Parking Review Issue 344: December 2020

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December 2020 | #344

www.parkingreview.co.uk

POWER PLAYER Gridserve’s Toddington Harper unveils the Electric Forecourt PA R K I N G • T R A F F I C • K E R B S I D E

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WELCOME DECEMBER 2020 | #344

A Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year from the Parking Review team

Some light on the horizon

D

ecember brings to an end what has been a genuinely scary year. The coronavirus pandemic has played havoc on a global scale. Lives have been lost, livelihoods threatened and the fabric of society stretched to breaking point. Yet there has also been much to applaud, with individuals, communities and the medical world showing great resilience, courage and ingenuity over the past year. As the disaster area that was 2020 disappears into our collective rearview mirror, we can genuinely look ahead with cautious optimism. The development of a number of viable COVID-19 vaccines offers the prospect of the gradual return to something akin to normality at some point next year.

However, as the vaccination programme will take time to take effect, the need to be socially distanced will remain the norm for some months to come. That means it is likely we will continue to use video conferencing technologies to stay connected in both our personal and professional lives. So keep an eye out for a new programme of virtual events from the Landor LINKS team on a wide range of traffic, parking and active travel themes.

Devising conferences means thinking about the future. So as 2020 fades, let’s focus further down the road, where the date 2030 has been illuminated. On 18 November, the Prime Minister confirmed that the UK will end the sale of new petrol and diesel vehicles by 2030, ten years earlier than planned.

Our shared highway will pass through what promises to be a decade of dramatic change in the world of motoring as the internal combustion engine (ICE) passes into history.

The end of the ICE age and transition into the era of the electric vehicle (EV) will have profound consequences for the way we live, work and travel. The act of plugging in and charging up a car will become the norm for motorists. Car parks and kerbsides will evolve into places in which we top-up our electric vehicles for daily use, while a new generation of electrified service areas will emerge for EV owners making long journeys. New networks of chargepoints will be provided and maintained by commercial providers. It is clear that topping up an EV will not be a free activity: charging for re-charging will be the norm. It is thus significant that the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) is already looking at EV charging as a commercial activity.

There will, it seems, be plenty to keep the Parking Review team busy in the New Year and throughout the Twenties. That’s all to come. In the meantime, have a lovely Christmas! #StaySafe Mark Moran Editor

Parking Review online: www.parkingreview.co.uk COVER IMAGE: TODDINGTON HARPER, FOUNDER, GRIDSERVE

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CONTENTS

30 31 32 36 40 44 51 52

Counting the costs of charging Parking is a key revenue stream for local authorities, but it also costs a lot to manage and enforce properly, writes John Siraut

Councils on the brink The County Councils Network warns that local authorities risk insolvency unless they make big cuts in local services

Beating the Blue Badge cheats Prosecutions are at an all-time high, yet the disabled parking scheme is still not being enforced properly, argues Paul Slowey

Paying it forward PayByPhone’s Adam Dolphin talks about how the parking sector has responded to the pandemic and the climate crisis

Driven by information In-vehicle telematics and apps will transform how we travel, predicts Andy Graham in a report for the RAC Foundation

Filling up on sunshine Gridserve plans to support electric motoring by creating a network of 100 Electric Forecourt facilities across the UK

Liverpool’s phoenix car park A first look at the new Kings Dock multi-storey which replaces the Liverpool Echo Arena car park that was destroyed by fire

The parking pin-ups Britain’s self-proclaimed ‘dullest man’ and a popstar celebrate the architecture of car parks through the art of photography JONATHAN TAYLOR, CLOUD 9 PHOTOGRAPHY

Editorial Managing editor: Mark Moran Tel: 020 7091 7871 mark.moran@landor.co.uk Deputy editor: Deniz Huseyin Tel: 020 7091 7872 deniz.huseyin@landor.co.uk Editorial director: Peter Stonham

Production and design production@landor.co.uk Advertising, sponsorship, marketing and exhibition packages Jason Conboy Tel: 020 7091 7895 jason@landor.co.uk Darryl Murdoch Tel: 020 7091 7891 darryl@landor.co.uk

Subscriptions Christina Pierre Tel: 020 7091 7959 subs@landor.co.uk Accounts Irina Cocks Tel: 020 7091 7854 irina.cocks@landor.co.uk Business manager Rod Fletcher Tel: 0191 280 1410

Parking Review was launched in 1989 and is published twelve times a year. It is the only independent magazine dedicated to the UK parking sector.

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The ICE age is ending

A Nissan LEAF sporting the new green plate

UK government announces sale of new petrol and diesel cars will cease by 2030

T

he UK government has announced the end of sale of new internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles in the UK by 2030, bringing forward a previous commitment to do this by five years. The Prime Minister Boris Johnson emphasised the importance of electric vehicles when announcing his 10-point plan for a “green industrial revolution” on 18 November.

Announcing his plan, Johnson said: “Our green industrial revolution will be powered by the wind turbines of Scotland and the North East, propelled by the electric vehicles made in the Midlands and advanced by the latest technologies developed in Wales, so we can look ahead to a more prosperous, greener future.”

Following consultation with stakeholders, industry and the public, there will two-step approach to phasing out ICE vehicles: • Step 1 will see the phase-out date for the sale of new petrol and diesel cars and vans brought forward to 2030 • Step 2 will see all new cars and vans fully zero emission at the tailpipe from 2035.

Between 2030 and 2035, new cars and vans can only be sold if they have the capability to drive a significant distance with zero emissions (for example, plug-in hybrids or full hybrids).

The government said the move will be underpinned by over £1.8bn to support greater uptake of zero emission vehicles for greener car journeys. Measures announced include more chargepoints to build on an infrastructure network alongside innovation for new clean technologies. Some £1.3bn will be committed to accelerating the roll-out of chargepoints in homes and streets across the UK, and on motorways across England.

There will be grants for homeowners, businesses and local authorities to install chargepoints, and is also supporting the deployment of rapid chargepoints. Government funding has so far supported the installation of over 140,000 residential chargepoints and 9,000 chargepoints for staff parking at businesses.

The government has also invested in the development of a network of 19,000 public chargepoints, including 3,500 rapid devices, in partnership with local authorities and the private sector.

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The government has now promised £582m in grants for those buying zero or ultra-low emission vehicles to incentivise more people to make the transition. Alongside the funding pledges, green number plates have been introduced to increase awareness of cleaner vehicles and help local authorities bring in incentives.

For example, drivers could benefit from initiatives such as cheaper parking and cost-free entry into zero-emission zones.

To ensure the ICE vehicle phase-out dates are met and to support interim carbon budgets, the Department for Transport will publish a green paper in the coming months on the post-EU regulatory regime for CO2 emissions from new road vehicles.

This will consider both overall fleet efficiency and how to best deliver the transition to 100% zero emission sales for cars and vans. A consultation on the phase-out of new diesel heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) will also be launched.

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said: “The UK is going further and faster than any other major economy to decarbonise transport, harnessing the power of clean, green technology to end the UK’s contribution to climate change by 2050. Bringing forward the phase-out date could create 40,000 extra jobs by 2030, particularly in our manufacturing heartlands of the North East and across the Midlands, and will see emissions reductions equivalent to taking more than 4 million cars off the road.”

The government has made a commitment to help the automotive sector’s transition towards zero emission vehicles by boosting the development of technologies for zero emission vehicles such as battery packs to recycling infrastructure and super-lightweight components. A further £1m of funding is being announced to extend e-bike hire schemes, which will allow those who are retired, studying, self-employed or looking for work.

The UK government will commit £500m of funding over the next four years into the design and manufacture of zero emission vehicles through the Automotive Transformation Fund. International car markets came together on 27 November 2020 to form a new Zero Emission Vehicle Transition Council. Hosted by the Business Secretary, Alok Sharma, this group is intended to help accelerate the pace of the global transition to zero emission vehicles. Further meetings of council will take place during 2021, including at the COP26 UN Climate Change Conference, which takes place in Glasgow next November. Sharma is the president of COP26.

NISSAN

NEWS

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NEWS ‘Consumers face steep learning curve’ RAC head of roads policy Nicholas Lyes said: “With the government formally bringing forward the date for banning the sale of new petrol and diesel cars to 2030, the car industry and those responsible for charging infrastructure now have an enormous task on their hands. Production lines that for decades have been set up to build cars powered with internal combustion engines will have to be transformed to allow manufacturers to profitably build a wider range of EV models in sufficient quantities.

“Meanwhile the country’s public charging network will need to grow exponentially to cater for the surge in EVs on the road.

There’s also lots for consumers to get used to in order for them to feel confident about going electric. Running an EV is currently very different to a petrol or diesel car which can be refuelled in a matter of minutes, so those switching in the next few years face a big learning curve which involves different types of chargers, connectors and varying charging speeds.

“While many EV drivers will charge at home and start with a ‘full tank’, this won’t be possible for everyone, particularly those without off-street parking. Right now running an EV requires a level of planning as charging generally takes significantly longer than a visit to a fuel forecourt. While the early EV adopters are motivated to cope with this, some drivers could find it daunting and inconvenient. Some of these problems will disappear as the average range of EVs increases, but it’s vital that the government continues to invest in developing a fast, reliable and widely available network of chargers that support electric vehicle owners no matter what their circumstances or travel plans.

“Charging aside, EVs will also spell the end of the manual gearbox that so many drivers will have been used to. But for the time being the biggest barrier to going electric remains the comparatively high upfront vehicle cost, so we hope the government’s announcement will pave the way to lower list prices, thereby accelerating take-up. This, in turn, will help lead to EVs being more readily available on the second-hand market, which is where the majority of people buy their vehicles.”

‘Electric vehicles are not a silver bullet’ Paul Tuohy, chief executive of the Campaign for Better Transport, said: “News that the government has brought forward the end date of the sale of new petrol and diesel cars to 2030 is great for the environment, for our health and should help steer us back onto the road to Net Zero. But we must remember that electric vehicles alone are not a silver bullet to reducing carbon emissions and air pollution, and they do nothing to tackle congestion on our roads. We still need to reduce the overall number of cars and vans on the roads by providing more public transport, walking and cycling alternatives.

“The government must support sustainable transport alternatives and rebalance the cost of public transport. The Chancellor should announce an end to the fuel duty freeze and look to introduce a distance-based, variable road pricing scheme to replace both fuel duty and Vehicle Excise Duty to help plug the hole in lost revenue as cars get progressively cleaner.”

Sending green signals Zero emission number plates now available in UK

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reen number plates were seen on roads for the first time on 8 December. The new plates are designed to raise awareness of the growing number of zero-emission vehicles, as well as helping motorists benefit from local initiatives such as cheaper parking and cost-free entry into zeroemission zones. They consist of a green flash on the left-hand side of the plate and can be combined with the Union flag and national identifiers already permitted by the regulations.

The Department for Transport (DfT) told Parking Review that there are currently over 160,000 zero emission vehicles already on the road that would be eligible for a green number plate.

The move follows the conclusion of a consultation that invited comments from the public, local authorities and industry stakeholders from a range of sectors including motoring and consumer groups and vehicle manufacturers.

The DfT said: “The Behavioural Insights Team, also known as the Nudge Unit and now a social purpose company, point out we’re currently likely to underestimate the prevalence of electric vehicles on our roads partly because it’s often hard to tell them apart from conventionally powered vehicles. It adds that green number plates would provide a UK-wide mechanism which would enable people to spot and differentiate vehicles based on their environmental impact, help inform road-users and normalise the idea of clean vehicles on our roads. Similarly, green number plates will support wider progressive corporate social responsibility messaging for companies with vehicle fleets. Potential interested parties could be delivery companies and utility companies.”

Green plates can be retrofitted to any existing vehicles, including cars, vans, buses, HGVs, taxis and motorcycles, as long as they emit no CO2 emissions at the tailpipe. For existing qualifying vehicles, new plates have to be supplied by a registered number plate supplier.

When it comes to traffic enforcement regimes, The DfT said: “Green number plates is only a visual indicator. Local authorities will have to continue to use systems such as ANPR to enforce the locally led measures, like Zero Emission Zones and Clean Air Zones.”

Transport minister Rachel Maclean said the introduction of the green plates underlined the government’s commitment to tackling poor air quality in towns and cities and builds on the government’s decision to end the sale of new petrol and diesel cars and vans in the UK by 2030. Maclean said: “We are going further and faster than any other major economy to decarbonise transport, improving air quality in our towns and cities in the process and harnessing the power of clean, green technology to end the UK’s contribution to climate change by 2050. Not only will green number plates raise awareness of the increasing number of cleaner vehicles on our roads, they could also unlock a number of incentives for drivers.”

Treasury’s £1.9bn to speed up EV switch Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak has announced £1.9bn over four years for electric vehicle charging infrastructure and consumer incentives.

The funding, announced in last month’s spending review, will be allocated through to 2024-25 as follows: 1. £950m to support rapid electric vehicle charging hubs at every service station on England’s motorways and major A-roads 2. £582m for the Plug-in Car, Van, Taxi, and Motorcycle Grant until 2022/23, reducing the price of new vehicles 3. £275m to extend support for chargepoint installation at homes, workplaces and on-street locations. The grant will be reformed so that they target difficult parts of the market, such as leaseholders and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) 4. £90m to support the roll-out of larger on-street charging schemes and rapid hubs in England.

Green plated vehicles could receive discounts on road charging schemes A third of motorists in the UK would be more likely to buy an electric vehicle (EV) because of new green number plates, according to research commissioned by the Nissan, manufacturer of the LEAF. The Nissan survey, carried out by pollster YouGov, found that with the introduction of green number plates, and the prospect of further incentives linked to EV ownership, 32% of people would be more likely to buy an electric car. Just 5% of respondents said they would be less inclined to do so.

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NEWS

HEATHROW AIRPORT

Heathrow considers forecourt charges Airport says it wants to prevent a car-led COVID-19 recovery Heathrow Airport is exploring a charge for vehicle access to its terminal departure forecourts next year. Heathrow has announced it is exploring a proposal to implement a Forecourt Access Charge (FAC) for vehicles in late 2021 to prevent a car-led airport recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.

The charge, expected to be around £5, is part of several revisions to the airport’s surface access plan as a result of the near collapse in passenger numbers and £1.5bn losses incurred in 2020 due to COVID-19’s impact on the aviation sector.

As a result, Heathrow has reviewed all its planned investments, which were committed when over 80m passengers were using the airport annually.

The review has led to changes which recalibrate the airport’s spending on surface access projects so that environmental impacts will continue to be reduced, whilst the business and jobs are protected during this time with fewer passengers.

Heathrow expects fewer cars on the road due to reduced passenger demand, but concerns around using public transport due to the pandemic present a new challenge moving forward.

Heathrow is re-thinking its surface access Responding to this, the FAC will replace plans for a Heathrow Ultra Low Emissions Zone (HULEZ) announced in May 2019, although future emissions reductions schemes could be considered.

The revised plan is designed to ensure Heathrow remains able to meet its long-term public transport goals and other measures, including HULEZ, can still be implemented if needed.

Revenue raised through the FAC would be used to offset airport costs, including future sustainable transport investments, as well as lowering the charges

for passengers.

Consultation has begun with stakeholders around the details of Heathrow’s new proposal, including how the FAC will be administered, with details expected to be finalised in 2021.

The Forecourt Access Charge will apply to all vehicles entering the forecourts of Heathrow’s terminals, although some exceptions will apply such as Blue Badge holders and emergency vehicles. The full list of exemptions has yet to be finalised.

Passengers already have the alternative option of being dropped off in the airport long-

Gatwick introduces forecourt fee Gatwick Airport is to introduce a £5 charge for drivers who use the airport forecourt to drop-off passengers directly outside its terminals. Free dropoff/pick-up will still be available in the airport’s long-stay car parks, with two hours free parking and a free shuttle bus to terminals.

Charges could also be introduced for the drop-off/pick-up of rail passengers at the South Terminal. Plans have also been prepared to implement Red Route ‘no stopping’ controls across the airport site.

National road pricing is on Treasury’s radar The Treasury is looking again at nationwide road pricing to replace lost fuel duty as more motorists switch to electric vehicles. The Times newspaper reported last month that civil servants had presented the Chancellor Rishi Sunak with a road pricing options paper.

Former government transport adviser David Begg, a long-time advocate of road pricing, said ministers had been expected to make a public announcement but this appeared to have been dropped because of political sensitivities. “It is understood that the Treasury has been considering proposals for a national road pricing scheme,” said Begg in a Transport Times blog. “It was anticipated that an announcement could have been made as part of the Prime Minister’s 10-point plan for a ‘green industrial revolution’. However, it now seems it has been kicked into

The Times, 16 November 2020 the long grass,”he continued.

