third-party data, such as the DVLA database, for enforcement purposes.
The transport secretary believes restrictions on bus lane use are too rigid, creating delays and causing regular fines for drivers. New guidance has been issued on bus lanes to make sure they only operate when it makes sense, like when traffic is heavy enough to delay buses. Harper says this move will prevent drivers being hit with unfair fines.
New DfT guidance covers a broad range of measures as well as providing advice and information on how to take schemes from planning through to successful delivery. It covers the “how” to deliver as well as the “what”. The guidance is intended to support local transport authorities to plan and deliver bus priority schemes which can support the role buses play in local communities, and improve passenger outcomes.
Nuisance boy-racers who illegally modify their exhausts and disturb streets are being targeted by the government. New research results will be used to encourage local authorities to install noise cameras. The Department for Transport (DfT) has been trialling noise camera technology to understand if it can be used to automatically detect when vehicles are excessively noisy. Roadside trials took place from 18 October 2022 until 1 February 2023 in Keighley, Bristol, Great Yarmouth and Rubery, Birmingham.
The new technology uses a video camera in conjunction with microphones to accurately pinpoint excessively noisy vehicles as they pass by. The camera takes a picture of a vehicle and records the noise level to create a digital package of evidence that could be used to fine offending drivers.
The Plan for Drivers included commitments specifically aimed at making it easier for motorcyclists to access bus lanes. The government believes this would lead to many positive benefits including shorter journey times for those on motorcycles and less congestion for motorists in normal lanes, all while potentially having little impact on bus journeys.
The first commitment was to remind local authorities that they already have this ability, as set out on 15 January through an updated Traffic Advisory Leaflet that made clear that local authorities should allow motorcyclists to use their bus lanes, following the advice set out. The second commitment was to carry out a consultation on whether to make access to bus lanes the default position. While motorcyclists have been able to use some bus lanes for some time, access is neither universal or consistent across local authority boundaries.
Traffic lights will be upgraded across the country at a cost of £50m – £30m to replace outdated equipment, and £20m to reduce poor traffic light performance through innovative technology that responds to live traffic conditions. A total of 80 highway authorities across England will receive funding.
• Traffic Signal Obsolescence Grant (TSOG): a £30m fund to upgrade traffic signal systems, replacing unreliable and obsolete equipment to improve reliability
• Green Light Fund (GLF): a £20m fund to tune up traffic signals to better reflect current traffic conditions and get traffic flowing.
The government believes that lane rental is effective at reducing congestion from works on the busiest roads at the busiest times, and would like to see more schemes put in place. Lane rental allows an authority to charge up to £2,500 per day for works that can cause congestion on critical parts of the highway network. The schemes incentivise organisations to either move their works to less busy times, or complete their works quicker to avoid accumulating charges, thus reducing congestion and helping to create smoother journeys for all road users.
The guidance has been updated to support the uptake of lane rental by addressing perceived barriers to lane rental development and implementation.
A consultation has been launched to prevent uninsured drivers from claiming property damage from the Motor Insurers’ Bureau (MIB).
The government is proposing the reintroduction of an exclusion previously removed because of incompatibility with European Union (EU) law, so that uninsured drivers are no longer able to claim compensation for property damage from the MIB. Currently, uninsured drivers are able to claim this compensation if involved in an accident with other uninsured drivers and untraced drivers.
On 17 March the government issued further details on its Plan for Drivers. The main new sections announced were guidance on low traffic neighbourhoods (LTNs) and a call for evidence on restricting the generation of surplus funds from traffic contraventions. For the British Parking Association (BPA) these two documents represent an unprecedented attack from central government on the fundamentals on how local authorities manage local parking and traffic.
LTNs are a relatively new development that emerged during the years of COVID lockdowns. We recognise that not all operated smoothly at the start and work was needed to improve them. The BPA works continuously with members to ensure best practice in any traffic or parking management schemes. However, whilst we accept that enhanced guidance for new traffic schemes should always be explored and signage made more uniform, the current rhetoric and implied punishments for councils is proving to be extremely damaging and misleading.
The proposal that non-compliance with the new guidance could lead to restrictions or curtailing of local authority access to DVLA keeper records would significantly restrict them in enforcing wider traffic and parking schemes. This would be a disaster for local road users and residents. It also seems to be being managed in an arbitrary way, giving the Secretary of State unchecked power to curtail an authorities access on a whim. Can we trust that it won’t be used for political reasons?
The call for evidence on restricting the generation of surplus funds from traffic contraventions could also have significant impacts on local authorities’ ability to manage traffic and parking. This could exacerbate existing problems with persistent evaders, Blue Badge fraud and other anti-social behaviour that evidence indicates is increasing in frequency.
As part of the proposals, they have already decided to delay more councils getting moving traffic enforcement (MTE) powers indefinitely. Granting more local authorities MTE powers, which would enable them to mitigate problematic driving behaviour, is key to improving areas of significant disruption. These powers have been successfully implemented in several areas in England since 2022 and evidence shows they are having a positive impact; keeping children safe from inconsiderate and dangerous driving and parking outside of schools, keeping pedestrian areas free of cars and preventing careless driving the wrong way down one-way streets and ignoring no entry signs.
Local community engagement and feedback in these areas demonstrates that most local residents are supportive and appreciative of better management of their streets, which is protecting them from
The
Is the Plan for Drivers actually a cheat’s charter?
Isaac Occhipintiinconsiderate and dangerous drivers.
The call for evidence also has a hidden proposal that would represent an unprecedented cash grab from local authority revenues. It asks if surpluses from parking and traffic management operations should be diverted straight to the Treasury. Currently these funds, where surpluses are made, are used to provide local residents with concessionary bus passes, repair roads and provide other local transport benefits – their loss would be a blow to local communities across the country.
Over a third of councils in England do not make any surplus from traffic enforcement and for a majority any surplus is relatively small once the cost of providing the service has been covered. Cherry-picking figures to suggest all councils are setting out with the intention to make money from traffic enforcement paints an inaccurate picture. It also neglects to remind us of the real purpose and benefits of good traffic management taking place every day in our communities, without which roads and parking places would be utter chaos.
The BPA knows from independent research that the public are very concerned about problem driving. These developments, along with other parts of the Plan for Drivers, do not support the majority who drive with consideration and follow the rules of the road, nor do they appear to be recognising the significant problems caused by nuisance motorists.
The BPA are calling on government to rethink the Plan for Drivers and the proposals that they are considering. We are in need of a cohesive and measured plan that truly supports the majority of compliant drivers, rather than effectively rewarding non-compliance. We need plans to tackle persistent evaders, tackle the issue of problematic parking around schools. We need government to work with the sector to ensure that the road network works as it should and for everyone. At the moment we are asking if the Plan for Drivers is actually a cheat’s charter which benefits inconsiderate drivers, because at the moment the real impact of the proposed measures will certainly not be good for the majority.