Begg, a transport economist who advised the Labour Government in the 1990s and 2000s, said the government should take some of the political heat out of the topic by “setting up a commission with crossparty representation to agree a way forward”.

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Begg further suggests that responsibility for motoring taxation should be handed to the Office of Road and Rail (ORR) and the Office of Budget Responsibility (OBR). “The precedent for this is taking the politics out of the setting of interest rates and leaving it to the Bank of England to make the decisions that are right for the economy. In the same way that the government asks the Bank of England to meet inflation targets they should ask the ORR/OBR to establish the right level and mix of motoring taxation to meet targets in public finances, road infrastructure spend and set targets for congestion and air quality,” he said. “One of the first proposals from the ORR/OBR that we could anticipate is a 10-year trajectory for fuel duty increases to encourage the switch to electric vehicles and to set a date for the introduction of road pricing based on distance and congestion.”

stay car parks today and travelling to terminals via a free shuttle bus.

Heathrow director of surface access Tony Caccavone said: “The impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic have been severe, especially on the aviation industry with Heathrow passenger numbers down over 80% and the business losing £5m a day.

These changes will help us to protect the business financially and save jobs in the short term, whilst also allowing us to stay on track for our long-term goals of providing safe, sustainable and affordable transport options into the future.”

Similar access charges are already in place at eight out of the 10 largest UK airports including Manchester, Stansted and Birmingham. In addition, Gatwick Airport has recently announced plans to implement a similar charge.

Further details on how the scheme will be implemented and consulted on will be finalised as the project progresses. “This charge is replacing our previously announced plans for a Heathrow Ultra Low Emissions Zone in the short term,” said Caccavone. “In the long-term, however, this scheme does not preclude future emissions based incentivisation.

Revisions to our short-term surface access targets are still being finalised.”

AA president Edmund King OBE urged the government to consider the ‘road miles’ idea that he and his wife prepared for the Wolfson economics prize competition in 2017.

King said: “The government can’t afford to lose £40bn from fuel duty and car tax when the electric revolution arrives. It is always assumed that road pricing would be the solution but that has been raised every five years since 1964 and is still perceived by most as a ‘poll tax on wheels’.”

King said his ‘road miles’ idea was a “more imaginative solution”. Every driver would receive 3,000 free miles, with one-third more for those in rural areas, and a small charge would apply for every mile driven thereafter.

King said this could be combined with commercialising the roads with an ‘adopt a highway scheme’ offering naming rights such as “the Minecraft M1, Manchester Utd M6 or Adidas A1”.

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NEWS

Colchester sets out a new path for parking Parking reforms will support climate emergency response Parking charges will be used to influence travel behaviour in the Essex town of Colchester after Colchester Borough Council agreed a new parking strategy for the next five years was agreed in November.

The strategy, which focusses purely on off-street parking, includes a range of ways to deliver improved and smarter parking services in Colchester that will support the council’s climate emergency declaration.

The strategy states the town’s historic core, containing four Air Quality Management Areas (AQMAs), will be a particular area of focus.

The strategy proposes a number of approaches to influence motorist behaviour to have a positive impact on air quality by reducing congestion and CO2 emissions. The strategy highlights that if motorists in the town centre make just one small change just one day a week, this could reduce traffic during peak times, improving air quality and reducing congestion and CO2 emissions.

Higher charges will be levied in car parks in higher density areas, locations well served alternative means of transport, and at peak times. Other measures contained in the strategy include changes to payment methods, offers and incentives to support steady footfall in the town centre throughout the day, as well as improved methods of customer communications.

The strategy states that as the town develops, there may be a progressive reduction in the available capacity to park cars in the town centre.

The document states: “It will remain important that shoppers and those visiting the town for personal business, and to access goods and services are able to do so. However, the council’s general approach will mean that those wishing to benefit from the high access and convenience afforded by the parking closest to the commercial areas, and who impose an environmental and social cost when they do so, may expect to pay a higher charge. The strategy will see much of the long-stay parking moved further from the town centre.”

The strategy also proposes gaining more control over privately operated car parks in the town centre and also proposes a workplace parking levy (WPL) scheme. “Colchester has some significant parking areas provided by employers for staff.

Many of these are within the commercial centre of the town and/or contribute to generating significant peak period congestion. A workplace parking levy was introduced in Nottingham in 2012. It placed an annual charge on employers based on the quantity of parking spaces they made available to employ-

ees. Money raised from the scheme has been pledged into other transport schemes including, in particular, accelerating the delivery of phase two of the tram system. Colchester will seek to introduce a similar levy.”

The council said it wants to enable secure off-street parking for residents living in the town and is seeking additional parking beyond that available to them within their curtilage or locally on-street. Charges will reflect the service provided and may include a pledged levy to support car clubs and cleaner transport modes.

The new strategy supports the national Positive Parking Agenda (PPA), which Colchester Borough Council is a founding member of. The PPA aims to raise standards, improve communication, encourage innovation and promote transparency in the delivery of parking management. It also prioritises improving traffic congestion, safety, air quality, accessibility, technology, working together and fairness.

Cllr Mike Lilley, Colchester’s portfolio holder for communities, wellbeing and public safety, said: “The council understands that the supply and provision of ade-

The case for licensing private sector parking The Colchester Parking Strategy proposes that the borough could gain more control over privately operated car parks in the town centre.

The strategy states: “The council will seek to control the charges applied by third party public car parks. This will be achieved through acquisition, the application of planning conditions or licensing.”

Andrew Potter of consultant Parking Perspectives, which helped prepare the Colchester Positive Parking Strategy, said: “We don’t think anyone has done

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licensing before.”

Potter pointed to a letter sent by the Department for Transport (DfT) to local authority parking managers in 2011 highlighting their ability to control offstreet parking through licensing powers. he powers are contained in sections 43 and 44 of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 and the associated Control of OffStreet Parking Orders 1978 and 1986.

The DfT letter explained: “The powers allow, following appropriate consultation with stakeholders, for local authorities to

quate, accessible and good quality car parking is important to residents, visitors and businesses.

This new five-year strategy is also designed to have a positive impact on the environment, town centre and overall parking experience for customers.

“COVID-19 has also affected the way people travel and use their vehicles, and this new strategy allows us to respond and act flexibly to strike a balance between adequate parking provision, cost and support for businesses in these uncertain times.”

Colchester’s parking strategy was last reviewed in 2009-10.

To develop this new strategy, a parking review was carried out that included a significant amount of research, including a parking customer survey in 2019 and a public consultation this summer.

The parking strategy will be implemented by the North Essex Parking Partnership (NEPP), which manages the council’s car parks on its behalf. Richard Walker, NEPP group manager, said the strategy had been written to enable some potentially far-reaching changes.

“This could affect not only what parking we provide, but what we manage, to ensure consistent application of our strategic aim,” he said. “It will set the agenda for introducing schemes to allow a far more comprehensive and fairer application of charges to capture all who drive into the town centre to park at congested times, and measures to support permanent positive change in the way we travel in and about the town.”

NEPP comprises Essex County Council and six district/borough councils. Colchester is the lead authority. www.colchester.gov.uk/positiveparking-strategy

establish controlled areas within which no person other than the local authority may operate a public off-street parking place of a prescribed description except under and in accordance with the terms and conditions of a licence granted to that person by the local authority.”

Andrew Potter added: “There are some potential hurdles, such as enabling a district to operate the control area rather than the county council as specified in the Act (section 44). But this is part of the next steps of effecting this holistic approach to reducing vehicle use and carbon in the town centre.”

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NEWS

AA calls for free Christmas parking Motoring organisation says parking machines are the ‘Achilles heel’ of social distancing Consumers whose shopping has now become entrenched online because of COVID lockdown restrictions may need the incentive of free parking to encourage them back to high streets, local stores and shopping centres over the Christmas period.

Lifting parking charges from the middle of December onwards could give a boost to the high street, says the AA. The motoring organisation is calling for free Christmas parking from Monday 14 December to help revive the festive fortunes of beleaguered shops and street traders.

The AA notes that, despite the strenuous efforts of shops and stores to socially-distance their customers, these precautions can often fall down as shoppers cluster around ticket machines to pay for their parking.

The association said that councils may ask shoppers to pay for their parking via mobile phone apps, but argues many drivers are put off by the extra charges and older generations find them harder to use (a 2017

#ShopLocal: Like many local authorities, Thanet District Council in Kent has encouraged people to support its small business community by shopping locally this Christmas. In a bid to give town centres a boost, on the two Saturdays leading up to Christmas (Saturdays 12 and 19 December) free parking was provided at three car parks in Margate, Broadstairs and Ramsgate. survey found that 70% of AA members were more likely to drive past than use a pay-byphone parking space). It says this may play against a return

to the shops.

Edmund King OBE, the AA’s president, said: “Various parts of the country have #ShopLocal campaigns as they are petrified

Lambeth extends APCOA Parking contract The London Borough of Lambeth has extended APCOA Parking’s contract for a further four-year period. APCOA has provided parking enforcement services for the south London council over the past four years. Its contract will now run until 2024.

During 2019 APCOA expanded the service it provides to encompass environmental enforcement. It has partnered with Lambeth on initiatives to help improve the local environment, such as tackling idling vehicles and Blue Badge misuse.

Over the past year, the pandemic has seen the company provide the council with a range of additional support, including activities such as: • patrolling town centres and markets advising on social distancing • delivering personal protective equipment (PPE) to care homes, businesses, and clinics

APCOA staff supported Lambeth’s communities during the pandemic • working at cemeteries, recycling centres and COVID testing sites • aiding food banks and preparing food packages • delivering residents’ permits and vouchers to local people who could not leave their homes or premises • working with the council’s parks team, advising the public and enforcing social distancing requirements • delivering office equipment

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to Lambeth council staff to support them working from home.

Neil Fenton, Lambeth’s assistant director parking, street management and commercial neighbourhoods, said: “The support provided by APCOA this year in particular has been phenomenal, but they have also helped to make a significant improvement to the performance of parking and environmental services as a

that niche local stores will be put out of business by on-line retail and lockdowns. Free parking periods at Christmas have been used in the past by councils and shopping centres to tempt customers into the high streets and shopping centres. The AA believes that, now more than ever, the hours and free parking locations should be extended.

“With fewer shoppers and some avoiding public transport, opening up free parking would also allow better social-distancing instead of ticket machines becoming the ‘Achilles heel’ of attempts by stores, councils, and shopping centre managers to space out and protect visitors.

“This has been made worse by ticket machines becoming more complicated by requiring vehicle registration numbers as well as credit card details. Also, queuing is often a problem as ticket machines are often located where shoppers are squeezed at car park entrances or close to toilets. Just as Dickens described in A Christmas Carol, the grim city streets transformed by the Christmas spirit spreading cheer everywhere, let us hope free parking can banish the Scrooge mentality and spread joy to the shopkeepers.” whole over the past four years.

“The team is versatile and supported by high quality management who are continually looking for new ways to evolve their service offering.

“Lambeth looks forward to working in partnership with APCOA for another four years, to explore new initiatives and to continue to provide a gold standard service to residents and visitors to the borough.”

An APCOA spokesperson said: “Receiving such a long contract extension from Lambeth Council is recognition of the effort that APCOA puts in to delivering outstanding levels of expertise and customer service. with the COVID-19 pandemic providing all local authorities with so many unforeseen challenges, APCOA is proud that the response from all our colleagues working for Lambeth was flexible, positive and proactive. They supported the council to deliver a very wide range of services outside their normal working roles.”

PR344_P08-21_News.qxp_PR344_p08-21 14/12/2020 16:11 Page 13

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NEWS

When they try it, people love park & ride Transport Focus survey reveals high approval rating for bus P&R Park & ride could help solve road congestion, but only if people know about it, says a transport passenger watchdog.

Transport Focus has found almost unanonymous approval for park & ride services among their users, but flags up a lack of awareness of these schemes as a barrier to their making a real impact on traffic problems.

Its report Park & ride for Highway’s England’s roads: a solution to congestion?, Transport Focus gathers the views of almost 500 people about park & ride schemes in Oxford and Doncaster.

Those who were satisfied with park & ride reached 98% for local users and 86% for longer distance journeys. Those who used park & ride found it made travelling easier, was less stressful and offered good value for money.

Transport Focus’ research showed that the overwhelming reason for people not using park & ride was a lack of awareness.

There were also gaps in understanding key aspects such as ticketing and frequency of buses.

Other barriers include uncertainty over journey time and

Oxford’s Thornhill P&R negative assumptions such as the perceived hassle in comparison to driving or taking the train.

Anthony Smith, chief executive of Transport Focus, said: “People who use park & ride like it, which is a great starting point.

First time P&R passengers Part of the research involved getting some people to try out park & ride for the first time. Here is what they said: • “I was surprised at how much cheaper it was than the train. Food for thought there.”

• “I’ll admit I was wary, basically of the bus not coming. I left enough time that I could have got back in the car and driven if I had to.”

• “Overall, I expected there to be plenty of buses and there were, and I expected the parking to be an issue but it wasn’t.”

• “On the outward journey to Sheffield I only had to wait 5 minutes for a bus, that was a nice surprise. The journey itself was pleasant too, it was nice to just sit back and relax.”

TfL invites station car park ideas

A shelter at North Greenwich Transport for London (TfL) is inviting ideas for new uses in its station car parks.

TfL provides car parks at 79 London Underground, London Overground, and TfL Rail stations. Of these, 61 are located in outer London and 17 are in local authorities beyond the Greater London Authority boundary.

A prior information notice (PIN) just issued invites the market to submit ideas for “how we can make better use of our station car parks”.

Our research shows what Highways England could do, in partnership with local authorities and bus companies, to make park & ride a more attractive option than driving all the way.”

Highways England asked Transport Focus to carry out the

“We are welcoming concepts that would enable the more diverse use of these sites and particularly those that would support local economic recovery and deliver a greener, cleaner and healthier London,” says TfL. Ideas “could extend to uses that go well beyond the carrelated role of sites”.

“We have, for example, seen ideas around logistics, community hubs, neighbourhood kitchens, urban farms, etc. We are interested in your creative, commercially viable ideas.”

A TfL spokeswoman said that the PIN was linked to the re-tendering of the car parks management contract. The 61 Tube station car parks are managed by NCP. TfL plans to publish an invitation to tender in December.

research because it wanted the independent watchdog to help improve understanding of its customers views about park & ride. The survey was conducted before the spring 2020 coronavirus lockdown in England.

Pete Martin, customer experience director at Highways England, said: “We’re committed to improving road user journeys and as part of that we asked Transport Focus to carry out this initial research; to help us understand road user priorities for what makes a good park & ride experience.

“Park & ride has the potential to reduce congestion on our roads, while reducing our environmental impact, and this early research will feed into the wider body of evidence we and our partners will consider.”

To get more people using park & ride the watchdog recommends that Highways England should work with transport companies and authorities to promote the service and raise awareness on the benefits.

Transport Focus is the independent consumer organisation representing the interests of all users of England’s motorways and major ‘A’ roads (the Strategic Road Network), rail passengers in Great Britain and bus, coach and tram users across England outside London.

Greater Anglia improves cycle parking

Cambridge North station Train company Greater Anglia is improving cycle parking at four stations. The works include building a secure cycle compound at Cambridge North, following customer feedback. In addition, extra cycle spaces are being installed at Cheshunt, Rye House and Ipswich stations.

These projects are being funded via the Cycle Rail Programme from Sustrans and the Department for Transport with additional financial contributions from Cambridgeshire County Council, Hertfordshire County Council and Suffolk County Council.

PARKING REVIEW | DECEMBER 2020 | 17

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PR344_P08-21_News.qxp_PR344_p08-21 14/12/2020 16:11 Page 19

NEWS

MARK MORAN

Local solutions best for pavement parking Blanket ban may just displace problems, says IAM RoadSmart Road safety charity IAM RoadSmart is calling for a targeted and local approach to combat pavement parking.

The plea comes as the Department for Transport consultation entitled Pavement parking: options for change has recently finished, with a summary of responses due to be published within three months.

The option preferred by IAM RoadSmart is a legislative change to allow local authorities with civil parking enforcement powers to enforce against the “unnecessary obstruction of the pavement’, which the charity suggests should be defined as less than the width of a standard wheel chair or child’s buggy.

The two other options were a complete blanket ban on pavement parking in England, such as already exists in London and is due in Scotland in 2021, or improvements to the existing

Some neighbourhoods have developed informal pavement parking arrangements Traffic Regulation Order through traffic signs or road markings.

IAM RoadSmart believes the more targeted local approach is beneficial for a number of reasons, including that a blanket ban could remove parked cars from many roads where they have a traffic calming effect, clearing parked cars can also lead to an increase in the speed of traffic.

The charity also argues that

a local approach will get more public support as enforcement would be carried out in the most effective way.

Neil Greig, policy and research director at IAM RoadSmart, said: “A focussed and local approach would allow selfish individuals and problem areas to be targeted without causing displacement problems in areas where there are no actual problems for pedestrians. Many

Edinburgh prepares Parking Action Plan launch Work has begun to prepare for the introduction of new parking controls as part of Edinburgh’s Parking Action Plan. City of Edinburgh Council has started amending parking places and signs across the city centre in readiness for changes next year, which will include the introduction of Sunday parking restrictions.

Sunday controls will begin coming into force in spring 2021. This will require replacing more than 1,000 signs in the four central parking zones.

“We need to rethink the way people and goods move in and around the city, reducing the dominance of traffic and creating streets and spaces for people,” said Cllr Lesley Macinnes, transport and environment convener.

“Parking initiatives will help reduce car commuting and congestion, improve safety and air quality and encourage walking, cycling and public transport use. We also want to provide better flexibility and deliver best value for local residents.”

The Parking Action Plan, which was approved in 2016, is seen key to the city realising its

Cllr Lesley Macinnes ambition to become carbon neutral by 2030.

“In Edinburgh we are working toward a greener, healthier more sustainable transport future, where we have achieved carbon neutrality and improved air quality. It’s essential that we address parking and car use if we are to realise this, helping to create a better, safer place to live,” said Macinnes.

“Of course, we know how important parking provision is for residents and businesses, and the Parking Action Plan strives to balance these needs with our ambitions. These

actions were developed with the people that live and work here in mind and we will continue to take this into account as we progress with plans. We’re now beginning preparations for Sunday parking restrictions, which respond to the public’s changing travel habits, as well as shared use parking, to deliver greater flexibility for drivers.”

Work includes: changing existing bay markings to shared use bays; offering additional parking places for residents; changing existing signage to include Sunday times of operation; and adding additional double yellow lines around junctions for enhanced road safety.

This work will allow changes being introduced next year, such as: • Sunday parking controls across the city centre • electronic visitor parking permits across the controlled parking zone, including zones one to four • new resident permit charges based on vehicle emissions • a diesel surcharge for parking permits.

neighbourhoods have developed informal pavement parking arrangements that still allow the free flow of traffic and emergency vehicles down narrow streets without causing any pavement obstruction.

“Disrupting these long-standing arrangements could lead to local tensions and stress. IAM RoadSmart is also concerned that hard-pressed councils will lack the resources to effectively implement a blanket ban.”

Furthermore, Greig suggests that a blanket ban on pavement parking could cause the massive displacement of traffic that would blight the surrounding roads as residents circulate around looking for new parking opportunities.

Greig said: “Local councils should be encouraged to use their existing powers and these new ones to sign, define, review and enforce local bans as required. We have no problem with local solutions for local problems, but a blanket ban of pavement parking is a ‘hammer to crack a nut’.”

School Streets cut car and bus use, says Croydon School Street traffic restrictions around primary schools in the London Borough of Croydon have cut car and public transport use, the council reports.

Summarising results from the first 17 schools to have the restrictions, Stuart King, Croydon’s lead councillor for environment and transport, said: “Schools survey data indicate that the schemes have contributed to between a 15% and 25% reduction in car use and between a 23% and 65% uptake in active travel.

“Unexpectedly, the schemes have also coincided with a 24% to 47% switch from public transport to active travel. This is assumed to be a transferrable effect from the ‘School Street’ establishing an active travel trend that indirectly influences public transport use,” King added.

Croydon implemented a further ten school street schemes at the start of the current school year.

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ACTIVE TRAVEL

New directions for street schemes Transport Secretary stresses importance of consultation for roadspace reallocation schemes

C

ouncils across England have been awarded a £175m for roadspace reallocation measures that support walking and cycling. The money will fund measures including: School Streets, where streets around schools are closed to motorists at school time; Low Traffic Neighbourhoods (LTNs), where residential side streets are closed to through traffic to stop rat-running; segregated cycle lanes; and pedestrian improvements.

This is the second tranche of funding from the Department for Transport’s Active Travel Fund, which paid £225m during the spring for a wave of measures designed to aid social distancing and alleviate pressures on public transport.

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said: “It has been great to see so many people build cycling and walking into their daily travel habits. To support them, we know it’s vital to have the right infrastructure in place so everyone – cyclists, pedestrians and motorists – can use our roads. Whether you’re walking, cycling, driving or using public transport, people must have the space they need to get around safely.”

Shapps reports that recent surveys by the Department for Transport (DfT) indicate that 65% of people across England supported reallocating road space to walking and cycling in their local area and nearly 8-out-of-10 people support measures to reduce road traffic in their neighbourhood.

In a letter to council leaders announcing their allocations from the Active Travel Fund, Shapps wrote: “In individual neighbourhoods from which through traffic has been removed, surveys again find that clear majorities of residents welcome the schemes and want them to stay. Evidence also shows that these schemes are effective.

“Evaluation of early School Streets projects has shown traffic outside schools has reduced on average by 68%, children cycling to school has increased by 51%, and harmful vehicle pollution outside schools is down by almost three-quarters.”

Consultation is crucial However, some councils have experienced a backlash against active travel schemes delivered with emergency funding during COVID19. A number schemes have been removed as a result.

As the second tranche of Active Travel Fund support is intended to support more for permanent schemes than the first wave, the Transport Secretary has set out new conditions on councils receiving funding.

A key condition will be requiring councils to ensure that schemes are properly consulted

Low Traffic Neighbourhoods create safer streets for cyclists and pedestrians on. To ensure schemes work for their communities, they must: • publish plans to show how they will consult their communities, including residents, businesses and emergency services, among others • show evidence of appropriate consultation prior to schemes being implemented • submit monitoring reports on the implementation of schemes 6-12 months after their opening, highlighting how schemes have been modified based on local feedback to ensure they work for communities.

Shapps hopes this will help avoid the problems seen with some schemes developed in the first round of funding. If the new conditions are not met by a council, the Transport Secretary has warned that future funding allocations will be reduced and claw-backs could also be imposed.

In his letter to council leaders, Shapps said: “Consultation should include objective tests of public opinion, such as scientific polling, to cut through the noise and passion schemes generate and gather a truly representative picture of local views. It should engage stakeholders, including local MPs, but it should not be confused with listening only to the loudest voices or giving any one group a veto.”

Before starting work, the DfT will ask councils to confirm in writing how they have consulted. Within 12 months of completing work, it will ask them to report on the impacts that schemes have had.

Shapps wrote: “Very few changes to anything will command unanimous support, and we do not ask it for these schemes. But there is clear evidence that, for all the controversy they can sometimes cause, ambitious cycling and walking schemes have significant, if quieter, majority support.”

The DfT has published revised statutory Network Management Duty guidance that emphasises the importance of consultation

on permanent schemes. Local authorities will be required to engage closely with the DfT throughout the process and Active Travel England, when set up, will also assess plans for active travel schemes.

Permanent changes In his letter to council leaders, the Transport Secretary said that while most schemes were of genuine value in promoting cycling and walking, some schemes implemented through the first tranche of funding had made less meaningful change to the status quo. In particular, pavement widenings put in town centres by councils using barriers could prevent pedestrians crossing the road, cause congestion for buses and traffic, and impede access for kerbside businesses.

“Experience in the five months since the funding was announced shows that some forms of roadspace reallocation have been more effective than others,” wrote Shapps.

“Reducing traffic around schools and giving cyclists protection with segregated lanes have made it easier and safer to choose to cycle or walk to work or school. In contrast, the temporary pavement extensions installed by many authorities in town centres using barriers up to four feet high have often been less effective.

“They may prevent pedestrians from crossing the road, cause congestion for buses and motor traffic, narrow streets to the detriment of cyclists, and impede access and parking for the kerbside businesses that cluster in these areas. They also appear to be relatively little used by the pedestrians for whom they were intended.”

The Transport Secretary wrote: “I don’t want this sort of scheme to undermine the fact that this government is committing to ensuring all journeys are safe, reliable and efficient for drivers and businesses, including by investing over £27bn over the next five years through Highways England’s roads plan to ensure the road network is fit for the future.”

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ADVERTISING FEATURE

Shared micromobility services must adapt quickly to comply with local UK regulations that aim to ensure the safety of everyone, as well as equitable space for all modes of transportation. By promoting smart parking and smart riding, Dott is leading the way to transform the free-floating model into one ensuring the best user experience, the most efficient operation, and a smart integration into London.

The future is smart: The transition from free-floating to smart parking

M

ost current shared micromobility services originate from the Chinese bike-share wave that landed in Western countries in 2017. Ofo and Mobike turned the freefloating model into the most common and most scalable, disrupting the established public bike-share industry. The e-scooter sharing wave shortly followed in 2018. This confirmed the trend, and most of all highlighted the immense potential of shared micromobility services.

When thousands of e-scooters were launched in major Western cities, the vehicles were immediately ridden and adopted as one of the best options for short trips. However, the massive adoption of the free-floating model created new problems. While riders gave a big thumbs-up to the door-to-door model, nonriders discovered the consequences of bad parking and riding behaviours. Both local authorities and operators were caught unawares by the fast scaling of the fleets. There was also a lack of feedback about shared escooter usage patterns and habits, meaning that the market was left largely unregulated.

As knowledge grew, authorities and operators started collaborating to supervise usage and operations. The authorities began to set in place “codes of conduct” for operators, as did Paris City Council, and to set fleet caps to control the number of vehicles in use. This, however, had the drawback of limiting the efficiency of the services.

Meanwhile, the operators, including Dott, started to enhance their apps with rider education features or incentives for good riding and parking behaviour.

But this still wasn’t enough: in London, France, Italy and Spain, cities are now taking the lead in shared micromobility management.

Licenses are now a requirement to operate in more places, and authorities are using the selection process to promote environmental and social responsibility and also to incentivise high-quality operations, with parking and riding management included. Let’s learn from

22 | DECEMBER 2020 | PARKING REVIEW

Dott’s experience in Paris, where a holistic parking strategy has been implemented, to highlight the impact of those measures.

The rise of smart parking In response to the strong demand for micromobility, Paris’ City Council has set up no less than 2,500 dedicated parking bays (with an average of six spaces per bay) across the city, re-allocating public space from cars to micromobility. Those parking bays can host the 15,000 e-scooters allowed by approved licenses, and are funded through the €50 scooter/year fee collected by the Council. An obvious solution to the problem of bad parking behaviour is simply to offer sufficient appropriate space.

Parking bays are also a way for authorities to support and promote intermodal trips.

According to a study by consultancy 6t, 17% of all shared e-scooter trips taken in Paris are made in combination with public transport.

Creating shared micromobility hubs close to bus, metro or train stations enables better parking and vehicle availability, which in turn encourages intermodality. Shared micromobility is becoming an important part of the public transport network and is also able to add extra capacity during peak hours, as recent data from Lyon highlights.

For users to accept a reduction in door-todoor benefits, the density of parking bays has to be high. While 90% of the users agree to walk for up to two minutes to their vehicle, only 50% are prepared to walk for up to five minutes! The 2,500 parking bays in Paris require users to walk only 102 meters, or 1-minute on average,

to find the nearest vehicle. In comparison, the successful Vélib’ bike-share scheme only has 1,000 stations in inner Paris.

So what is the impact on urban design? In France, the recent LOM (Mobility Orientation Law) encouraged local authorities to transform car parking spaces located near pedestrian crossings or crossroads. Allocating this space to shared micromobility hubs instead of vehicles improves both pedestrian safety and also the visibility of shared micromobility services.

For now, the bays are painted boxes featuring a scooter symbol to help with identification. As the e-scooters knock-down days are largely over now, and the hardware has evolved to offer better stability with improved kickstands, it’s not necessary to provide racks or other kinds of street furnishings. This makes the global investment required lower and offers more flexibility in terms of the locations of the bays. Nonetheless, these changes in parking behaviour must be supported by the operators for them to be fully accepted by the users. In addition to educational in-app features, Dott chose to adopt a mandatory in-bay parking policy.

If users in Paris park outside a bay, they will be charged €10. Enforcement is done through a photo of the parked vehicle in case of any doubts, which helps to compensate for the lack of accuracy of GPS systems. If we compare this with a competitor’s incentives policy in Oslo, results show, somewhat logically, that a stricter policy leads to better concentration around parking bays.

Dott’s goal is clear: every single trip must end in a designated parking bay. And the company is on the right track: the rate of incorrect parking behaviour reported in Paris dropped from 65% in Spring 2019, to 29% in Autumn 2019 (both figures from 6t studies) and was recorded to be only 3% in Autumn 2020 (from Dott’s data)! Interestingly, this correlates with the development phases of e-scooter sharing in France and shows the hugely positive impact of the implementation of designated parking bays (Autumn 2019 vs. Autumn 2020).

PR344_P22-23_Dott DPS.qxp_PR344_p22-23 14/12/2020 15:48 Page 23

ADVERTISING FEATURE Smart riding E-scooters not only have an impact on the urban landscape when parked, but also when ridden. Thanks to increasingly precise geofencing technologies, operators can implement no-riding, no-parking, or low-speed zones. The vehicle, the user’s smartphone, and the operational software interact to instantly adapt the riding or parking rules according to their location, taking into consideration everyone’s needs. Dott is working closely with Paris City Council to design these instantly updatable zones.

Being able to update these zones easily allows for high flexibility to adapt to the life of the city, such as when live events or protests are taking place. For example, authorities can request that a no-riding zone is set up in an area where there is due to be a protest, while operators can easily organise a demonstration in a neighbouring city.

Smart riding means safe riding An established cycling infrastructure is a requirement for safe e-scooter riding, as feeling unsafe while riding is a major barrier to usage.

It’s worth noting that during the pandemic, infrastructure development has sped up, making riders feel safer – incidences of feeling unsafe have reduced from 54% in April 2019 to 9% in July 2020 (Dott data). Dott is already working on different in-app educative features and incentives to encourage riders into cycle lanes so that these improvements can continue.

Vehicles will also play a role in smart riding.

In its next-generation e-scooter, Dott will add embedded navigation. This means that the rider will be able to reach their destination by Spring 2019

35%

Autumn 2019

71%

Autumn 2020*

97%

Share of users who did not park on the footway at the end of their last e-scooter trip in Paris Share of users who parked on the footway at the end of their last e-scooter trip in Paris * Data provided by Dott

the safest route, without having to check their smartphone and let go of the handlebar. This is a huge step forward in safely navigating busy streets.

E-bike parking can be smart too Another step towards smarter cities will be for Dott to become multimodal. Offering multiple vehicle types in a single service will not only enable them to address a wider range of urban transport needs, but also to attract users who do not feel comfortable riding an e-scooter, or who are not able to.

From day one, Dott has been investing in designing and producing the best possible shared e-bike offering, tailor-made for Europe, with all the benefits of their e-scooter experience. Two years of research and development will culminate in the first project launch in London in early 2021.

As soon as the e-bikes hit the streets, similar riding and parking rules will apply and escooter parking bays will become multimodal ones. Launching a home-designed vehicle will enable the integration of new positioning technologies such as dead reckoning. That will enhance the accuracy of location tracking to under one meter (as opposed to ten meters, where it stands today).

This will allow for better enforcement of parking rules and a faster and more precise response to geofenced zones. It will also improve the safety of riders and non-riders alike, in conjunction with an embedded navigation solution similar to that which has been implemented for the e-scooter.

Technology and collaboration The results of smart parking are already impressive, with Paris having achieved 97% appropriate parking, as previously mentioned.

It might not be long before the goal of 100% is met, due to the continuous improvement of positioning technologies that will soon reach a centimetre-level accuracy, even in urban canyons. This will make parking and riding monitoring more accurate in every corner of

the city. It will also simplify things for the user, as there will no longer be a need for photo checks as part of the process.

The high digitalization level of shared micromobility services makes it possible to turn traffic rules virtual and to share the most up-todate information via the user’s smartphone.

Push notifications are a convenient way to communicate policies to riders, such as strict enforcement of parking rules or a modification of the service area design. Any changes can be implemented quickly to improve compliance with the city’s needs and operator’s rules, as well as riders’ safety. Dott, for example, recently launched an in-app ID check feature in Lyon and Verona to verify riders’ ages.

Close collaboration is the catalyst for continuous improvement, when local authorities, operators, and even riders work together to achieve a collective goal of establishing smarter shared micromobility riding and parking. Transforming the urban landscape with parking bays requires authorities and operators to agree on both their location and also their design. It needs to be easy for riders to find and identify the parking bays, and they also need to be protected from uncontrolled parking.

The next generation of bays should soon be upgraded with in-street signage, which will require a collaborative design approach to ensure the expectations of both parties are met.