Isaac Occhipinti is head of external affairs at the British Parking Association
The BPA is a not-for-profit membership association which collaborates with its members and stakeholders so they can support their local communities by providing the parking services they need and improving compliance with parking rules and regulations.
www.britishparking.co.uk
Set sail with us on the River Thames for a night to remember!
Tuesday 11 June 2024
Gold sponsor: Organised by:Headline sponsor:
Join industry leaders along with Traffic & Parking professionals aboard The Golden Jubilee on June 11th for an exclusive networking experience like no other.
Book your ticket at: www.transportxtra.com/events
Sponsorship opportunities
Discover an array of sponsorship packages to elevate your presence at the British Parking Awards Social. Showcase your brand aboard the Golden Jubilee cruise boat, with prime visibility inside and out. Contact Jason on: 020 7091 7895 or email: jason@landor.co.uk for more details on how you can make a splash at this prestigious event
The National Blue Badge Day of Action is a critical initiative uniting all UK councils in a unified commitment to rigorously enforce the Blue Badge scheme. It is a day where participating councils intensify enforcement, increase public awareness, and educate communities on the correct usage of Blue Badges. This initiative is instrumental in protecting the rights of disabled motorists and ensuring reserved parking spaces are used properly, enhancing accessibility and independence for disabled individuals.
As we approach the third year of the event on Friday 24 May, I am pleased to report an increasing number of councils joining this vital cause. Last year, we saw participation from 82 councils and received notable commendations from Richard Holden MP, the then minister roads and local transport.
This collective effort not only underscores our dedication to uphold the Blue Badge scheme’s integrity but also significantly impacts national disability rights and accessibility.
Last year’s event was a remarkable success, with hundreds of officers mobilising across the UK to conduct Blue Badge inspections. In an extensive effort, approximately 50,000 vehicles were inspected, leading to the identification of hundreds of fraudulently used or misused Blue Badges.
This year, we aim to surpass these achievements by intensifying our efforts, inspecting an even greater number of vehicles and badges. Our goal is not just to enforce but to significantly enhance the efficacy of the Blue Badge scheme, ensuring it benefits those it’s intended for.
The participation of all local authorities in this day of action is not just valuable, it is vital. It embodies a commitment to equality, accessibility, and fairness within our communities. Together, let’s send a strong message that misuse of Blue Badges will not be tolerated, and that we stand united in our resolve to ensure justice and convenience for those who rely on these provisions the most.
We are immensely honoured that our event has the support of the British Parking Association (BPA), Disability Motoring UK (DMUK) and London Councils. This collaboration underscores our commitment to excellence and inclusivity in Blue Badge enforcement.
Should any councils require assistance in any facet of Blue Badge enforcement – be it strategising, deployment or prosecutions – I am readily available and always happy to help. So please do not hesitate to reach out to me for any support.
If you would like your council to be involved, then please contact me at your earliest opportunity confirming so. This will help me coordinate effectively and disseminate necessary information and resources for a successful event.
Together, we can work towards a more accessible and equitable community. One that champions the cause of disabled motorists and creating a more inclusive society.
Tom Gallagher is parking fraud and highways enforcement manager at the London Borough of Lambeth Email: TGallagher@lambeth.gov.uk
We plan to engage with media outlets to get broader exposure. Councils are encouraged to actively promote participation in the Blue Badge Day of Action through local and social media by reaching out to stakeholders and the community. This not only raises awareness but also celebrates our collective commitment to supporting disabled motorists. Please use this year’s logo in any social media posts and the following hashtag:
#NationalBlueBadgeDayofAction2024
Root of blaze was a diesel-powered vehicle, says fire service
A fire investigation into the blaze that broke out in a multi-storey car park at London Luton Airport was accidental, the fire service has confirmed.
The blaze broke out and rapidly escalated in Terminal Car Park 2 when about 1,300 vehicles were parked in the multi-storey. At its height, more than 100 firefighters tackled the fire, which started in the evening of 10 October 2023 and saw aircraft grounded until the following day.
The airport said about 70% of vehicles had since been removed from the car park, which is being demolished in preparation for a replacement.
Following the fire, a multiagency investigation took place between Bedfordshire Police and Bedfordshire Fire and Rescue Service, which has now been completed.
As a result of the investigation, all evidence points to the most probable cause being an electrical fault or component failure, which started in the engine bay of the vehicle whilst it was in motion.
The developing fire spread to
other components, and whilst the owner of the vehicle attempted to fight the fire, the vehicle became overrun with
flames and spread to other parked vehicles.
The vehicle involved was diesel-powered – it was not a
Police are investigating suspected thefts from vehicles caught up in the London Luton Airport car park fire.
A Bedfordshire Police spokesperson said: “We have been made aware of items being allegedly removed from the now disused multi-storey car park at London Luton
Airport which was affected by a fire in October last year.”
A London Luton Airport spokesman said any allegations of criminal activity were taken very seriously and were for police to investigate.
A man who was arrested by police after the blaze was released without charge.
Wiltshire Council is building a Solar Car Park (SCP) project at a leisure centre in Salisbury.
The SCP at the Five Rivers Health & Wellbeing Centre has been designed and is being funded by 3ti, which will also operate the installation.
The structure is to be built from Glulam, renewable, recyclable wood laminations bonded together to offer a natural alternative to steel or concrete. 3ti says Glulam has minimal environmental impact from its production, is highly repairable, and is an excellent biofuel at the end of its life, further minimising waste.
As part of the construction, 3ti has used Spirafix ground anchors to secure the SCP structure, without using conventional concrete bases or steel piles. This technique also achieves carbon savings, speeds up the installation process and can be recycled once the
mild hybrid, plug-in hybrid or electric vehicle.
Bedfordshire Fire and Rescue Service said: “When the fire service arrived on the night, crews were faced with a rapidly escalating fire and shortly after, declared a major incident. All those involved in the multiagency response worked incredibly hard to get the blaze under control and protect vital infrastructure including neighbouring car park and the Luton DART.”
A full incident report is expected to be published in summer 2024.
on both sides of the panel increasing total energy generation. The solar cells are embedded in a Glass-Glass composite protecting them from challenging environmental and mechanical stress, including snow and hailstorms, and are ammonia and salt mist resistant.
anchors reach the end of their lifecycle.
The solar installation at Five Rivers comprises three gullwing solar canopies covering 70 car park spaces, with a combined total capacity of c.220 kWp.
The leisure centre will use 100% of the solar generation on-site, which will contribute approximately 10% of overall electricity demand at the site, saving around £50,000 a year on electricity bills.