In every city where it operates, Dott is a driving force in cooperating with local authorities, using all of their experiences in adapting to unique local requirements.

Are you interested in learning more about smart parking?

A pdf copy of the Dott-commissioned Smart Parking report is available at: https://ridedott.com/assets/pdf/ smart-parking.pdf

ridedott.com PARKING REVIEW | DECEMBER 2020 | 23

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BUSINESS NEWS

Helping the homeless find their place Marston Holdings works with St Mungo’s and Radical Recruit Transportation and enforcement services Marston Holdings company has partnered with the homeless charity St Mungo’s and Radical Recruit, a not-for-profit organisation which bridges the gap between disadvantaged job seekers and the business world.

The partnership is helping homeless people in London back into the workplace.

The pandemic has seen many homeless people being temporarily housed in hotels across the capital. St Mungo’s case workers and Radical Recruit have been working with over 100 men and women, some as young as 18, to prepare them for life back in the working world.

This work includes assessing their interview and work readiness, supporting with CV development and running one-to-one interview coaching sessions.

Emma Freivogel, founder of Radical Recruit, said: “We are delighted to partner with Marston Holdings which has proved that doing good and driv-

Lee Thomas-Wragg, talent acquisition specialist at Radical Recruit, Paolo Orezzi, NSL service director, and Kevin Makwikila, case worker at St Mungo’s ing business success do not have to be mutually exclusive. The people we represent are often viewed through a lens of mistrust and assumed to lack the motivation, skills and abilities to

secure and sustain employment.

“Subsequently, they are discarded on the ‘talent scrapheap’.

This is a waste of human life, bad for business and detrimental to the economy.’’

Marston Holdings has run two recruitment days attended by around 40 people who heard about the company, its values and ways of working as well as available career opportunities.

Interactive Q&A sessions helped put the candidates at ease and answered their questions prior to the formal interview process.

Nine candidates have now joined frontline teams at Marston group company NSL who are working on contracts including Camden, Islington, Westminster, and Lewisham. A further four candidates are being interviewed for other positions in and around London.

Paolo Orezzi, NSL’s service director, said: “I am really proud to have been involved in the project both from a commercial and personal social value point of view.

“Too often we overlook people based on their personal circumstances but when you dig deeper and get to know them, you realise that they have so much to offer and just need a helping hand to kick start their lives and reach their true potential.”

The company is looking to extend the scheme nationally.

Marston Holdings achieves Investors in People Platinum accreditation Transportation and enforcement services company Marston Holdings has been awarded a Platinum accreditation by Investors in People (IIP).

Platinum status is the IIP’s highest level of accreditation and is achieved by only 2% of organisations assessed. It demonstrates an organisation-wide, long-term commitment to consistently meeting the highest standards and continuous improvement in terms leadership and people management.

Marston Holdings employs over 5,000 staff. In addition to being the UK’s largest provider of debt and recovery services, the organisation comprises a number of companies including Project Centre, a streetscape design, engineering and landscape architecture consultancy, and NSL, which provides parking enforcement services to the public and private sectors.

Other companies in the group are Videalert, a supplier of traffic management and enforcement systems, and ParkTrade, a European provider of road tolling and charging solutions.

Deborah Cooper, people director at Marston Holdings, said: “This group-wide accreditation replaces the accreditations that were held by individual entities to reflect how much Marston has grown as an integrated, cohesive business over the last

24 | DECEMBER 2020 | PARKING REVIEW

Deborah Cooper few years. Achieving a Platinum accreditation is only possible by providing clear and unequivocal evidence that we put our people at the heart of decision-making, and that we work in line with our values and shared vision. It means that policies and practices around supporting people are embedded in every corner of the organisation.”

IIP standards are internationally recognised accreditations held by over 10,000 organisations globally. Using assessment methodology and frameworks, IIP sets a benchmark for better people management and define what it takes to lead, support and manage people

effectively to achieve sustainable results.

The report completed by IIP assessors noted that Marston has a mix of services and is committed to working ethically, engaging sensitively with customers and adapting to new ways of working.

IIP recognised Marston’s development of technology that supports staff, clients and customers. In addition, the assessors were impressed by the responses of team members to the pandemic, from delivering food and essential supplies to becoming NHS Volunteer Responders.

“Ethical practice is embedded across the organisation and social values underpin every decision and every contract,” said Cooper. “People are at the centre of all our decision making and we value the opinions, thoughts, suggestions and recommendations from staff, customers, clients and all stakeholders in order to be successful.”

Underpinning the standard is the Investors in People framework, which reflects the latest workplace trends, essential skills and effective structures required to outperform in any industry.

IIP standards are designed to enable organisations to benchmark against the best in the business on an international scale. There are four levels of accreditation; Accredited, Silver, Gold and Platinum.

PR344_P24-29_Business.qxp_PR344_p24-29 14/12/2020 15:52 Page 25

BUSINESS NEWS

Murphy takes helm at APT Skidata New managing director has held senior roles in SWARCO operation Steve Murphy has been named as the new managing director of APT Skidata, the parking systems joint venture between SWARCO and Skidata.

Murphy originally joined APT Skidata three years ago to lead its operations team before moving to a SWARCO UK operational management role.

As managing director, Murphy said he will focus on innovation and digital solutions.

“APT Skidata has been a leading provider of parking solutions in the UK for the past 25 years and has an enviable reputation for quality, reliability and proven performance with hundreds of shopping centres, airports and city centre car parks across the UK,” he said.

“But to compliment the high quality product, we also have our own experts within our professional services team, who have been keeping us ahead of

Steve Murphy the competition by developing new products and bespoke client solutions, which have really helped transform the way parking is perceived and kept us at the forefront of the industry.

“Our digital innovations and integrated solutions mean that we were already the ideal parking partner, but the pandemic has raised more questions around how digital solutions can improve parking, and other areas of mobility. We are here to answer those questions. It is an

exciting time to be returning to APT Skidata.”

Jeremy Cowling, vice president of SWARCO’s North Europe and UK ITS division, said: “Steve’s considerable experience in the business, along with his drive and enthusiasm, make him the ideal candidate to lead APT Skidata in the next phase of its journey. He will be positioning the business for further growth by exploring new market sectors and introducing new technologies to our extensive portfolio.”

PayByPhone turns parking into trees PayByPhone will be donating 41,333 trees in its local authority clients’ names to mangrove projects in Madagascar under its annual ‘Green Christmas’ seasonal initiative, which supports reforestation schemes and provides essentials such as medicines and food to villagers.

Green Christmas usually turns PayByPhone’s December parking transaction numbers into trees, but because of the pandemic and the current system of ‘Tiers’, people will not be out as much as usual.

Anthony Cashel, marketing and operations director at PayByPhone UK, said: “The environment and the communities in which we work are exceptionally important to us, which is why we have decided to base our Green Christmas calculations on the month with our highest transaction figure this year – October. We aren’t going to let the pandemic impact the good we try to do at this time of year.”

Green Christmas is run in partnership with Eden Reforestation Projects, an NGO that preserves disappearing forests.

A fresh approach to notice processing and debt recovery from an award-winning business We engage with your customers to ensure we get results Our team of exceptional advisors all have a rm friendly and helpful approach to collection, and are accredited to WAMITAB Level 3 NVQ 3 Dedicated to being the best in the market for: - Customer satisfaction - Notice processing

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PARKING REVIEW | DECEMBER 2020 | 25

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BUSINESS NEWS

ParkingPerx goes live in Sunderland North Eastern retailers back free parking app ParkingPerx, an app that allows retailers to offer customers free town centre parking, went live in Sunderland on 5 December.

The app’s creator, Chris Reed, impressed the panel on the BBC show Dragon’s Den and secured investment from Jenny Campbell. “I was struck by Chris’s idea but it’s his energy and passion for his product that really stands out,” she said. “He loves the North East and is determined to help retailers following a very tough year as we head towards Christmas and beyond.”

Since the programme aired, plans to start ParkingPerx were put on hold because of the COVID pandemic.

However, ahead of the delayed app launch in Sunderland, Reed

signed up brands such as Primark, M&S and Halfords.

“Like many towns and cities across the country, Sunderland has seen a significant drop in footfall over recent months and this has had a significant impact on the local economy,” he said.

“Research shows that people are willing to support their local High Street, but parking fees continue to be a barrier to trade for town centres. We are working

Holiday Extras sells off site serving Gatwick Airport

WRO’s terminal

Polish airport signs up ParkVia UK-based parking reservations platform ParkVia has entered into a partnership with WroclawCopernicus Airport’s operator. The deal will see the Polish airport’s parking, fast-track and lounge products delivered across the global ParkVia network.

Passengers flying from Wroclaw (WRO) can also book ancillary services online at parkvia.com.

ParkVia will also market the airport’s products to customers across sites including the Eastern European giant Wizz Air. The agreement covers nearly 4,000 parking spaces over four prebooked car parks, including the airport’s premium car parks, which are within walking distance of the terminal. The deal also covers the WRO Executive Lounge and the airport’s fast-track service.

WRO products will shown “inpath” across the ParkVia network of

in partnership with The Bridges car park and Sunderland City Council, and have the backing of many national and local brands to reward shoppers who choose to support the city centre.”

The launch has also been welcomed by Sharon Appleby, head of business operations at Sunderland BID (Business Improvement District), said: “I’m absolutely delighted that

ParkingPerx is now launching in the city and that we are first city in the UK to introduce it.

We have worked with Chris on this since the very initial idea was born and it’s great to see it finally launch.

“The timing is perfect with Christmas around the corner bringing the opportunity for people to earn Perx while out shopping which can be used immediately or when they return in the future. Innovative ideas like this are what we need to encourage people to come to the city centre and to return regularly.”

Reed is working in partnership with cashless parking provider RingGo to promote the ParkingPerx concept.

With Sunderland launched, Reed is planning to roll out the solution into other areas of the UK, saying he has a number of locations already signed up.

airlines and travel agents so customers can book parking at the same time as their flights.

WRO’s sales and marketing director, Jarosław Sztucki, said: “We aim to deliver a seamless airport experience for our passengers and that starts before they book their flight. Bringing this new digital route-to-market online allows our passengers to book and pay for services on the platform and device of their choice. This year it is more important than ever to maximise passenger monetisation and we believe that ParkVia’s e-commerce platform will help to this end.”

ParkVia’s head of strategic accounts, Ilaria Vacca, said: “WRO has an enviable record of growth and the new collaboration will enhance the airport experience for many passengers, presenting them with additional options to pre-plan their journeys.”

26 | DECEMBER 2020 | PARKING REVIEW

Holiday Extras has sold off a car park near London’s Gatwick Airport. The car park is an acre of land off Victoria Road in Horley sited less than a mile from the airport. It was bought by Holiday Extras’ long-term meet & greet parking partner Maple Manor.

Waqaar Hussain, property director at Holiday Extras, said: “We explored a number of potential opportunities for the land including various forms of redevelopment. We were very pleased that the best and most commercially viable use of the site is to continue using it for airport parking, and even more pleased that the people who turned out to have the best plan and offer were our longterm partners Maple Manor Parking.

“We see the continued use of the site for airport parking as a positive signal for the long-term financial prospects for our sector, and we look forward to working with Maple Manor Parking for many years to come.”

Matthew Pack, group chief executive at Holiday Extras, added: “While this has been a difficult year for everyone, our business saw far better summer and autumn trading than we forecast, right up until

the latest lockdown announcement. Having completed a team restructure in the summer, increased and extended our bank funding and sold two car parks, we are now in a strong financial position to weather this winter’s COVID downturn and are ready to help our customers enjoy hassle-free holidays as soon as this latest lockdown comes to an end.”

Tom Kiss, senior executive at Maple Manor, said: “While 2020 has been a challenging year for the whole travel sector, our investment in the site next to Gatwick Airport reflects our confidence in the long-term demand for safe, reliable airport parking.

“We know that bookings will pick up as soon as this temporary lockdown comes to an end, and we’ve invested accordingly to ensure we can continue to give our customers, and the customers we serve via Holiday Extras, the great service they’ve come to expect.”

Holiday Extras provides services such as airport parking, airport hotels, worldwide airport lounges, destination car hire, airport transfers and holiday insurance.

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BUSINESS NEWS

Buying The Parking Shop

Chipside wins global ICT award

Parking and Secure Documents buys rival print services firm Parking and Secure Documents has acquired rival print services and product supplier The Parking Shop. The merger took place on 1 December.

Both UK companies supply enforcement print, car park management products and mailing services for statutory documents for the parking industry.

Croydon-based Parking and Secure Document (PSD) was launched three years ago and is part of Integrity Print, a UKbased specialist printer.

PSD’s core product range of penalty charge notices (PCNs), plastic and recyclable PCN bags, parking permits, pay & display tickets and scratch cards. This product range is complemented by a secure mailing service for statutory documents and general correspondence.

The acquisition of The Parking Shop sees sign solutions and traffic management products

Chipside was presented with 2020 Public/Private Partnership Award at the WITSA Global ICT Excellence Awards.

The World Information Technology and Services Alliance (WITSA) jury were impressed by how Chipside worked with parking and traffic managers at 170 UK local authorities via a working group that is run voluntarily rather than for commercial gain.

The awards formed part of the 2020 TECHFEST Live! event, which was held in Penang, Malaysia on 18-20 November.

David Peach

Gavin Reddin

added to PSD’s portfolio.

The merger with of The Parking Shop also strengthens PSD’s market position, giving it a customer base of 350 local authorities, contractors, off-street parking management companies, hospitals, and universities.

PSD managing director Gavin Reddin said: “This acquisition was the next logical step for PSD and means that between the four directors the company now has nearly 150 years’ experience of the parking industry.”

The Parking Shop has been working in the UK since 1993.

Its managing director, David Peach, will now work with PSD. Peach said: “This move harnesses the strengths of both businesses and gives our customers access to an enhanced product range, unrivalled buying power and top-class customer service.

It’s an exciting development. I’m looking forward to working with the new team and confident that we will grow from strength to strength.”

Driveway fees bring festive cheer

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

An ice little earner?

• Parking Supervisors (Both Enforcement and Back Office)

Homeowners can offset the expense of Christmas by renting out their driveways to motorists needing somewhere to park, according to an online parking portal.

Harrison Woods, managing director at YourParkingSpace.co.uk, said: “Countless households across the UK are more than making ends meet by renting out their empty driveways to motorists needing somewhere to park. The additional income comes in particularly handy to pay for the extra costs that come with Christmas, such as presents, decorations, food spending and other little luxuries.”

Top earning driveway hotspots include London, Brighton and

Edinburgh where residents earn £2,100, £1,944 and £1,896 per year on average respectively.

Woods said that, even in uncertain economic times, driveway income has remained robust. From 2017 to 2020 the average annual driveway income has only changed from £1,130 to £1,106.

“Making an additional income from an empty driveway has to be one of the easiest ways to make some extra money,” he said.

“Although the landscape has shifted in 2020, we’ve already seen that more people are driving rather than using public transport and that when lockdown restrictions are lifted there is a surge in bookings.”

• 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***

PARKING REVIEW | DECEMBER 2020 | 27

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FINANCE Top 10 parking net-revenue earning Metropolitan Districts £16

£0.80

£14

£0.70

£12

£0.60

£10

£0.50

£8

£0.40

£6

£0.30

£4

£0.20

£2

£0.10

£0

£0.00

On-street parking

Off-street parking

Cost of collecting £1 Source: Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government

The costs of charging Parking is an important source of revenue for local authorities, but reducing the provision of spaces for cars is a route to delivering better air quality and tackling traffic congestion. This is a dilemma that is not easy to resolve, writes John Siraut

L

ocal authority parking revenues always seem to cause a stir. In financial year 2019/20 English councils took in £1.8bn from parking charges and fees – however, 40% of that total was raised by the London boroughs. The London boroughs are also different in that 94% of their revenue comes from on-street parking, compared to just 33% outside London.

It costs money to manage parking and this is where London again has an advantage. With generally high parking charges the cost to collect each pound of revenue is generally far lower in London than elsewhere. There are 226 local authorities this year reporting parking revenues of more than £1m. For these the cost of collecting £1 varied from £1.34 in Plymouth (that is, it made a loss on its parking account) to just 6p in Westminster.

This highlights one of the issues when looking at the data: Are we comparing like for like? Is it really true that Wandsworth spends almost twice and Kensington & Chelsea three times as

much as Westminster on operating their on-street parking operations or have some of the latter’s costs been allocated elsewhere?

Bearing this type of caveat in mind, the rest of this article looks at the top net revenue earners by type of local authorities outside of London. First up are the Metropolitan Districts with Birmingham well out in front with net revenues of nearly £15m. Off-street parking in most of these cities is dominated by the private sector and hence the majority of revenue comes from on-street parking.