In its first year, the Solar Car
Park is expected to generate 186MWh of electricity, enough to drive 679,856 miles in a modern EV, saving 36 tonnes of carbon emissions – the equivalent of planting nearly 600 trees and powering 50 homes.
The canopies are fitted with transparent solar panels from German manufacturer Solarwatt. The panels offer long-term yields thanks to their bifacial technology, which means solar energy is captured
Philip McMullan, senior technical lead on major energy projects at Wiltshire Council, said: “We have invested heavily in sustainability to achieve our 2030 carbon neutral goals. The new solar installations at Five Rivers will help reduce our carbon footprint and support the local community with the transition to zero-emission motoring by strengthening the county’s EV charging infrastructure.”
In addition to ordering a solar car park, Five Rivers recently became the first leisure facility in the UK to install 3ti’s Papilio3 pop-up Solar Car Park and EV charging hub.
Nottingham’s Queen’s Medical Centre MSCP will cost £54.2m
The cost of a new 1,500-space car park at Nottingham’s Queen’s Medical Centre (QMC) will cost £8m more than expected. The cost of the project has increased to £54.2m, from £46.2m, as a result of inflation arising from the delayed construction timeline.
The seven-storey building forms part of a modernisation of the hospital. By the time the car park opens in 2027 it will be three years behind schedule
The 1,512-space car park will be built at the rear of the current Car Park 3 and on the site of Car Park 6, creating an overall increase of 362 spaces.
The business case for the project was discussed and approved at the Nottingham University Hospitals (NUH) NHS Trust board meeting last month. The board papers state the construction costs of the car park will be £22,400 per space. The board was told the cost rise was mainly a result of inflation arising from the delayed construction timeline.
Alison Wynne, director of strategy and transformation, said: “It is fees and VAT and the additional costs of things like site clearance and road access.”
Raising concern about additional fees during the meeting, Mark Chivers, nonexecutive director, said: “1,500 spaces at £22,000 per space is £33m. The total is
£54m, even with VAT and fees, there’s got to be a discrepancy between £33m and £54m. Forty per cent additional costs is very high.”
The redevelopment of the hospital, a project called Tomorrow’s NUH, seeks to reshape hospital services to address health inequalities and spark economic regeneration. The plans envisage maternity and neonatal services being merged at the QMC in a new women’s and children’s hospital.
The original business case was put together in 2021, but at the time the funding for Tomorrow’s NUH had not been confirmed In May 2023 the government said the Tomorrow’s NUH project would be delayed beyond the original 2030 target.
development zone so we can start the building. It is part of our plans for Tomorrow’s NUH.”
Even with the new multi-storey, it is estimated that a further 1,260 parking spaces will be required by 2031 to meet increased demand at the QMC.
The plans will now be passed to regional NHS England and the New Hospitals Programme.
The National Parking Platform sets a good example for the electric vehicle sector, writes Keith Brown
With the ascendancy of digital-only parking solutions, it’s becoming increasingly evident that the challenges that have long plagued the parking sector are largely similar to those currently faced by the electric vehicle (EV) industry. But, by connecting to the apps and payment methods already used by drivers, the National Parking Platform (NPP) may potentially hold the promise of revolutionising the way we approach both parking and EV charging in an ever more digital world.
The transition to digital solutions has led to considerable confusion among drivers concerning payment for parking and EV charging. Car parks, parking spaces and EV chargepoints across the country are managed by various different operators, each of whom uses its own means of charging for its services – more and more of which are digital.
According to a recent Autocar survey, there are currently up to 30 different parking apps in use across the UK. Likewise, EV drivers face a multitude of apps, kiosks, and other payment methods. It’s hardly surprising, then, that the fragmentation of these services, with too many online and mobile applications vying for drivers’ attention, is creating a disjointed experience for customers.
The NPP, however, represents a beacon of hope by providing a multi-vendor framework that aims to streamline operations and offer a consistent experience for drivers. Drivers who use one app in their usual car park are frustrated when they drive to the next city or county and find they have to download another. The NPP would solve this by letting customers use their preferred app, or integrated in-vehicle system, to find and pay for their parking at any participating location.
The NPP’s stated mission is to bring together parking operators of all sizes, along with the companies that help users pay for parking. And it’s a mission that could be extended to EV chargepoints as the adoption of electric vehicles becomes more widespread.
Consider the potential to integrate payment systems seamlessly into EV charging infrastructure within parking spaces, for instance. Not only will this simplify the payment process for EV owners but, by offering both parking and charging simultaneously, it will also optimise revenue generation opportunities for parking operators and charging service providers.
Perhaps most importantly, the NPP prioritises user experience and payment convenience. “Payment anxiety” is a recent phenomenon among EV drivers. Payments, accessibility, and roaming are all designed to help drivers, but paying for charging can still often be something of a challenge. A driver may have found the right chargepoint, in the right location, and at the right time for them but, without the right app, PIN or account card, they can find themselves unable to access it.
By offering intuitive interfaces and flexible payment options, NPP can help ensure a hassle-free experience for drivers. Enabling standardisation across EV charging infrastructure, in the same way the NPP aims to standardise parking, will be crucial for interoperability and consistency between chargepoint operators, and will further enhance convenience for EV drivers.
To this end, there’s potential for the NPP to align with policies around EV roaming, the ability to pay to charge an EV across multiple chargepoint networks using a single app or RFID card. The UK government’s Public Charge Point Regulations 2023, for example, state that chargepoint operators must offer roaming at all their public chargepoints by connecting to at least one thirdparty roaming provider, something the NPP, through its integration and interoperability, can help facilitate.
Enforcement of regulations is another vital aspect of the NPP that could be extended into EV charging. In the NPP, information
from all payment providers is consolidated into a single data stream which allows operators to enforce their respective conditions of use. Applying the same approach to data from a chargepoint operator’s payment providers and associated third parties will go a long way to promoting responsible use of EV charging infrastructure.
From a lack of consistency and interoperability to a need for greater regulatory compliance and enforcement, there are distinct similarities between the challenges faced by both the parking and the EV industries. The development of robust payment infrastructure within the NPP framework would, therefore, be highly advantageous for chargepoint operators and EV drivers.
Fortunately, the inclusion of EV charging is among the plans for the future development of the NPP, thereby offering the potential for a one-stop-shop for drivers to pay for parking, charging, and more, without the hassle of managing different apps and accounts each time. Achieving this will require collaboration between public entities, private sector stakeholders, and payment service providers, whose combined expertise and resources will help ensure the financial viability and scalability of the NPP as its scope extends beyond parking.