It is notable that Liverpool earns relatively little from parking in part due to its cost of operations, which is markedly higher than the other districts, which average around 50p per pound collected.

Parking is a major source of revenue for some Unitary Authorities; Brighton’s £25m is well in excess of all but the top earning London boroughs. Along with Milton Keynes it is unusual amongst the non-London boroughs for having such a high level of onstreet parking revenue. Most Unitary Authorities receive the

Top 10 parking net-revenue earning Unitary Authorities

Top 10 parking net-revenue earning Shire Districts

£25

£0.60

£20

£0.50

£6

£0.60

£5

£0.50

£4

£0.40 £0.30

£0.40

£15

£0.30

£10

£0.20

£3

£5

£0.10

£2

£0.20

£-

£-

£1

£0.10 £-

£(0)

On-street parking

Off-street parking

Cost of collecting £1

Source: Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government

30 | DECEMBER 2020 | PARKING REVIEW

On-street parking

Off-street parking

Cost of collecting £1

Source: Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government

PR344_P30-31_Siraut.qxp_PR344_p30-31 14/12/2020 14:40 Page 31

FINANCE

Councils warn they are at breaking point Local authorities warn of insolvency risk without big cuts in local services, writes Mark Moran

M

Local authorities are in a no-win situation when it comes to parking – newspapers refer to ‘profits’ but this is the net current expenditure position John Siraut

majority of their income from off-street operations. It is notable that a significant number of locations in the top-ten are tourist destinations. Operating costs average 40p per pound collected, although Milton Keynes at just 22p has one of the lowest costs in the country.

The Shire Districts show another side of council parking; they are almost completely dependent on off-street parking, with some actually losing money on-street parking. This list is dominated by relatively affluent towns predominantly in the South East that can presumably command higher prices. Operating costs for these districts average around 45p per pound collected.

Local authorities are in a no-win situation when it comes to parking. The newspaper headlines regularly refer to council “profits” of £900m from their parking operations. However, this is the net current expenditure position – no account is taken of depreciation of capital assets or if just looking at cash flow, capital expenditures. Equally, rarely is consideration given to the opportunity cost of allocating prime estate in town and city centres to car parking. The reality is that half of that £900m “profit” accrues to the London boroughs and for some smaller councils parking is a financial liability.

With councils having to grapple with climate change, poor air quality and congestion, they are faced with the dilemma of whether to get rid of their car parks and remove on-street parking to address these challenges or retain them to keep the cash flowing during what is perhaps the worst financial crisis many have ever faced.

John Siraut is director of economics at Jacobs.

Email: john.siraut@jacobs.com www.jacobs.com

any of England’s largest local authorities fear they could be forced into cuts to services next year to remain solvent. The precarious financial position of some local authorities was highlighted in November when the Croydon Council imposed emergency spending limits. The Labour-run authority issued a Section 114 notice banning all new expenditure, with the exception of statutory services for protecting vulnerable people. A Section 114 letter, written by Croydon’s director of finance Lisa Taylor, stated she was “not confident” the council could make the level of savings required to deliver a balanced budget.

This is a concern shared by many other local authorities. Only one in five of England’s largest councils are confident of preventing insolvency without dramatic reductions to services, says the County Councils Network (CCN), whose membership comprises 25 county councils and 11 county Unitary Authorities.

A survey of the network’s members revealed growing concerns about their finances over the next two years. The respondents said that after years of austerity, there is limited scope to reduce non-care services such as libraries, bus routes, and school transport. This means that the most severe reductions are likely to fall on social care services, despite pressures created by coronavirus.

The survey, which received a 100% response rate, shows that just one in five (22%) are “confident” they can deliver a balanced budget next year without “dramatic” reductions to services. Confidence drops further in 2022-23, with just one local authority confident of setting a balanced budget that year. Over half (56%) said service reductions would impact their efforts to tackle coronavirus, with 60% stating it will lead to a “fundamental reduction” in frontline services.

Councils said that the government has provided emergency funding to cover the majority of additional council expenditure to date as a result of the virus, but they face millions in potential unfunded lost income from Council Tax and business rates. Every council in the survey said that lost Council Tax income would impact on their finances moderately (29%) or severely (71%) next year. The CCN said these losses could run to £800m next year, increasing the 36 councils’ funding gap next year to £2.2bn. So far councils say they have only been able to identify £485m worth of savings, leaving a £1.7bn gap.

Central government has provided several tranches of emergency funding for councils. However, county authorities only received 18% of the pot despite representing 48% of the population of England, and leaders of those councils say they have “very little room for manoeuvre” when they are inevitably faced with additional expenditure demands resulting from the second wave of coronavirus.

Cllr David Williams, chair of the County Councils Network, said: “Over the past decade, councils have done all they can to protect frontline services, transforming their organisations so they are more efficient. But as this survey shows, we are quickly running out of ways to meet the funding shortfall without dramatic reductions that will make visible and damaging changes to highly valued services.

“The financial support provided by government over the past year has been very welcome. But even before the onslaught of a second wave, councils were facing difficult choices and they are now left with little room to manoeuvre over the coming months as they face further escalating costs resulting in an immediate cliff-edge next year.”

How confident are you that your council would be able to deliver a balanced budget in the absence of dramatic service reductions for the following years?

Government figures Usually at this time of year the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) publish the final outturn figures for council expenditures and revenues for the preceding financial year. This year, due to the impacts of COVID19, their publication has been delayed and this analysis is based on provisional returns published in October.

Not at all confident

Not confident

2021-22

17%

29%

32%

22%

0%

2022-23

26%

60%

11%

3%

0%

Neutral Confident

Very confident

PARKING REVIEW | DECEMBER 2020 | 31

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BLUE BADGES

Let’s beat the cheats BBFI PUBLIC SECTOR INVESTIGATIONS

2020 saw the highest ever number of fraudulent Blue Badges seized across the UK, but the scheme is still not being enforced properly, argues Paul Slowey

Could you spot a fake Blue Badge?

B

lue Badges are meant exclusively for people who have physical or mental health conditions which means they need to park closer to their destinations.

Blue Badge fraud can include use of a counterfeit or stolen badge, or a badge owned by a deceased family member, as well as wrongful use of a lawfully held badge. Sadly, these permits are open to abuse.

This year marks the 25th anniversary of the landmark Disability Discrimination Act, later replaced with the Equality Act in 2010, so this is a time to look back and remember those who campaigned to make it unlawful to discriminate against disabled people. This anniversary has coincided with BBFi Public Sector Investigation’s latest review of the Department for Transport’s annual Blue Badge misuse figures. A record-breaking number of badges were seized in the last few months, so we asked ourselves why is change not happening quicker?

An average of 57 badges a month have been seized across the year, and up to 124 badges seized in just October this year. While these numbers are up on previous years, it is clear that the message of the importance of the Blue Badge scheme and what it means to the disabled community is not getting through.

As stated by the government: “The Blue Badge scheme helps those with severe mobility problems who have difficulty using public transport to park close to where they need to go.” This

32 | DECEMBER 2020 | PARKING REVIEW

includes being able to park in order to access employment or public transport to then get to your place of work.

BBFi recently sponsored Disability Motoring UK’s Baywatch Campaign, which again generated alarming results, with 95.6% of participants saying that they did not think that local authorities were doing enough to tackle Blue Badge abuse.

But what is the reason for this record number of Blue Badges being seized? Is it down to the fact that there are now more badges available since the change to the scheme in 2019 and giving access to people with hidden disabilities? Or, maybe it is down to the fact that the scheme is not being enforced universally?

Evidence suggests that: • 1-in-5 Blue Badges, or 500,000 out of 2.5 million awarded are being misused • An estimated only 1-in-412 offences are currently prosecuted for badge misuse • Compliance varies greatly across England with only 32 of the 152 English authorities prosecuting 10 or more people for misuse in 2019.

We can highlight many more statistics but what it all adds up to is that there is still a job to be done. Just as the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 and the Equality Act 2010 still have a long way to go, BBFi believes that there is also much to do for people to understand that Blue Badge misuse is a criminal act and that there is penalty for misuse, let alone the morality of upholding the scheme.

BBFi takes enforcement of the scheme seriously and strongly believes that by continuing to work with local authorities and investigating those suspected of misuse, and preparing cases for court and prosecution, we can continue deter misuse and enforce the scheme nationwide.

With a lot of services that the disabled community rely upon being cut or changed over the years, a spotlight is being shone on how we need to raise awareness of how important our national Blue Badge scheme. This scheme is about stopping people from feeling isolated or frustrated because they are unable to do a simple task like visit their local town.

Disabled people are some of the bravest and most courageous people in society. The COVID-19 pandemic has shown just how vulnerable people are. They need a Blue Badge, it is a great scheme, but it needs to be enforced in every borough, every high street, and every car park. No excuses. Enforce the scheme.

Paul Slowey is founder and director of BBFi Public Sector Investigations, which works with local authorities investigating blue badge and housing tenancy fraud Email: info@bbfi.org.uk www.bbfi.org.uk

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BLUE BADGES

BBFI PUBLIC SECTOR INVESTIGATIONS

Fighting the permit fraudsters Waltham Forest Council cracks down on Blue Badge fraud

W

altham Forest Council has been taking action against unscrupulous drivers who misuse Blue Badges and deprive those in genuine need of muchneeded parking spaces. The east London council and its enforcement partner, BBFi Public Sector Investigations, achieved impressive results, removing over 60 Blue Badges for misuse throughout August, September and October during a campaign cracking down misuse and fraud.

A service to identify and enforce against Blue Badge fraud has been in place for a number of years in the borough. After a review of the process, the council identified how it could work with BBFi Public Sector Investigations to increase the amount of actions taken against the fraudsters who make life hard for those in genuine need.

Blue Badges are meant exclusively for people who have physical or mental health conditions which means they need to park closer to their destinations. Blue Badge fraud can include use of a counterfeit or stolen badge, or a badge owned by a deceased family member, as well as wrongful use of a lawfully held badge.

The clampdown started in August, with 303 vehicles being checked and 26 Blue Badges removed for misuse. In September, 399 vehicles were checked with 15 badges being removed, while in October a record 655 vehicles were checked with 23 badges being removed. Over the three months, some 1,350 vehicles were checked and over 60 Blue Badges were removed for illegitimate usage.

Cllr Clyde Loakes, deputy leader and cabinet member for the environment, said: “Blue Badge fraud deprives residents in genuine need and makes life needlessly difficult for those with valid badges and their families. It’s sad but true that there are a minority of road users who are so lazy they would happily make other peoples’ lives difficult for the sake of a convenient parking spot.

“I’m pleased to say now that, working with our partners at BBFi, Blue Badge fraudsters in Waltham Forest will not be able to rest easy.

Every time they leave their vehicle illegally parked and misuse a the badge scheme they will not be able to get comfortable as there is good chance our team will have identified the fraud and will have begun enforcement action, which could include removal of the vehicle. The fraudulent use of Blue Badges causes real difficulties for residents in genuine need and we will not tolerate it in Waltham Forest.”

The campaign has been well received by disabled residents. A Blue Badge user from Waltham Forest, who wished to remain anonymous, said: “The Blue Badge scheme is so important, especially for wheelchair users like me who need to park in the disabled bays

A suspected Blue Badge fraudster’s car is lifted in Walthamstow

The fraudulent use of Blue Badges causes real difficulties for residents in genuine need and we will not tolerate it Cllr Clyde Loakes

because we need the extra space to transfer into our wheelchairs. My badge is vital to me as I would not be able to get around and live independently without it.

“There is not enough enforcement taking place across the country and the scheme is being abused as a result, which is heartbreaking for people like me. I congratulate the council for doing something about it and tackling the issue instead of just ignoring it.

Action is what we want to see, not empty words and platitudes. I dread to think what it would be like if there was nothing being done to tackle this persistent problem.

“I would like to see more people out on the streets checking Blue Badges and also tackling other parking issues which can cause a danger to children and wheelchair users like me, for example parking on dropped kerbs and

parking too close to junctions.”

Paul Slowey, founder and director of BBFi Public Sector Investigations, said: “After seeing thousands of cases I am still amazed that an able-bodied person would pretend to be disabled to get free parking. This is not a victimless crime, disabled people can’t park because the bays are taken up by frauds, the work Waltham Forest are doing in this area is first rate, they are leading the way across London.”

Waltham Forest Council has also carried out work to make disabled parking bays across Waltham Forest enforceable. Most disabled bays in London are advisory – although it is clear they are intended for disabled drivers there are no penalties for misuse of these bays. However, if a driver without genuine need uses an enforceable disabled bay they would be liable for a fine.

This fake Blue Badge appears to show Met Police commissioner Cressida Dick!

PARKING REVIEW | DECEMBER 2020 | 33

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PAYMENT TECHNOLOGY

Paying it forward PayByPhone’s Adam Dolphin talks to Mark Moran about how his role and parking have evolved during 2020

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he need to contain the COVID-19 pandemic over the past year has changed the way we all work and travel. For Adam Dolphin, the personal development opportunities arising from taking on a key role with a leading parking payment provider has been overlaid with the challenges of helping the company and its clients deliver safe and accessible parking services.

Dolphin is sales director for PayByPhone UK, a company that provides mobile web, smartphone and smartwatch applications that enable consumers to pay for parking without having to use terminals. PayByPhone is a subsidiary of Volkswagen Financial Services and operates across the UK, Europe and North America, processing more than £430m in payments annually.

Dolphin joined PayByPhone UK in autumn 2019, after a decade working in phone parking and telecoms. At PayByPhone, Dolphin is responsible for growing the company’s UK client base in the public and private sectors. In addition to overseeing the UK sales team, he is also part of the company’s leadership team, helping to shape the company’s business strategy.

He spoke to Parking Review about his personal experiences of 2020, the way in which PayByPhone has responded to the pandemic, and how the cashless payment sector will evolve in the future.

How has the move to a new company and role worked for you – best bit and most challenging aspect?

It has worked out very well. I really enjoyed working with my previous employer, but I felt it was time for a step-up and a new challenge, which is exactly what PayByPhone has given me. The best bit has been leading the UK sales team to a record-breaking

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year in terms of new client acquisitions. It has been a pleasure to see my team grow and be so successful. The most challenging aspect has been lockdown and a shift to remote working. Of paramount importance has been making sure my team stayed fit and healthy, both physically and mentally, and making sure they stayed engaged and productive. It is a great credit to each of them that they have achieved this with great success.

What is the main personal and/or professional ambition you currently have?

My professional ambition is to be in a role where I am directly contributing to the business’s success – and at PayByPhone I am achieving that. Delivering over 40 new contract wins in 2020 has obviously helped and I’m also part of the UK leadership team so I can make a tangible difference.

As for a personal ambition, it is to become Hampshire’s number one BBQ pit master! I was smoking meats on the BBQ more over lockdown, but I’m not sure I’ll be in a rush to cook a whole brisket again; it took 17 hours!

How has working in a time of lockdown and pandemic been for you as a person?

It’s been good, actually. On a personal level, of course it has been difficult at times, especially not being able to see friends and family, but having a positive attitude and realising I am certainly luckier than many people has helped put things into perspective.

Professionally, the pandemic has presented new management challenges, but we’ve overcome them as a team, and I’ve improved my management and leadership skills significantly as a result.

We remained very busy over lockdown despite our transactions dropping by 90%. We were contacted by a number of local authorities who didn’t have a cashless parking solution and who wanted to provide a safe way for their residents, visitors and businesses to pay for parking when charging resumed. It was great to be able to contribute to the UK’s recovery in that way. paybyphone.co.uk

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PAYMENT TECHNOLOGY

Greener and cleaner parking PayByPhone has developed services that make parking easier and environmentally-friendly How has the PayByPhone UK portfolio grown and changed over the past 12 months?

We have experienced tremendous growth since the beginning of 2019, winning over 80 new contracts. Some of our new clients have switched from other providers but many, particularly since the start of the pandemic, are first-time adopters of cashless parking. Many local authorities have come to us specifically to implement a cashless parking payment system – and to do it as quickly as possible – as they want to protect residents and visitors, as well as their own council employees, by eliminating the need to handle cash or to touch parking machines.

What new services and functionalities have been brought to market in recent months?

Our established Rights and Rates feature has truly come into its own in recent months. It allows our local authority clients to offer free or discounted parking to selected user groups. It has the flexibility for them to manage the tariffs themselves, so they can change the parameters whenever needed. Rights and Rates has enabled free parking to be offered to NHS staff and, in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, to contractors working on Grenfell Tower.

Removing the worry around the cost of parking means they can concentrate on the important work they’re undertaking.

How does PayByPhone assess the demand for/success of functions like Extend-from-Anywhere or Find My Car? We are always looking for ways to simplify our users’ journeys and make parking, and paying for parking sessions, as hassle-free as possible. Our Extend-from-Anywhere feature enables drivers to extend their parking sessions remotely. This means drivers don’t have to worry about rushing back to their cars to extend their parking session, or to risk parking fines. Local businesses also see the value in this feature as people are more likely to stay around longer when they can extend their parking sessions from their mobile devices, or even from an Apple Watch with watchOS 4 or higher.

Our Maps and Nearby Parking features have been designed to simplify the parking process and make every stage of it as easy as possible for drivers. The Maps feature lets drivers locate parking areas before they leave for their destination and to pin their vehicle location onto the map once they have parked – this means drivers don’t need to worry about remembering where they’ve parked. The Nearby Parking feature instantly provides drivers with the closest PayByPhone parking location number once parked, so they don’t have to get out of the vehicle until they are all set to go.

Our Rights and Rates feature benefits our local authority clients, for example, by enabling them to offer free or concessionary parking rates to eligible drivers. This feature is proving particularly useful for NHS hospital trusts as they seek to implement the latest government guidelines on free parking to staff working night shifts, patients with long-term conditions, disabled people, and parents of children staying overnight.

more comprehensive as it will allow our clients the flexibility to use any or all of the fuel-type and emissions-based criteria when setting their tariffs. The new version will also allow councils to charge visitors the same emission-based tariffs as residents.

Are clients looking to use PayByPhone as a permit system?

Ealing Council in west London approached us in 2019 to help replace its existing paper-based permit system. The number of applications for visitor parking for both residents and businesses had soared over the last 15 years and the existing paper scratch card and online session booking options were very time-consuming and complicated.

The council wanted a solution that was quick, easy and secure. We worked closely with them to develop a bespoke addition to the PayByPhone app that processes permit applications in minutes rather than weeks, using postcode-mapping software. It saves the council’s parking team time and resources making the process much easier for the borough’s residents and businesses.

How is the tree planting initiative developing?

The initiative is developing better than we could have ever hoped.

Caring for the environment and the communities in which we work is a key focus for us, which is why we’re so pleased with the success of our multi-award-winning programme, Meters for Trees, and our Green Christmas initiative which we ran in 2019. We are busy signing up new Councils to Meters for Trees and each time we do, we know that we are contributing to a cleaner environment by reducing carbon emissions here in the UK. And by removing parking machines, we eliminate the need for enforcement vehicles, which would otherwise be on the roads collecting cash, clocking up miles and releasing harmful tailpipe emissions. For councils who sign up to Meters for Trees, we commit to offset roughly one tonne of carbon dioxide for every ten council parking machines on their estate through the Portel-Pará REDD project, which is a Verified Carbon Standard (VCS) audited project in the Amazon rainforest that combats deforestation, and by donating one tree to the council. Most recently we have signed up Aberdeen City Council to Meters for Trees. And we are very pleased as this is the first Scottish council to sign up to it.

How international is the company’s approach, and are ideas and services developed in the UK adopted by overseas divisions (and vice versa)?

PayByPhone is truly a global platform with 35 million registered users across the 10 countries in which we operate – Australia, Belgium, Canada, France, Ireland, Monaco, The Netherlands, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and the United States. In 2019 alone, we processed 128 million transactions. So, users who travel from country to country only need to register on one app to pay for parking.

This works particularly well for us going to Europe, and means tourists coming to the UK can use their PayByPhone account when they park in the Cotswolds, for example. For local authorities, our global approach means best practice and innovation is shared amongst our client base.

We have world-leading cities from a transport perspective on our platform – Paris, San Francisco, Vancouver – and we share all incremental improvements with our clients.

Has PayByPhone developed and implemented any emissionsbased services?

Yes, we developed our Emissions option, which works by carrying out a DVLA check on a vehicle registration number the first time it is entered into our system. This check pulls out relevant information about the vehicle and our app then automatically charges the associated tariff agreed by the local authority. This is currently based purely on fuel-type and was adopted by the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea in April 2020. It wanted a simple three-tier system that would offer a regular tariff to petrol/hybrid vehicles, a discounted tariff for electric vehicles and a surcharge for diesel vehicles. However, we know going forward it’s imperative more diverse criteria are included in the system, such as CO2 emissions and the Euro 6 Standard. So, taking this into account, we are upgrading our Emissions option, which will launch in January 2021. It will be

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PAYMENT TECHNOLOGY

The evolving payment market

PayByPhone emissions-based parking option

PayByPhone’s Adam Dolphin discusses how the sector could evolve Will there ever be totally cashless parking or is there still a need to offer cash payment alternatives, such as at terminals, in shops?

Cashless is certainly king, and it was moving in that direction even before the pandemic. Statistically, 1-in-10 adults in the UK is already leading a largely cashless life, with 7-in-10 choosing contactless payments. Since the pandemic began, cashless has seen a huge spike in popularity. But there are still people who will always prefer to use cash, or who don’t have access to a bank account. So, to remain socially inclusive, we have an arrangement with PayPoint – a leader in payments retail technology and services – to enable drivers to pay for their parking sessions in cash at any one of PayPoint’s 27,500 shops across the UK. What is the potential to trigger parking payments using ANPR or geolocation services rather than manually via a phone app?

We are already there. In many places ANPR and geolocation services are the norm. We have an option called AutoPay, which we launched with NCP-managed Transport for London (TfL) car parks. AutoPay makes parking quick, easy and more secure for drivers.

When a registered user enters one of the TfL-NCP car parks where the system is available, the time their vehicle spends in that car park is recorded thanks to ANPR technology. The user is then automatically billed for the parking session. There is no manual transaction involved.

This is great for users as it is completely hassle-free, they always pay the correct amount for their parking sessions, and it means they will never run the risk of getting a parking charge notice (PCN).

Is there potential for phone parking systems to also process electric vehicle charging payments?

Yes, there is. Work is currently underway to include details of electric charging points within the PayByPhone UK app as a first step to support motorists choosing to use EVs. This is already well-advanced in development and we expect this to be released next year. It will include real-time information regarding the availability of the charging point. The functionality in our app will be extended in successive steps to allow the cost of the electric charging event – together with any corresponding parking charges – to be paid in the same way as the parking session is currently. Not all charging points will be integrated immediately of course, but a systematic approach of rolling integration will be taking place.

Is the pre-booking of parking, now common at airports, something that will become more common in general use?

In certain locations, yes, but I don’t believe this will be generally available anytime soon. What will become more common is the ease with which motorists can find and pay for parking. Working in partnership with our owners at Volkswagen Financial Services, we will be leading the way in space availability tools and last mile delivery solutions.

How are phone parking services being integrated into cars?

Over the next few years, particularly with fully autonomous vehicles, we will see a true integration of parking services in smart or connected cars. Over the next two to five years we will see parking offered as a built-in function of these vehicles. The technology in the car will communicate with the parking services’ back-end infrastructure and provide a variety of parking functions to drivers, including identification of parking zones, parking payments and

2020: A year of working differently PayByPhone changed the way it worked during the pandemic How COVID-19 impacted on the phone parking sector?

The COVID-19 lockdown, of course, impacted parking, just as it did nearly every other business sector. But once we started to emerge from that we saw a significant bounce back; people were opting to drive rather than use public transport, and drivers wanted to avoid touching parking machines and handling cash. Existing clients, such as Croydon University Hospital, noticed a marked increase in the number of cashless transactions since the outbreak of the pandemic. And in the wake of the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) advice against using cash payments whenever possible to mitigate the risk of transmitting the virus, we have taken on many new clients – new to us and new to cashless

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parking – who have been eager to introduce a safe, cashless alternative to parking machines. We have also supplied them with specially produced COVID packs, which included special stickers and stencils, to assist with the transition.

Hospitals that we work with have offered free or concessionary parking to staff and visitors since lockdown quickly and easily through our Rights and Rates feature. It has the flexibility to allow them to change the parameters as time goes on.

How has the company adapted its back office and front line working regime to cope with the pandemic in the UK? The health and safety of our employees is paramount, while we continue to deliver the exceptional service our users and clients have come to expect from us. We quickly moved to a remote business model, as many other businesses did, in line with

government guidelines in the Spring.

As a tech company we embraced different tech options over and above the basic platforms to keep the team working effectively. We also put in place some initiatives to keep things running smoothly and to help our team adapt to this new way of working, which have proved very successful since March. These include daily check-ins from the management team and focussing only on two-week sprints of work so people don’t get overburdened.

We have also worked very hard to maintain our team spirit and our company culture. Some of the initiatives have included a music club, and something called ‘Donut Buddies’ where team members are randomly paired up on the Slack communication platform – they meet virtually for a “coffee and a donut”, and chat about things unrelated to work. These things may all sound very simple, but they have allowed us to maintain our sense of office camaraderie even though we aren’t all sitting next to each other.

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PAYMENT TECHNOLOGY automatic authentication at barrier-operated car parks. These connected vehicles will also provide real-time information to drivers about parking, maps and accidents, rather like the information you can already access from your mobile device.

Is there a case for saying the UK cashless parking market is over-saturated?

Definitely not. There are still plenty of opportunities for growth in the cashless parking payment market. As we have seen, with the large number of people – 10% in the UK – opting to lead an essentially cashless life, and 70% choosing contactless payments, the trend was already moving towards a cashless life before the pandemic. And since the pandemic, the WHO’s advice against using cash payments whenever possible to mitigate the risk of transmitting the virus, indicates this is a trend that’s sure to continue – and we have seen this for ourselves, with 18 new-to-cashless local authorities signing up for our services since the spring.

Is there merit in concepts that allow more than one payment channel or app to be used – either on a limited basis or a completely open basis?

Multi-vendor systems exist and are in use in Belgium and the Netherlands, for example, where we operate. Whilst it is technically possibly to achieve, local authorities should ask themselves what they are trying to achieve by offering this solution?

In Paris, PayByPhone was the sole provider of cashless parking for several years until the Council moved to a multi-vendor model in 2018. PayByPhone has retained over 96% of the transactions and there has been no noticeable increase in the overall adoption of cashless parking – in other words users weren’t put off using cashless parking just because their ‘favourite’ solution wasn’t available. In fact, research shows that users can be put off using cashless parking by the complexity of multi-vendor signage.

The UK parking market has moved from a model of intense competition to a one essentially dominated by two providers – one of which is PayByPhone. We enjoy the economies of scale thanks to

DELIVERING, MANAGING, ENFORCING

WORKPLACE PARKING LEVY CLEAN AIR ZONES WEBINAR SERIES

Tuesday 19 January 2021 VIRTUAL EVENT

The air quality agenda and chronic traffic congestion in the UK’s urban centres have pushed traffic and parking management up the policy agenda at both a national and local government level.

A number of UK councils are now giving serious consideration to introducing Workplace Parking Levy (WPL) schemes as a way of reducing traffic congestion, funding public transport and improving air quality.

Organised by:

This webinar will see the team that delivered Nottingham’s award-winning Workplace Parking Levy scheme share insights into policy aims, planning, operational and its positive impact on travel and air quality in the city.

It will also feature local authorities that are considering WPL schemes and expert input from consultants specialising in the subject.

Adam Dolphin being a wholly-owned subsidiary of Volkswagen Financial Services.

The other dominant provider is also part of an international group and this means we both can meet the low-price expectations of UK municipalities. And for UK motorists, having the two leading apps on their phone means they can enjoy the convenience of cashless parking almost everywhere.

Sponsored by:

Presented by:

Register free to attend: www.TransportXtra.com/events Speakers include:

Nigel Hallam, WPL Service Manager, Nottingham City Council

Jason Gooding, Head of Parking, Fleet and Transport, Nottingham City Council Sir Peter Soulsby, Mayor of Leicester

Sue Flack, Director, Sue Flack Consultancy

Nick Ruxton-Boyle, Director of Environment, Marston Holdings

Who should attend:

Traffic and transport engineers Parking managers Enforcement managers Transport planners Councillors and cabinet members Consultants Chambers of Commerce Lawyers Technology and service suppliers

To propose a new webinar in this series, please contact: jason@landor.co.uk

PARKING REVIEW | DECEMBER 2020 | 39

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CONNECTED CARS

Driven by information In-vehicle telematics and smartphone apps will transform how we travel by car, predicts an RAC Foundation report by Andy Graham

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veryday technology already installed in vehicles or added by drivers could enable a range of connected services to be developed and deployed, making driving smoother and safer and traffic management more efficient and effective, but only if gaps in the chain between data generation, collection and ultimately data use are plugged. Dashcams, black-box insurance products, smartphone apps and satnavs all generate huge volumes of data, but the key to making the most of that data lies in getting it, appropriately processed, into the hands of those taking the decisions, be they the drivers of vehicles or those responsible for designing and managing traffic control systems. This is an institutional rather than a technological issue, with the challenge of developing a compelling business model to get the right people in the right places with the right skills to maximise the value of the data coming through.

In-vehicle telematics systems and smartphone apps generate a wealth of data about the speed at which vehicles are moving and their locations. If this data was made accessible to others then the location and speed could detect queues at traffic lights to improve their timing plans, while processed images of the road and data on acceleration and deceleration could reveal the condition of the road surface and inform the highway authority’s maintenance and repair plans. This same connectivity could be used to inform drivers of the best speed to drive at to go through the next set of traffic lights at green, and also add extra warnings and information into their vehicles, ranging from parking availability to telling drivers of hazards where there are no gantry signs available.

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Perhaps the most widespread connected vehicle service already transmitted to drivers is guidance from various satnav services, but other services are starting to become more common – for example, the displaying of the location and availability of parking spaces. Looking ahead, more data from road operators could also be processed by these service providers into messages that are sent to the road user directly, to help inform and change their behaviour.

A new RAC Foundation report produced by Andy Graham of White Willow Consulting looks at four examples where data is collected and shared through connectivity: • In-vehicle signage (IVS) – displaying road signs and warnings to the driver inside the vehicle • Green Light Optimal Speed Advisory (GLOSA) – which tells drivers what speed to adopt to pass through the next set of traffic lights on green • using vehicle data to improve road maintenance • using vehicle data to improve traffic light timings.

Graham concludes that in each instance there is potential for wide benefits to be achieved, but action will be needed to fill a set of current gaps in the delivery chain without which that potential will not be realised.

In the report, titled Driven by information: Securing the benefits from connected vehicles, Graham says that there is a risk of allowing the best to become the enemy of the good. He also suggests that there is potential to bring forward the benefits of connectivity by focussing on specific applications and specific

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CONNECTED CARS

Closing the skills gap Testing technology alone is not enough – there is no single silver bullet solution Andy Graham

locations, rather than trying to develop a universal high tech solution. He writes: “Early services need simply to be ‘good enough’ to make ‘enough roads’ better.”

Amongst solutions to filling the gaps are for the Department for Transport (DfT) and the Centre for Connected and Autonomous Vehicles (CCAV) to set out a strategy for securing the early benefits of connectivity, to support wider evaluation and awareness of its benefits across both industry and highway authorities, and to consider establishing a central data warehouse that individual local highway authorities could more easily access.

Graham writes: “I was delighted to undertake this research for the RAC Foundation. It reinforced my view that the complete detailed data chain needs to be in place for benefits to flow widely.

It must also include softer aspects like driver acceptance and trust, training and support for highway authorities and ensuring a focus on all road users’ data, not just that harvested from new cars. Testing technology alone is not enough. It also shows there is no single silver bullet solution. I found many gaps across the four services that are common which need to be filled by many different players in the data chain. Work is already starting on completing some of these gaps, but they all need to be filled for the full benefits to flow.

“The four services I looked at can all use existing 4G communications for ‘good enough’ services and also ‘piggy back’ on one another to increase benefits. We need to combine services as drivers do not know or care about the difference between them.

We need to think of what the driver wants first, not the technology definitions. The UK leads the way technically in many of the service areas I looked at, especially with new innovations in traffic lights and asset management. But taking these ideas from technical research to wider day-to-day use by practitioners remains the challenge.”

Responding to the report, Steve Gooding, director of the RAC Foundation, says: “The modern car is sometimes described as being akin to a mobile phone on wheels, such is its ability to receive and transmit information. But what benefits might connectivity enable?

“In-vehicle telematics systems and apps on smartphones in vehicles of all ages and types generate data about a wide range of things, from the speed at which the vehicle is moving and its location, through to capture of images from dashcams or smartphones and through to the acceleration of the vehicle.