Ultimately, though, the success of the NPP hinges on putting
Pre-authorisation is a sensible approach for EV charging, says Paythru’s Keith Brown
Drivers of electric vehicles have long experienced concerns around battery range and the availability of chargepoints. Today, they face an additional uncertainty about how much they’ll pay each time they charge their vehicle. One particular area that is exacerbating this payment anxiety is a lack of consistency among chargepoint operators when it comes to pre-authorisation.
Pre-authorisation is the process where an amount of money is reserved against a driver’s debit or credit card, ostensibly to prove that the card is valid and ensure sufficient funds are available to be debited from it later. But different operators may reserve different amounts on drivers’ accounts, and delays in returning reserved funds can vary from one card issuer to another, leaving EV drivers facing often unpleasant surprises when they check their available bank balance or receive payment alerts from their mobile banking app. Indeed, drivers can confuse pre-authorisation for payment, and believe they have been charged twice.
While pre-authorisation is important to chargepoint operators, there’s clearly an argument to be made for a standardised process, such as incremental authorisation, in which the pre-authorised value is increased progressively, in line with power consumption, to help drivers avoid such surprises.
Pre-authorisation is nothing new. Many will have experienced it at selfservice fuel pumps and when booking hotels. It exists to protect merchants from fraud, such as non-payment following the delivery of a product or service. By “pre-authorising” and “holding” an amount on a customer’s credit or debit card, it confirms the card is valid and reserves funds to ensure the customer covers the cost of future spend.
The amount held is at the merchant’s discretion and, to minimise the risk to the merchant of non-payment, can often be a high enough value to cover the potential highest cost the customer may end up paying. This isn’t necessarily the case with chargepoint operators, however. They typically determine this amount based on the risk, taking into consideration factors such as the type of charger – whether it’s AC or DC, its location, and empirical evidence of past charges. But,
the driver first. By prioritising user experience, standardisation, convenience, and collaboration, the NPP has the potential to pave the way for a more efficient, frictionless, and sustainable future for parking and EV charging alike.
given the significant variation in average transaction values between high-powered destination-based DC chargers and 7kw AC streetchargers, for example, it simply wouldn’t be appropriate to pre-authorise a standard amount.
As a result, some chargepoint operators will pre-authorise as little as £1 per charge, while others will hold by up to as much as £75. The issue is that EV drivers are unlikely to know which value an operator will hold until it shows up on their bank statement as a “pending transaction” or as a payment alert.
The inconsistency around the amount charged is only part of the problem. Some operators will pre-authorise on every attempt to charge a vehicle and won’t use a previous pre-authorisation even though it still might be valid. Therefore, if a charger fails to start on request and the customer tries again, a second pre-authorisation amount will be held.
Matters are complicated further by the speed at which preauthorisation amounts are returned to the cardholder which, in some cases, can take many days. The issue here is that this is a back-office operation that relies on the payment provider and the card issuer. It’s important, then, to ensure that payment provider can release cardholders’ funds immediately.
Fortunately, following its creation by Visa in 2019, a new merchant category code for EV charging – MCC 5552 – requires payment providers to instruct the immediate release of pre-authorisation amounts to a customer’s account. And, perhaps more importantly, MCC 5552 will go a long way to overcoming the current disparity in pre-authorisation amounts and refund timescales by introducing incremental authorisation.
A pragmatic solution – given the huge variability in charging offers and costs – could be incremental authorisation, which dynamically secures funds throughout a charging session. Beginning with a lower initial pre-authorisation amount, the process progressively increases that amount in line with power consumption, thereby preventing large reservations against the driver’s account at the end of the session.
Based on average transaction values of between £16 and £19, preauthorisation might start at £1, to check the validity of the driver’s card and ensure the charger can be started, then increase to £15, and then again to £30, to limit the risk for the chargepoint operator.
In the event of a short stop, for example, where the final cost to charge was around £15, there’d be no risk of a pre-authorisation reserve of £75.
Chargepoint operators would benefit, too, as drivers become more comfortable with lower – and then incremental authorisation amounts – and, in turn, become more loyal to those operators that they know they can trust not to place large and unpredictable charges on their card.
VW has been working with Tesco and Pod Point to provide EV charging infrastructure
The RAC and Zapmap reveal that one-in-10 UK supermarkets now offer EV charging
Supermarkets across the UK added electric vehicle (EV) chargers to over 600 new locations during 2023, meaning drivers can now charge up at more than one-in-10 of their stores. Analysis by the RAC and Zapmap reveals that the total number of supermarkets offering EV chargepoints rose by 59% last year –from 1,015 stores with charging facilities in 2022 to 1,616 in 2023. This equates to 13% of all 12,839 UK supermarkets, including those that do not have parking facilities.
Charger installations also increased by two-thirds (69%) with stores adding 1,195 new charging devices last year. This brought the total number from 1,721 in 2022 up to 2,916 by the end of 2023.
Within this total, 1,107 units installed were rapid or ultrarapid, marking a huge increase of 145% from the 451 rapid chargers installed in 2022. Fortunately for electric car drivers, this means that over half (55%) of all supermarket EV locations now offer higher-powered charging capabilities.
By the end of last year, 10% of all rapid and ultra-rapid chargers in the UK were based at supermarket locations – 1,107 units out of 10,967 across the country.
In the supermarket charging league, Sainsbury’s has seen the biggest year-on-year growth thanks to the launch of its ultrarapid network Smart Charge. After installing just 53 units in 2022, the retailer nearly tripled its total device numbers in 2023 by adding 104 new chargers to its stores. Sainsbury’s had the highest average number of rapid chargers per location, at four units per store across the 22 shops that provided high-powered charging.
Meanwhile, Tesco is leading the way as the biggest overall supermarket charging network. With 1,305 devices now in place across 4,859 shops, the retailer added 497 chargers to its stores last year. Consequently, Tesco has nearly 900 more devices than its nearest EV charging rival Morrisons, which has 413 chargers.
Although the number of Tesco sites with charging facilities increased by 50% year-on-year, rising from 412 stores to 617 at the end of 2023, only 10% (132) of its 1,305 devices were rapid or ultra-rapid. Just 12% of Tesco supermarkets have the capability to charge an EV at all, due to the size of its portfolio which includes many convenience stores without parking.
The number of free EV charging points at Tesco locations has declined, with Pod Point’s 7kW and 22kW chargers at Tesco sites beginning to incur a cost as of November 2022.
Both Morrisons and Lidl take the top two consecutive spots for both the greatest proportion of chargers per estate and number of rapid chargers installed. Morrisons had 413 devices at 69% (344) of its 497 stores, 99% (342) of which had rapid devices. And this is only set to increase after ultra-rapid provider Motor Fuel Group acquired hundreds of the grocer’s forecourts in January.
Lidl also has 346 chargers at nearly a third (30%) of its 960 stores in 2023, with 91% (258) of the 285 EV locations offering rapid charging facilities.