“Location and speed data can enable highway authorities to monitor queuing at traffic lights and retune their timing, while processed images of the road surface and data on acceleration and braking can allow real-time monitoring of road surface condition and thus inform highway authorities’ maintenance and repair plans to save money. Tackling these issues now by filling these gaps could be an important step on the way to ensuring highly automated and ultimately autonomous vehicles both generate and receive the data they will need to provide smooth, safe and efficient travel for the road users of the future.”

Driven by information: Securing the benefits from connected vehicles is available to download here: www.racfoundation.org/research/mobility/ driven-by-information

The human dimension needs to be considered when digitising Traffic Regulation Orders

I

f a highway authority does not have people with the skills to understand the data it already has and ensure the quality of newly published data in the future, in-vehicle signage (IVS) will not be furnished with the data it requires to provide in-vehicle services which improve safety. Accurate base data (for example fixed sign locations and fixed speed limits) and accurate and timely dynamic data that drivers will trust (such as dynamic speed limits and roadworks information) is fundamental. This is because users simply will not trust the information shown in the vehicle if it is outof-date or located wrongly, or if it contradicts the fixed signing.

There is little benefit in making a connected chain if the basic input data is poor.

One key part of the skills gap is in digitising transport data, as the basic data for IVS must be in a digital form. For example, digitised Traffic Regulation Orders (TROs) would define speed limit information directly and thus avoid the need to read signs with cameras. Currently, TROs are often paper documents. They define the legal basis for, and location of, speed limits, whereas cameras reading signs at the roadside do not have this legally compliant foundation, and are currently a workaround in the absence of the digital data.

TROs also define parking rules and regulations, and width and height limits, so there will be a need to have them digitised so that highly automated vehicles can navigate networks. Furthermore, they need to be able to change dynamically – to reflect temporary speed limits at roadworks, for example.

One of the challenges in digitising TROs is that the roadside estate (signs and yellow lines) does not always fully match the TRO legal definition. This can be for a variety of reasons – for example, the failure to update paper TROs as networks change, and as speed limit signs are sometimes put on existing poles in locations where the limit does not apply. Hence there is a back catalogue of TROs that might not tie-up with the roadside information. A simple and effective solution here to work around the problem would be for highway authorities to use off-the-shelf technology to scan the network and make a digital twin of it, and then make the digital TROs derived from that twin match the physical layout found on the ground. This process can identify errors and inconsistencies in digital TROs, but requires a change in the legislative process for TROs. Work has already started on disseminating updated roadworks information, for example to satnavs, but wider coverage would enable better deployment. This will also be essential for automated vehicles. It must also be delivered in a cyber-secure manner, another area where authorities tend to lack skills. All of this requires skills and resource, not simply access to the data. While larger authorities may have these skills, many do not. Training and transfer of skills would assist this, but many authorities have limited resources. The Department for Transport is already running research projects looking at unlocking data held in silos and in developing digital TROs, but the underlying skills problem should be addressed, possibly by means of getting authorities to share resources.

Extract from Driven by Information: Securing the benefits from connected vehicles by Andy Graham

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ELECTRIC VEHICLES

CMA reviews EV charging market Competition and Markets Authority looks at sector The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) is conducting a review of the emerging electric vehicle charging sector.

The sector is still in the early stages of development, but is growing quickly. The UK currently has almost 20,000 chargepoints, up from around 1,500 in 2011.

The UK government decision to bring forward a planned ban of new petrol and diesel vehicles to 2030 makes the switch to electric vehicles more imminent for UK drivers, meaning a period of infrastructure expansion will occur over the next few years.

The CMA is, therefore, considering how to ensure the sector works well for people now and in the future, which will help to build trust in the service and address any competition issues.

Research shows that “range anxiety” or not being able to recharge while out and about is a key concern for many consumers.

The CMA’s work will centre on

There are around 20,000 chargepoints across the UK two broad themes: • how to develop a competitive sector while also attracting private investment to help the sector grow • how to ensure people using electric vehicle chargepoints have confidence that they can get the best out of the service

The scope of the market study is the supply of chargepoints for plug-in hybrid and all-electric ‘passenger’ electric vehicles, comprising cars and light vans. The CMA will look at charging in a range of different settings including home and off-street parking; on-street parking; workplace; hub

Devon partnership delivers charging in car parks

Cllr Jackie Hook, Cllr Stuart Hughes, Cllr Keith Baldry, Highways England’s Brian Cull and Justin Meyer, general manager SWARCO eVolt, at Chudleigh Library car park A three-way local authority partnership is seeing electric vehicle (EV) chargepoints being installed at council car parks in Devon. The project is a partnership between Devon County Council, Teignbridge District Council and South Hams District Council.

Chargepoints were installed at the Chudleigh Library car park, Buckfastleigh’s Mardle Way car park and Ivybridge’s Glanvilles Mill car park.

The project has been made possible by £175,000 funding from Highways England’s Designated Funding programme, which assists local authorities to improve air quality across the country, helping Devon County Council and district councils to work together to deliver EV charging points along the A38 in Devon.

Devon County Council and the district councils are working to deliver the

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government-funded Deletti project, the first phase of which aims to deliver at least 25 charging points in public car parks across the county from early next year.

The county council is also working with the private sector on the government-funded ‘Street Hubz’ project which aims to deliver at least 100 onstreet EV charging points in Exeter from next year.

All three projects are part of local authority efforts to help reduce carbon emissions in Devon. Last year Devon declared a ‘climate emergency’ and formed the Devon Climate Emergency Response Group (DCERG).

The DCERG is a group of 25 influential business groups, public sector bodies and councils – including Devon County Council, Teignbridge District Council and South Hams District Council. They are working together to reduce carbon emissions and create a Devon Carbon Plan – a road map to carbon neutrality.

and destination; and en-route charging.

The CMA intends to conclude its market study well within the 12-month deadline, so that it can help shape competition and boost consumer confidence in this developing sector.

Andrea Coscelli, chief executive of the CMA, said: “Making the switch to electric vehicles is key to helping the UK become greener, which is why it’s so important that everyone has the confidence to get behind the move. Being able to easily stop off at a petrol station is a standard part of a journey and consumers must trust that electric chargepoints will provide a similarly straightforward service.

“By getting involved early as electric vehicles and chargepoints are still developing, the CMA can make sure consumers are treated fairly now and in the future.”

Market studies can make recommendations to government or other bodies, and issue guidance to businesses and consumers as needed, among other options.

Views on the issues raised have to be submitted by 5 January 2021.

Scots R&D investment Scottish Enterprise and Transport Scotland is commissioning research to improve the electric vehicle charging experience.

One project will explore how to ensure EV charging points are accessible to the elderly and drivers with disabilities.

“Existing charging infrastructure is not wellsuited to their needs,” says Scottish Enterprise.

Another project will develop technological solutions to stop EV chargepoint bays being blocked by drivers who have finished charging, or by owners of internal combustion engine vehicles.

Up to six research contracts could receive initial funding for a maximum of 12 weeks.

A second phase of the projects will award further cash to develop the best ideas with prototypes and field testing in Scotland. The budget is £580,000.

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£30m boost for Welsh charging infrastructure Welsh Government wants to transform motoring by 2030 The Welsh Government has published a strategy designed to bring about a substantial increase in the number of electric car charging points in Wales.

The strategy is based on a vision that by 2025 all users of electric cars and vans in Wales will feel confident that they can access electric vehicle charging infrastructure when and where they need it.

Proposed investment of £30m over five years will be set aside to help with delivery.

A consultation on the strategy has been launched, as part of the Welsh Government’s ongoing efforts to support the transition to low emission vehicles. The UK Government recently announcement of the end of the sale of new petrol and diesel cars in the UK by 2030.

Currently just 0.17% of vehicles used in Wales are electric.

Increasing the number of electric cars on roads is part of efforts to achieve a major reduction in carbon emissions from the transport network – as outlined in the draft transport strategy published on 17 November.

Discussion with consumers identified a number of issues that reduced confidence in using electric vehicles.

To address this the Welsh Government has listed desired

Ken Skates MS outcomes to increase confidence, including: • payment to be possible by contactless payment and an associated app based system, with simple and accessible pricing information • consistent information about charging on main roads • reliable and available infrastructure • 24/7 customer care to support drivers • safe, well-lit environments for charging facilities.

Other steps to improve access to charging points include better provision at homes and offices, on-street fast charging being encouraged throughout Wales, and a rapid charging network being provided on main roads.

Over the next decade the strategy identifies the need for between 30,000 and 50,000 fast chargers and 2,000 to 3,500 rapid/ultra-rapid chargers.

Ken Skates, minister for economy, transport and North Wales, said: “We are at the early stages

Smart charging energy network trials A trial of ‘smart’ electric vehicle charging is to be held in North West England and north and Mid-Wales.

Smart charging can reduce the need for costly upgrades of the local electricity networks because the system automatically detects whether the chargepoint operator needs to

reduce chargepoint capacity during periods of peak electricity demand. It also increases chargepoint capacity during off-peak periods or when power from alternative sources such as solar PV (photovoltaics) is available.

Distribution network operator SP Energy Networks is leading the

Portsmouth creates EV-only street bays Portsmouth city Council is to create a further 61 electric vehicle parking bays in residential streets as it expands its network of lamp column charging points.

Portsmouth believes it is the only council in the country to have created EV-only parking bays beside lamp columns fitted with chargers in residential streets.

Thirty-six chargers were installed in response to resident requests with the help of a £100,000 grant from the government’s Office for Zero Emission Vehicles (OZEV) that covered 75% of the costs. The new chargers will be funded with the help of a further £229,680 OZEV grant. All but three of the existing parking bays beside the lamp columns are dedicated for EVs. Portsmouth says dedicated charging bays reduce the cost of charging for EV owners.

“Marked bays can drive the cost of electricity down for the user as they are more attractive to the supplier through

guaranteed accessibility,” Tristan Samuels, Portsmouth’s director of regeneration, told councillors.

Penalty charge notices (PCNs) can be issued against vehicles parked in the bay and not connected to the electricity supply.

Residents’ Parking Zone (RPZ) restrictions do not apply to bays located within the zones, enabling chargepoints to be used by any EV owner.

A survey of EV owners who use the existing lamp-post chargers found that 92% said that not being able to access their nearest EV parking bay was a problem at times. Non-electric vehicles occupying the bays are a common complaint.

Portsmouth says many EV owners communicate with other nearby EV owners through messaging groups such as WhatsApp to arrange EV charging, or by using apps such as Plugshare that indicate when charging points are in use.

The lamp-post chargers can charge a

of a transport revolution that will see the phasing out of petrol and diesel cars and vans. To tackle the climate emergency our transport system must become cleaner and greener.

“Electric vehicles is an emerging market but one that will be integral to how we travel in the coming years. Improvements cannot be driven by government alone, and this strategy will support the public, private and third sector to work together in giving people confidence in using electric vehicles.”

Transport currently makes up 17% of Wales’ carbon emissions and is the third largest contributor to greenhouse gas emissions in Wales.

Where it is feasible, the Welsh Government suggests that slow charging at home can offer the most convenient and cost-effective charging option.

Away from home, fast and rapid/ultra-fast charging, for example at dedicated stations, is seen as a way help people have the confidence to complete journeys. project, which will cover its operating areas of Cheshire, Merseyside, North Shropshire, and North and Mid-Wales.

SP Energy is seeking businesses, developers and chargepoint operators to take part in the trials.

The pilots are part of the Charge project, which involves SP Energy Networks, EA Technology, PTV Group and Smarter Grid Solutions.

vehicle in about six hours. Charging times for plug-in hybrids are shorter because their batteries are smaller.

The chargers are fitted directly into lamp columns located next to the kerb. Where columns are located at the back of the pavement a satellite bollard is installed at the kerb with the electricity supply from the lamp column fed under the pavement.

The chargepoints are supplied and operated by Ubitricity. They can be used ‘pay-as-you-go’ using a standard charging cable or with Ubitricity’s ‘SmartCable’.

Three tariff options are available: • pay-as-you-go: 22.9p/kWh (£65.27 per 1,000 miles, based on the calculation by myurbancar.com) • flex: 14.9p/kWh (£42.47 per 1,000 miles); plus a plug-in fee of 19p per charging event, and a £199 one-off cost for Ubitricity’s SmartCable • subscription: 12.9p/kWh (£36.77 per 1,000 miles), plus a £6.99 monthly subscription charge, and a £99 one-off cost for Ubitricity’s ‘SmartCable’.

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ELECTRIC VEHICLES

The Gridserve Electric Forecourt in Braintree

Filling up on sunshine Gridserve plans to create a network of facilities that promote electric motoring

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wners of electric vehicles embarking on long journeys often experience a feeling called “range anxiety”, a sense of disquiet stemming from the uncertainty that they will find a place to recharge their car along the route. Besides the challenge of locating publically available charging points at service areas, in car parks or at the kerbside, EV owners are currently confronted with an array of chargepoint types which top-up their car batteries at a different speeds, may require connecting using a variety of cable designs and often require the driver to sign up as a network member in order to activate the service.

But what if re-charging an electric car was as straightforward as topping up a petrol or diesel powered vehicle? Imagine a forecourt where EV owners can pull up, plug-in and re-charge rapidly without fuss, and where they can buy a cup of coffee or play with the kids while they wait. This is the vision that has driven Toddington Harper, who says his mission is to provide people with the confidence that the UK will have the charging infrastructure required for mass EV adoption well ahead of the 2030 ban on petrol and diesel cars. This mission has seen Harper’s company Gridserve open what is being billed as the UK’s first forecourt dedicated to EVs. The first Electric Forecourt opened at Braintree in Essex on 7 December. The facility can charge a total of 36 electric vehicles simultaneously. The forecourt features a range of chargers that can deliver up to 350kW of charging power, including six Tesla superchargers.

Current battery technology means that 350kW chargers can add 200 miles of range with 20 minutes’ charging.

Toddington Harper, the founder and chief executive of

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Gridserve, said he wants to make EV driving a stress-free experience that delivers EV driving at a cost lower than driving petrol or diesel vehicles. Braintree is just the first in what is envisaged to be a national network. Gridserve has a £1bn programme that will see the opening of 100 Electric Forecourts across the UK over the next five years. Harper says: “The first Electric Forecourt represents a major milestone in achieving Gridserve’s purpose to deliver sustainable energy and move the needle on climate change. It’s our collective responsibility to prevent greenhouse gas emissions rising further, and electric vehicles powered by clean energy represent a large part of the solution.

“However, charging has to be simple and free of anxiety, which is why we’ve designed our Electric Forecourts entirely around the needs of drivers, updating the traditional petrol station model for a Net Zero carbon world and delivering the confidence people need to make the switch to electric transport today – a full decade ahead of the 2030 ban on petrol and diesel cars. Together with our charging-included electric vehicle leasing business, that we are also launching today in partnership with Hitachi Capital (UK) PLC, people now have the full confidence to make the transition to an electric vehicle, knowing that charging is in-hand, and it’s actually less expensive to use an electric car than a petrol or diesel alternative.”

The Braintree forecourt, located adjacent to Great Notley, just off the A131, has been jointly funded by Gridserve and Hitachi Capital (UK), with support from the UK government via Innovate UK and the Office for Zero Emissions Vehicles (the new name for the Office for Low Emission Vehicles).

Transport minister Rachel Maclean marked the forecourt’s opening by saying: “As we accelerate towards cleaner and greener transport, I’m delighted to see the future of service stations being brought to life with the opening of the UK’s first all-electric forecourt. Government funding has helped make

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ELECTRIC VEHICLES

The Electric Forecourt site just off the A131

this dream a reality and with £2.8bn of support to encourage the uptake of zero emission vehicles, there has never been a better time to make the switch.”

Solar-powered motoring The Electric Forecourt is part of Gridserve’s wider ‘sun-towheel’ infrastructure, built to deliver low cost, net zero carbon energy to every vehicle that uses one of the chargers. The electricity on offer is generated from both the solar power canopies above the chargers, and a network of hybrid solar farms, which are also operated by Gridserve.

The Braintree Electric Forecourt is paired with Gridserve’s solar farm at Clay Hill, which is located at Flitwick in Bedfordshire via the National Grid. Clay Hill, which Gridserve acquired in August, was the UK’s first solar farm to be built free from government subsidy. The site provides grid services and generates enough electricity to drive electric vehicles 40 million miles per year or generate enough energy for 2,500 homes while saving around 4,500 tonnes of carbon annually.

There is also a 6MWh battery on-site that helps to balance the local energy grid and shift energy to periods when it is more valuable. For example, on windy winter nights the battery can store enough energy to drive 24,000 miles in electric vehicles the following day, helping to maximise the value of renewable energy resources, stabilise the grid and keep prices low.

Drivers charging their vehicles at the Electric Forecourt will initially pay just 24p per kWh of energy (including VAT). This means a typical charge from 20% to 80% costs under £10 for an average-size electric vehicle on the market today. To deliver additional flexibility, Gridserve plans to introduce a tiered pricing structure in the future.