Conversely, the data shows ASDA uninstalled a large proportion of its devices after its contract ended with bp pulse, dropping by 72% from 165 in 2022 to just 46 in place through 2023. This represents a drop of 81% from the 246 devices it had installed in 2021 and leaves it with facilities at just 22 stores, only 2% of its entire estate.
The RAC has long argued that more rapid and ultra-rapid chargers are needed nationally, as high-powered units enable drivers to make journeys beyond the range of their vehicles in the most time-efficient way. The motoring organisation’s EV spokesperson, Simon Williams, said: “Concerns about the lack of public chargepoints are one of the biggest reasons why drivers aren’t choosing to go electric when buying their next car, with six-in-10 telling us this. It’s very encouraging to see supermarkets doing their best to allay these fears by ramping up EV charging facilities across a greater proportion of their estates.
“The data also shows a surge of investment in the very fastest chargers. These rapid and ultra-rapid units are the closest drivers can get to filling up with fuel because they offer the fastest charging speeds, helping to reduce queues so motorists can
resume their journeys as quickly as possible.
“As the supermarkets currently dominate UK fuel sales, it makes sense for them to try to retain as much of that market as they can by catering to the needs of all EV drivers looking to recharge as quickly as possible. It’s also great to see them bringing rapid charging to more urban areas, as this complements the obvious and much-needed focus on motorway service areas.”
Supermarkets are one of the most popular charging locations for EV drivers across the UK, as Zapmap’s latest EV charging survey demonstrates. Although motorway services and EV charging hubs displaced supermarket car parks as the most popular UK charging locations in 2023, supermarkets remain in the top three of the most regularly used location types, with more than 35% of respondents indicating they regularly stop at supermarkets to charge, as they are part of a regular routine whereby drivers can tie charging into their weekly shop.
Melanie Shufflebotham, chief operating officer of Zapmap, said: “With around 3,000 chargepoints now in place at supermarkets across the UK, it’s really positive to see this sustained growth at such popular charging locations for EV drivers. Not only did the total number of supermarkets offering EV charge points rise by almost 60% last year, but we also saw significant growth in the
number of those all-important rapid and ultra-rapid chargers.
“These new chargers, especially the high-powered chargepoints, will provide any drivers who are not able to charge at home with much-needed local options – allowing them to charge while doing the weekly shop – as well as serving drivers on longer journeys and providing facilities for a quick break or a snack. With the launch of Sainsbury’s new network Smart Charge, and Motor Fuel Group’s acquisition of hundreds of Morrison’s sites across the country, it’s great to see this trend continuing in 2024.
“Our focus at Zapmap continues to be on providing electric car drivers with the information they need to find reliable, available charging while they’re out and about. We’re looking forward to putting many more supermarket locations on the map as they are rolled out in 2024.”
In 2022, the RAC joined forces with Zapmap to help EV drivers that run out of charge, with the Zapmap app distributed to the RAC’s 1,600 patrols via all their devices. This enables them to locate the nearest suitable public chargepoint for RAC members to get their EV recharged and back on the road again as quickly as possible. When the vehicle cannot be fixed at the roadside, the RAC’s All-Wheels-Up recovery system can safely tow brokendown EVs with all four wheels off the ground.
UK government cash will finance local electric vehicle infrastructure projects
Over 40 local authorities across England will receive funding to provide electric vehicle charging infrastructure for their communities. The funding forms part of the £381m Local Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (LEVI) fund to councils seeking to install chargepoints in their areas.
Following the approval of the first five local authority applications in February 2024, payments to 44 additional councils have now been approved for payment for electric vehicle (EV) chargepoints in key areas, worth over £185m.
In addition, local authorities placed into the first tranche of the LEVI fund, will be asked to submit applications. The tranche 2 application window opened on 2 April 2024 and closes on 19 July 2024.
Technology and decarbonisation minister Anthony Browne said: “This government has a plan to help speed up the installation of EV chargepoints, which we’re getting on and delivering. This dedicated funding to local councils is part of our plan to ensure people can switch from a petrol or diesel car to an EV when they choose to do so.”
Minister for affordability and skills Amanda Solloway added: “This funding will make it easier for people to switch to electric vehicles. By bolstering our public charging network, we are not only making electric vehicles more accessible, but also driving the transition towards a cleaner,
street parking.
It is hoped the funding will drive down the cost of EV ownership by providing up to 75% off the cost of purchasing and installing a chargepoint, and applicants must also have permission from their council to install a cross-pavement charging solution. Applications can be made online.
greener future.”
The Department for Transport (DfT) and the LEVI Support Body (Energy Saving Trust, PA Consulting and Cenex) are providing ongoing support and guidance to all LEVI fund applicants.
Chris Rimmer, infrastructure strategy lead at Cenex said: “With tranche 2 opening straight after Easter, we are looking forward to working with local authorities to support and ensure the next wave of applications learns from tranche 1 to achieve an excellent standard.”
Hugh Pickerill, programme manager for EV grants and infrastructure at Energy Saving Trust, said: “It’s great to see this latest round of funding allocated to what will be effective projects to improve EV charging infrastructure across the country. Having begun engagement with the local authorities applying to the next round of applications,
we’re keen to start working more closely with them to assist in the development of their applications and to achieve excellence in project standard.”
The LEVI support body is also running LEVI application masterclasses, intended to educate and equip local authority officers with the expertise to expertly complete each section of the LEVI application. These sessions are open to all local authority officers and include input from the DfT, an opportunity to hear about LEVI scheme updates, general themes from earlier applications and the opportunity to feedback and ask questions.
The government will help households without driveways or dedicated parking spaces to access the electric vehicle chargepoint grant. The £350 grant will be widened to those who own or rent and have access to adequate
The UK government has launched the Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Forum to encourage collaboration between the public sector and industry. The forum, chaired by ministers and AA president, Edmund King OBE, will discuss how best to tackle barriers and accelerate the delivery of charging infrastructure.
Wider membership will be set out in due course, says the Department for Transport.
Edmund King said: “AA surveys show that one of the main reasons why many drivers are hesitant towards switching to EVs is the perception that there are not enough charging points. To give confidence
to drivers now and for the future, we need to overcome these barriers, which will help unlock cleaner, greener motoring for all.
“Extending grants to those without offstreet parking is a step in the right direction. I’m proud to be co-chairing the Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Forum as I’m committed to helping consumers transition to zero emission vehicles and an efficient, affordable, accessible charging infrastructure is key to that.
“I’m also confident that the UK’s brilliant charging and automotive industry can deliver and play a key part in the UK’s net zero ambitions.”
To help councils deliver EV infrastructure, a governmentfunded electric vehicle infrastructure training course will be launched in full following a successful trial. The course is open to all local authorities and will cover key topics from technology to procurement.
LEVI funding has helped to place almost 150 dedicated EV officers in councils to support chargepoint planning and delivery.
Applications are for cohorts to sign up to the course and start learning as of March or April 2024. Additional courses are planned for September 2024 and January 2025.
The UK government’s Office for Zero Emission Vehicles (OZEV) is funding one place per tier-one local authority or London borough. Additional places are available for a fee.
The course has been developed by the LEVI Support Body, as part of the LEVI fund. It aims to help local authority officers to rapidly upskill to develop and deliver tailored local EV infrastructure.
Topics covered include electric vehicle infrastructure technology, users and stakeholders, EVI strategy, EVI procurement, deployment and operations.
Polestar Charge offers access to over 650,000 chargers across Europe
Electric vehicle maker Polestar and Plugsurfing are launching a new public charging service in Europe called Polestar Charge.
With over 650,000 compatible electric car charging points, Polestar Charge gives Polestar drivers access to charging networks in Europe, including the Tesla Supercharger network, IONITY, Recharge, Total, Fastned and Allego in one charging service.
Polestar Charge gives EV drivers a way to find, access and pay for public charging –reducing the need for additional subscriptions, apps, authentication methods or charging tags.
Polestar says the charging service combines with the EV optimisation within Google Maps, which helps plan optimal charging stops along a route and acti-
vates a battery pre-conditioning function to help achieve the fastest possible charging speeds.
An optional monthly subscription fee of £11.99 enables a discounted rate of 30% on more than 28,000 charging points for Polestar Charge users.
The Polestar Charge subscription service is available to Polestar drivers in the following markets in Europe: Austria,
Connected Kerb plans to more than double the number of electric vehicle (EV) chargers in North East England via a partnership with South Tyneside Council.
The company will deploy up to 2,100 new chargepoints, making it the single largest installation of public EV chargepoints in the North of England to date. The move supports South Tyneside Council’s efforts to reduce carbon emissions and become a carbon neutral authority by 2030.
The North East hosts just 2.7% of the UK’s public charging infrastructure, despite being home to almost 4% of the UK’s population. This equates to just 58 chargers per 100,000 people, compared to 193 in London, demonstrating the urgent need to level-up access to chargepoints across the region.
Connected Kerb says its new deployment represents a 126% boost to the North East’s existing network. The company also wants to improve network reliability. The original network reported operational uptime of 56% while the new network will demand 99%.
Chris Pateman-Jones, chief executive of Connected Kerb, said: “With millions of pounds available to local authorities from government initiatives such as the LEVI Fund, councils are in the driving seat to take decisive, meaningful action to deploy chargepoints where their communities need them the most. Our partnership with South Tyneside Council is yet another example of bold ambition turned into action.”
The first phase of the installation will take place over at least 41 sites, including community centres, sports facilities and libraries such as Monkton Stadium, The Word and The Customs House Mill Dam car park. As part of the roll-out, 43 existing chargepoints will be upgraded, increasing reliability and network uptime for users.
Cllr Ernest Gibson, lead member for neighbourhoods and climate change at South Tyneside Council said: “The entire country is undergoing a massive shift in ways in which we travel, and we are committed to ensuring that South Tyneside plays its part.”
Belgium, Denmark, Germany, Spain, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Finland, Sweden, Switzerland and the UK.
Polestar is the first OEM in Europe to integrate the Tesla Supercharger network in its own charging app, Polestar Charge, offering customers access to Tesla’s charging expertise.
Since 2020, Polestar 2 drivers in Europe have had access to public chargers within the Plugsurfing network, and special discounts on pricing.
The new Polestar Charge service comes ahead of first European customer deliveries of Polestar 3 and Polestar 4, two new electric sport utility vehicles (SUVs).
Thomas Ingenlath, chief executive of Polestar, said: “We know an important part of owning an electric car is being able to charge conveniently. With access to the largest networks in Europe and smart integration in Google Maps, we have made it easy for Polestar drivers to enjoy life with an electric car rather than worrying about where they will find their next charge.”
In 2023 Polestar adopted Tesla’s NACS charging standard for customers in North America. Simultaneously, in China, Polestar owners are now able to access the Tesla Supercharger network in over 200 cities, further boosting charger access.
Up to 500 electric vehicle (EV) charging points are to be installed across Solihull as part of a new contract to supercharge the West Midlands borough’s EV charging network.
Following a competitive tender process, Solihull Council has awarded a contract to pan-European chargepoint operator Qwello to install new chargepoints within council car parks and on-street destinations by 2026.
Phase one of the roll-out will see over 150 charging points installed across nine locations, with the first sites anticipated to go live during the summer.
As part of the contract, ultra-rapid charging points will also be provided by InstaVolt, with 16 due to be installed in the first phase alone.
The scheme supports the council’s electric vehicle strategy which seeks to encourage wider adoption of electric vehicles and tackle barriers to ownership by increasing accessibility to EV infrastructure, whilst contributing to the council’s targets for reducing carbon emissions and tackling climate change.
Roll-out of the charging points is supported by a £800,000 grant from the Local Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (LEVI) pilot project, awarded by the Office for Zero Emission Vehicles (OZEV) and Department for Transport. Installation, operation and maintenance of the chargers will come at zero cost to the council.
Cllr Andy Mackiewicz, cabinet portfolio holder for climate change and planning, said: “This fantastic news will more than double Solihull’s existing EV charging capacity. Road traffic currently accounts for 41% of the borough’s overall greenhouse gas emissions, so making the switch to electric vehicles is going to be an essential part of our own efforts to tackle climate change.
“By facilitating the transition away from fossil-fuelled vehicles we have an exciting opportunity to drive improvements in air quality that will benefit the health and economy of Solihull. This contract drives our ambition for Solihull to be at the forefront of electrification both regionally and nationally.”
Calls for all public electric vehicle (EV) charging sites to have mandatory accessible chargers are growing louder with Baroness Jenny Randerson backing the likes of ChargeSafe, Motability Foundation and RECHARGE UK in calling for government action.
Baroness Randerson has highlighted the importance of providing accessible electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure after attending a meeting of the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Electric Vehicles, where MPs and attendees heard from representatives from Motability Foundation, Motability Operations and ChargeSafe. They spoke about providing an inclusive experience for people with accessibility needs, and the mandating of BSI PAS 1899:2022, a British specification giving designers, procurers, and installers essential specifications on how to provide accessible public chargepoints for electric vehicles, which was co-sponsored by the Motability Foundation and UK government.
British specifications are voluntary unless referred to in legislation, so at present chargepoint providers, land owners and land administrators are under no legal obligation to conform with PAS 1899.
Baroness Randerson, who has submitted written questions to the Lords on accessibility, said: “We live in an ageing society and around one in five adults have a disability. It’s essential that charging point infrastructure is provided with all drivers in mind. The UK cannot transition to EVs unless we can all use them. The industry needs to see the bigger picture –everyone is a potential customer.
“It surprises me how little thought has been given to making EV charging as easy as possible. It costs as much to install a charger in an unsuitable location as it does to make it properly accessible. I am not just talking about wheelchair users but also about the weight of the equipment, for instance. Putting EV chargers at the far corner of a large car park deters women from using the equipment after dark.”
Baroness Randerson, who is an electric vehicle driver herself, has called for urgent government action to address the issue. She said: “We urgently need a government-led strategic plan with incentives to encourage good practice and to ensure that EV charging ‘deserts’ get sufficient investment to encourage people to buy EVs wherever they live. It’s a chicken and egg thing. I would back mandating PAS 1899:2022, because the current guidance is ineffective. Once we have lots of examples of good practice it will be easier for others to understand and copy it.”
The PAS 1899 specification is designed to enable more accessible EV chargepoints and covers the physical aspects of the environment surrounding fixed chargepoints (e.g. kerb height, ground type); the location, placement and spacing of charge points within the streetscape and public realm; the information, signals and indicators to be provided to users; and the factors to be taken into account in the design and specification of accessible chargepoints (e.g. height of chargepoint, cables and cable management systems, bollard
Transport campaigner Baroness Randerson supports call for chargepoint providers and land owners to be placed under legal obligation to conform with PAS 1899 standard
spacing, colours used on screens, weight and force and ease of use of the equipment).
Catherine Marris, head of innovation at the Motability Foundation, said: “I’m very grateful to the APPG on EVs for inviting me to present on the work we are doing to ensure public charging is accessible to all. We estimate there will be 2.7 million disabled drivers in the UK by 2035, and up to half will be at least partially reliant on public chargepoints. Therefore, it’s vitally important that public charging is accessible, otherwise there is a real risk that disabled people are left behind by the transition to EV. The PAS 1899 standard that we co-sponsored provides a clear specification on how to make chargepoints accessible, and the industry response to it has been encouraging so far. However, with infrastructure being delivered at great pace we believe that the standard should be mandated with a phased approach to ensure public chargepoints are accessible to all.”
Kate Tyrrell, chief executive and co-founder of ChargeSafe, said: “It is critical that we recognise the reality of challenges presented when it comes to the delivery of safe and accessible charging infrastructure. To ignore inclusive design now will present unnecessary challenges to millions of people in the future who will come to depend on public chargers. In our experience, developers continue to ignore their obligation to produce accessible charging conditions. Whilst the BSI PAS 1899 sets out clear guidelines to achieve accessible standards, the implication that it is an advisory does not go far enough, which is why mandatory standards must now be introduced and ensure nobody is left behind in the transition to electric transport.”
RECHARGE UK has called for all public electric vehicle (EV) charging sites to have accessible charging mandated. The group, which is the EV arm of the REA (Association for Renewable Energy and Clean Technology), says that mandating accessibility requirements for public electric vehicle chargepoints will ensure wheelchair users always have equal access to charge their vehicle.
Matthew Adams, transport policy manager for the REA, said: “Now is the opportunity to safeguard the disabled, elderly and vulnerable and ensure our charging sites are accessible for all and safe to use. This is a once in several generations’ opportunity and at the moment we are wasting it. Petrol forecourts have never been accessible, but charging sites, particularly as most are unmanned, need to be.
“Mandating accessibility requirements through a phased approach could transform charging sites up and down the country at a speed that is manageable for all concerned and would give increasingly greater accessibility to wheelchair users across the country as more of them begin to adopt EVs. As the secretariat for the EV APPG, it is our pleasure and privilege to continue to provide educational sessions to politicians to ensure they are aware of a number of important issues from across the EV sector.”
Baroness Randerson is a Welsh Liberal Democrat member of the House of Lords. She is a former junior minister in the Wales Office serving in the Cameron–Clegg coalition. The Baroness is active across a number of Lords committees covering transport safety, logistics, waterways, self-driving cars and women in transport.
A next-generation electric wheelchair accessible vehicle (eWAV) concept has been unveiled by Motability Operations, the organisation that delivers the Motability Scheme to disabled people across the UK. Designed and engineered by CALLUM, eVITA addresses the needs of passenger WAV users in the transition to small and medium electric vehicles.
The eVITA concept has been developed using inclusive design principles with input from Motability Scheme customers throughout.
Through research clinics, Motability Scheme customers provided valuable insight into the common painpoints and priorities for WAV users when on the road. Customers were insistent that the solution should be flexible and address their access needs without compromising design form.
In many EVs, the floormounted battery reduces internal height and space within the cabin and also limits the available payload. Without a solution, this leads to customers in a wheelchair having to opt for larger vehicles than they need when switching to electric.
With the eVITA, the CALLUM engineering team repackaged the EV battery, rearranging the internal components to reduce its overall height. The eVITA accommodates access require ments and provides appropriate headroom for wheelchair users
An electric vehicle infrastructure expert is warning that the different ways in which accessibility is being measured and assessed is leading to “confusion and disappointment” within the industry and amongst drivers.
Stuart Douglas, managing director of PoGo Charge, also warns that companies should stop using accessibility for ‘point scoring’ over their competitors, and bring greater transparency and honesty to the conversation to protect the reputation of the infrastructure providers. “Accessibility is something to be delivered for the many, not the few,” Douglas says, “but is rapidly becoming the new flagpole around which some businesses within our sector are keen to pin their colours,” he explains.
Douglas believes that accessibility should be rooted in delivering an exceptional customer experience that everyone, regardless of their individual needs, can enjoy. He says: “While to some, accessibility is seen only through the comparatively narrow lens of a Blue Badge, I think it is much bigger than that. It shouldn’t be about paying lip service to best practice or ticking a box for
regulatory compliance to a specific guideline or Act, simply to put a logo on a website. Of course, charging bays need to be physically accessible, and all drivers should be given more space where the environment and local conditions allow. But to my thinking, accessibility should not be limited to the physical space. It’s also about choosing the most accessible technology, the right equipment, and the right payment methods so that no-one is excluded.”
Douglas says that there needs to be much greater understanding of the guidelines and what is and isn’t possible. “While the desire to create fully accessible spaces is always there, it is not always within the gift of the chargepoint operators to achieve it,” he says.
“Not every site allows for full accessibility, perhaps because of existing bollards or kerb structures, for example, but what we should all promise is to be informed by guidance from PAS 1899:2022 and ChargeSafe, to incorporate their requirements into the design areas that are within our control. In doing so, our industry can make the charging experience better, safer, and more enjoyable for all.”
entering via the rear split tailgate. With a wheelbase of 2,980mm, the eVITA measures 4,520mm in length, 1,908mm in width and 1,800mm in height, creating a more compact footprint than is currently available.
Motability Operations is supporting its 750,000 customers in the transition to EVs by highlighting challenges and finding solutions. It currently has over 34,000 WAVs on the road, and receives around 4,000 applications each year for small and
to collaborate with the automotive industry to ensure inclusive design principles are considered throughout development, so that wheelchair users are not left behind. It will utilise eVITA to demonstrate what is possible.
“The transition to electric simply won’t work unless it’s accessible for all,” said Andrew Miller, chief executive of Motability Operations. “We have the largest fleet in the UK and three quarters of a million disabled customers who rely on their vehicles for their independence.
“Our customers aren’t the typical early EV adopters, they’re more representative of the wider population, and we know from first-hand insight what the challenges of having an EV will be for everyone.
“Without solutions and an equitable switch to electric, thousands of people could be left behind. This is most pressing for our customers who use wheelchair accessible vehicles as they don’t have an obvious or
Hosted by the British Parking Association
Co-located with
Hertfordshire County Council hosts trials of AI-driven system
A robot which employs artificial intelligence (AI) to identify potential potholes is to be tested on public roads in Hertfordshire.
The Autonomous Road Repair System (ARRES) robot uses imaging technology to identify cracks or holes and fills them to stop surface water getting in.
The ARRES PREVENT robot characterises cracks and potholes and other defects in the road using artificial intelligence.
Tech firm Robotiz3d and the University of Liverpool developed the robot in partnership with Hertfordshire County Council.
Innovate UK has provided the majority of the funding for the project alongside other investors at different stages since 2020.
The system’s developers believe ARRES PREVENT has the potential to save time and money as well as reducing the disruption potholes cause to road users.
The prototype vehicle successfully completed its first live trial in Potters Bar, Hertfordshire
where cracks were filled to prevent potholes forming.
The next step will be further trials to refine the vehicle ahead of full production of the ARRES PREVENT robot alongside work to develop a larger version of the machine capable of fixing a wider range of defects.
Cllr Reena Ranger, deputy executive member for highways at Hertfordshire County Council, said: “The test was another step in the right direction towards solving the pothole problem this country faces. After another wet
A robotic dog is being employed by National Highways as part of pioneering survey work that could reduce the frequency of physical walkover surveys by inspectors and the need for costly and disruptive traffic management.
Spot, Boston Dynamics’ autonomous robot dog, is being trialled by National Highways, BAM Ritchies and AECOM as part of geotechnical surveys across a number of locations in the South West.
To inform forthcoming operational work, the robotic dog’s-eye view is being employed to capture data remotely in difficult-to-reach locations and across various terrains alongside the motorway and major A road network. These accessconstrained sites include steep-sided embankments and natural slopes, slopes beneath tree canopies or otherwise obscured by vegetation, culverts, and under bridges and
other structures.
The use of an autonomous survey platform provides a safer and cost-effective option where inaccessible areas present difficulties and challenges to geotechnical inspectors.
National Highways, AECOM and BAM Ritchies, the ground engineering specialists of BAM UK and Ireland, are working together to bring this innovation into their working practices.
The project team is following standards set out in the Design Manual for Roads and Bridges.
Spot was put through its paces by the AECOM and BAM teams at National Highways’ Development Centre at Moreton-in-Marsh last summer, where the robot’s capabilities were tested over a number of highways settings, across differing ground conditions and on earthworks of various gradients, heights and materials.
National Highways is expecting the remote technology to provide a higher level of detail and is
winter, we know we’re likely to see an increase in potholes forming as the road surface recovers from water getting into cracks.
“That’s why we’ve worked hard to fix over 40,000 potholes this year through the trial of new techniques and using this cutting-edge technology we could potentially prevent the potholes forming in the first place. We’re committed to maintaining our road network so that it remains one of the best in the country –we’re excited for the time we can welcome PREVENT
officially to our team.”
Sebastiano Fichera, cofounder and technical director from Robotiz3d said: “Our mission is to help build a safe and sustainable road infrastructure through intelligent and automated maintenance and repair.
“ARRES PREVENT is designed to autonomously perform crack sealing tasks by combining the groundbreaking features of ARRES EYE, our cutting-edge AI-powered road survey solution with state-of-theart robotics and unmanned mobility, to proactively reduce the number of potholes.”
The system has been supported by the Department for Transport. Technology and decarbonisation minister, Anthony Browne, said: “This innovative technology has the potential to transform how we perform road maintenance and enhance the driver experience across Hertfordshire and beyond.
“It is said a stitch in time saves nine, and that prevention is better than cure – and likewise stopping cracks from growing into potholes could save a lot of future maintenance work.”
undertaking live trials with the robotic device in the South West to explore and determine its capabilities. The four-legged robot has been employed in its first live trial alongside the M5 in Somerset, using cameras and a Leica lidar tracker.
Guy Swains, engineering manager within National Highways’ South West Geotechnical team, said: “The initial proof of concept testing has been encouraging and we’re now live trialling the robotic tool with a view to utilising it via our contractors in future survey work, particularly
in locations which present challenges for our traditional methods. Our structures team are currently working on renewing certain elements of the St Georges railway bridge between junctions 20 and 21 of the M5, and identified a number of geotechnical defects in the ground surface.
“The data from the trials will also be captured and analysed and dependent on results, hopefully we’ll be able to measure an improvement in safety methods and efficiencies and employ the technology in our future work.”
• MTO site surveys and digi琀sing.
• On street TRO signs and lines: legality and condi琀on surveys (sample surveys also available).
• GIS mapping of TRO surveys, produc琀on of digital maps and TRO management for Order wri琀ng, upda琀ng and consolida琀on.
• Data extrac琀on and conversion of text based schedules to digi琀sed map based solu琀ons.
• Length of stay, usage, and occupancy parking surveys, both on and o昀 street.
• Compliance surveys and data analysis.
• Surveying and mapping of infrastructure assets.
Contact:
Consultancy services
• Financial appraisal and e ciency reviews of parking service provision.
• Collabora琀ve working – joint no琀ce processing and shared enforcement.
• On and O昀 street tra c regula琀on order wri琀ng.
• DPE and CPE feasibility studies and implementa琀on.
• Tari昀 reviews.
• DPE/CPE services speci昀ca琀on wri琀ng and tender evalua琀on.
Peter Lowe B.Eng., C.Eng., M.I.C.E., FBPA
Tel: 01492585055
RTA Associates Ltd
www.rtaassociates.co.uk