Ian Cameron, head of customer service and innovation at UK Power Networks said: “We see a future where venues like this can offer energy services to help balance the electricity network, creating new income streams, getting more clean energy onto the network and ultimately lowering costs for customers. This is a unique project but it won’t be the last and we’re tremendously excited to help make it a reality.”

To further reduce the environmental impact of EVs, Gridserve has partnered with a tree planting organisation that will plant 100 trees for every electric vehicle leased through the service.

The aim is to minimise the carbon emissions from supply chain processes, such as manufacturing.

Re-charging drivers While vehicles charge, drivers will be able relax and shop in a dedicated building that includes retail space operated by WHSmith, Costa Coffee, Booths, the Post Office and Gourmade.

The facility also has a waiting lounge, free superfast Wi-Fi, washrooms, a dedicated kid’s play area, a wellbeing area with exercise bikes that generate electricity, and business meeting rooms.

Toby Keir, managing director at WHSmith, says: “At WHSmith, we have been serving customers on their journeys for over 200 years and we understand how important convenience is to people on the go. We’re therefore delighted to be partnering with Gridserve’s Electric Forecourt to deliver a new first-class customer experience, with fantastic service and a tailored retail offer including WHSmith, Post Office, Costa Coffee and Booths.

It’s a great concept and we look forward to playing our part over the next hundred years with the future of electric cars.”

Neil Lake, managing director of Costa Coffee, UK&I, adds: “As a growing business, we continue to open new stores, with a strong presence in forecourts, providing customers with a welldeserved break and the familiarity of their favourite Costa coffee. Like Gridserve, we are committed to building a more sustainable future and have already installed EV charging at many of our stores, with plans to roll out more throughout 2021, helping to support those customers who are opting to switch to electric vehicles.”

Making conversions Besides being a facility for existing EV owners, the Electric Forecourt aims to help people make the switch from fossil fuel to electric-powered vehicles. The upper floor of the building showcases the latest electric vehicles while digital video screens help people learn about electric motoring.

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ELECTRIC VEHICLES The Braintree Electric Forecourt features: 12 DC Chargers – up to 350kW 12 DC Chargers – up to 90kW 6 AC Chargers – up to 22kW 6 Tesla Superchargers

With more than 200 types of electric vehicles now available, Gridserve is hiring electric vehicle enthusiasts to help educate people about electric vehicles, and arrange test drives. To help drivers acquire the best EV for them, Gridserve has also launched a leasing company, again in partnership with Hitachi Capital (UK), who plan to offer EVs from major vehicle manufacturers. At the time of launch, available brands include Audi, BMW, DS, Mercedes-Benz, MG, Mini, Nissan, Renault and Volkswagen.

Robert Gordon, chief executive of Hitachi Capital (UK), says: “Our partnership with Gridserve is a total game-changer for electric mobility. Not only are we providing electric vehicles at some of the most competitive rates on the market, but we are at the same time developing a network of rapid, reliable and renewably powered Electric Forecourts that will fast-track the electric vehicle revolution in the UK as we prepare for a zerocarbon future.”

Toddington Harper says the Gridserve Electric Vehicle Solutions service is designed to bring the cost of driving electric well

Toddington Harper has a very apt name. His late father, Brian Harper, used to build petrol stations, and named his two sons after motorway service areas. Toddington was named after a MSA on the M1 and his older brother Heston after one on the M4.

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We’ve designed our Electric Forecourts entirely around the needs of drivers, updating the traditional petrol station model for a Net Zero carbon world Toddington Harper

below that of petrol or diesel cars, and minimise the environmental impact of EVs. Net zero carbon energy is included in monthly leasing payments, meaning drivers can charge at Electric Forecourts without paying any additional costs. The company hopes that this will remove a key barrier to mass EV adoption, enabling people to accurately compare the cost of leasing a petrol or diesel vehicle, plus fuel, with an electric vehicle with fuel included. Gridserve said this reflects the true overall cost to the consumer, which in most cases clearly demonstrates a lower cost for EVs than petrol or diesel vehicles.

Harper believes the benefit will be amplified for the 40% of UK drivers without access to off-street parking that would otherwise have to rely on less dependable and typically more expensive public charging infrastructure compared to charging at home. For those who lease through Gridserve, charging at an Electric Forecourt becomes cheaper than home charging because energy is already included in monthly leasing payments.

Gridserve’s Toddington Harper concludes: “Together with our Solar Farms and Electric Forecourts, Gridserve Electric Vehicle Solutions completes our ‘sun-to-wheel’ infrastructure designed to deliver Net Zero carbon transport from 2020 onwards. By including the planting of 100 trees for every electric vehicle leased through the service and providing Net Zero carbon energy to charge all the vehicles, we’re making EV driving greener, cheaper and more straightforward than ever before.”

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The Braintree Electric Forecourt’s building

Charging up

Using a 350kW charger

The retail offer

The EV experience room

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PARKING TECHNOLOGY

Weymouth as seen through Mapper

Dorset taps into digital maps AppyWay enables county council to streamline processes and improve public engagement

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orset’s traffic and highways team will be using a cloudbased solution to manage its Traffic Regulation Order (TRO) management process.

Dorset Council hopes using the AppyWay Traffic Order Suite will enable it to: achieve significant time savings when creating and amending TROs; improve collaboration with internal and external partners; and run an improved and streamlined public consultation process.

The Traffic Order Suite comprises: Mapper, for the management of static and moving orders; Engagement, a portal for collecting and analysing residents feedback; and Streets, the platform to visualise complex traffic order data; and an Integrations tool.

The move to a map-based solution comes at a pivotal time for Dorset as the council looks to collaborate more effectively with traffic teams across the county whilst transitioning to remote working as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Mike Potter, road safety team leader for Dorset Council, said: “One of the main benefits of the suite is the flexibility and ease of restriction creation that the solution provides.

The ability to process more than one at a time will free up our time to do more in terms of processing TROs. “Our previous legacy system was cumbersome to use and simple Freedom of Information (FoI) or data requests would often consume a significant amount of our time. The AppyWay Traffic Order Suite is

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already paying dividends for us as it will release more of our time to process TROs through the system rather than chasing our tails a bit when requests come in.”

Dorset is using Traffic Order Suite to tackle a wide range of TRO issues. The county, famous for sandy beaches and the Jurassic Coast, is made up of a mix of larger towns, such as Weymouth, and small villages and parishes that experience huge influxes of tourists during the summer months.

Through the suite’s Streets function Dorset Council has improved collaboration with external partners such as Dorset Police.

Historically, enforcement and FoI requests have taken a considerable amount of time to process and deliver. Streets provides enforcement teams and the police with a self-service system, reducing the time the TRO team spends processing requests.

The Engagement portal can be accessed by the public via a link on the authority’s website. This enables Dorset to capture and categorise feedback via the Engagement Dashboard. The cloud-hosted platform does not require additional sign-in processes, or VPN (virtual private network) access.

Mapper, which is designed to be accessed

whenever and wherever needed, is providing Dorset Council with business continuity during the pandemic.

Mike Potter said: “Moving away from the text-based orders and into map-based orders will help make things much more straightforward. Through AppyWay’s map-based, cloud-hosted suite we will more easily be able to amend or change those orders to make improvements to the schemes.”

Dan Hubert, founder and chief executive of AppyWay, said: “We’re thrilled to have Dorset Council as our first Mapper customer in the South West. It clearly demonstrates Dorset’s forward-thinking approach to an often lengthy and outdated process.

“England’s kerbside faces some unique challenges, most notably the government’s push for more active travel via its Gear Change initiative. Dorset will be balancing these needs with those of its rural communities, who will continue to need kerbside access for cars. Via Mapper, we’re making it easier for local authorities like Dorset to make changes to the kerb so they can support green policy objectives and collaborate across their county to drive change more broadly.”

The Traffic Order Suite’s tools The AppyWay Traffic Order Suite comprises of four tools: • Mapper: Mapper can be used to manage both static and moving Traffic Regulation Orders • Engagement: Through Engagement, councils can consult with residents on an interactive platform • Streets: Streets is a real-time local authority-wide map of active on-street restrictions • Integrations: This tool allows councils to share TRO data with partners and third parties.

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PARKING TECHNOLOGY

Kensington & Chelsea deploys Videalert West London council pilots CCTV moving traffic enforcement The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea has deployed its first CCTV enforcement cameras following a pilot scheme. The west London council has installed ANPR cameras at five locations to enforce a range of moving traffic offences including: ‘No entry’ pedestrian zones; box junctions; banned turns; and one-way streets.

The Videalert hosted digital video platform was procured as part of an ongoing contract with NSL, which is a sister company within the Marston Holdings portfolio of companies.

Caroline Dubarbier, sustainable travel manager at the Royal Borough, said: “We took the decision to install cameras to enforce moving traffic contraventions in response to complaints from residents in order to increase compliance with

Camera view of Hans Road road traffic regulations, reduce congestion and improve road safety. We have been pleased with Videalert’s responsive service and the cameras are already reducing complaints from residents regarding traffic offences as well as making our roads safer.”

Videalert has installed seven digital cameras at five locations including Hans Road, Portland

Road, Hollywood Road, Old Brompton Road and Acklam Bridge.

The cameras capture highdefinition images to minimise discard-rates, increase productivity and help reduce the number of appeals. They combine ANPR with video analytics to capture only the vehicles committing an offence and Videalert’s hosted platform

allows the council to maintain a ‘whitelist’ of exempt vehicles including buses, taxis and emergency vehicles.

Captured evidence packs are stored on Videalert’s hosted digital video platform where they can be accessed and reviewed over the internet. Validated evidence packs are sent to the council’s back office system to issue penalty charge notices (PCNs).

Airport pilots pre-booked parking

RingGo marketing in Winchester

Winchester switches to RingGo Winchester City Council has switched its cashless parking service to RingGo following a competitive tender process.

The service had previously been provided by PayByPhone.

As part of the transfer of service, Winchester City Council is removing the “convenience fee” previously levied for paying for parking by phone, bringing the service in line with machine payments.

The reason for dropping the surcharge is to encourage greater take-up of phone parking across the city.

The deal sees cashless

payments at pay & display car parks made consistent with that at the city’s park & ride.

Winchester City Council has worked with RingGo at its park & ride sites since 2013.

The council has a strong focus on encouraging greater use of digital services and plans to reduce its reliance on parking machines.

As part of the launch, RingGo rebranded 87 parking machines and placed 100 signs across the city to help residents understand how to use the service and recognise the benefits it provides.

A ‘touchless’ valet parking system is being piloted at Doncaster Sheffield Airport in South Yorkshire.

The airport is trialling the Contact Free Valet Parking system, which has been developed by Park IT. Contact Free Parking is designed to allow customers to complete an intuitive, operator-branded check-in process from either their home or on a mobile phone.

On arrival at the airport, customers are directed to a reception area where they deposit keys. Using a unique QR code, customers gain access to the valet reception and secure key storage.

There is no interaction with staff, no queuing and customers are moved quickly to the terminal. A set of return key collection lockers deliver the final stage of the contactless valet experience.

Paul Gibbons, parking services manager at Doncaster Sheffield Airport added: “All airport valet providers will be looking for support in handling and emerging from this global situation. Doncaster Sheffield Airport is hugely important to the local area and getting our customers safely on holiday. ParkIT’s Contact Free Valet Parking solution will help us to provide our loyal customers with the confidence they’re looking for to travel again as it perfectly

complements the extensive measures we are taking to ensure clean, safe travel.”

The Doncaster Sheffield Airport trial has been awarded a grant from the Innovate UK Sustainable Innovation Fund.

Innovate UK executive chair Dr Ian Campbell said: “In these difficult times we have seen the best of British business innovation. The pandemic is not just a health emergency but one that impacts society and the economy. ParkIT, along with every initiative Innovate UK has supported through this fund, is an important step forward in driving sustainable economic development. Each one is also helping to realise the ambitions of hard-working people.”

ParkIT said that the Innovate UK funding was critical to setting up the Doncaster Sheffield Airport valet parking project.

Joël Phillips, vice president of product at ParkIT said: “ParkIT is focussed on delivering passengercentric experiences and meeting the changing demands of the travel industry. This award allows us to quickly meet the challenges created by the current situation, quickly build passenger confidence in airport and valet providers, and get people back to enjoying travel.”

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PARKING STRUCTURES

£1m rail station parking upgrade Greater Anglia increases capacity at Broxbourne station A £1m scheme to increase car parking at Broxbourne railway station has been completed.

Greater Anglia has created more than 270 additional car parking spaces at Broxbourne railway station, increasing capacity by more than 50%.

The car park has been built on land formerly used by Balfour Beatty. Work started in July.

The land has been resurfaced and parking spaces have been lined. The car park also has new LED lighting and CCTV systems installed.

The work is part of a programme to improve car parks including installing automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) at 20 car parks, adding an extra 1,782 spaces, fitting LED lights, improving CCTV and security and re-surfacing.

Simone Bailey, Greater Anglia asset management director, said: “Although we have seen a fall in passenger numbers due to the pandemic, Broxbourne is a

Broxbourne station vital commuter station and we needed to expand the car park to make it fit for purpose for now and in the future.

“Before the pandemic, the car park had almost 500 spaces, but it was nearing capacity. We are very pleased that the car park extension is now complete, and we hope it will be well received by rail users when they return to the network.”

Accessible spaces have been created at the front of the station, while two electric vehicle charging points are located at the side of the station.

ANPR has already been introduced at the car park. The tick-

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etless ANPR technology makes it easier for customers to pay for parking, as it increases the variety of payment options available, and helps to improve security.

Customers can pay for their parking online anytime up until midnight the day after their visit on the Great Anglia Parking Portal (gaparking.co.uk).

Blue Badge holders will continue to park for free, provided they register with car park operator NCP within 24 hours of leaving the car park. They can do this online, by phone or by post and register more than one car if required.

Network Rail revamps 14 sites Network Rail has improved parking at 14 stations in partnership with South West Railway (SWR). Work has been completed on Worcester Park and Witley stations in Surrey, and Farnborough station in Hants.

There were upgrades at a further 11 stations across the SWR network including Sunningdale, Effingham Junction and Weybridge in Surrey, Botley, New Milton and Hinton Admiral stations in Hampshire, Honiton in Devon and Salisbury station in Wiltshire.

The works included resurfacing, repainting lines, marking out safe walking routes, removing trip hazards and improving drainage so rain water does not form puddles.

Andrew Magee, senior asset engineer at Network Rail Wessex, said: “The improvements will make travelling to and from the stations easier, safer and provide a better passenger experience.”

Farnborough station

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PARKING STRUCTURES

Liverpool’s Kings Dock MSCP takes shape 1,450-space car park will replace structure destroyed by 2017 fire The multi-storey that will replace a Liverpool arena car park destroyed in a fire on New Year’s Eve in 2017 is now complete and will open soon.

The 1,450-space Kings Dock car park will serve visitors for events at the city’s arena, convention and exhibition centre.

Liverpool City Council commissioned construction company Willmott Dixon to build the £30m car park.

The Kings Dock multi-storey replaces the Echo Arena car park, which was destroyed in a blaze that took hold on 31 December 2017.

Over 1,000 vehicles were destroyed in the Echo Arena blaze. The vehicles mainly belonging to people attending a horse show taking place at the Liverpool Exhibition Centre.

The structural damage to the Echo Arena car park was so severe that it was demolished following investigations.

The new eight-floor Kings Dock car park has been built on Monarch’s Quay, which is adjacent to the exhibition centre.

Main contractor Willmott Dixon opted for a steel-frame structure, with metal decked floors and precast cores as it felt this was the most cost-effective method for the project.

The new multi-storey has been designed by Manchester-based Leach Rhodes Walker.

The facility features electric vehicle charging points and 50 cycle spaces. To ensure the site is secure it has CCTV throughout.

The Kings Dock car park Given the fate of its predecessor, fire prevention was a key consideration, so Kings Dock features a sprinkler system.

Anthony Dillon, managing director of Willmott Dixon in the

North, said: “From the moment we received the call from Liverpool City Council in the immediate aftermath of the fire, we’ve been committed to supporting the regeneration of Kings

The car park’s steel frame

Dock, and we’re thrilled to be able to continue that work.

“In total, across the city of Liverpool, we have delivered more than £90m of community and regeneration projects, and have invested over £75m with local businesses. We are delighted to complete our latest project for Liverpool City Council and to be leaving a lasting positive legacy for the people of Merseyside.”

While the new Kings Dock car park was being built, the city council created a temporary multi-storey car park. The fourfloor, 550-space car park opened on in December 2018, in time for the return of the Liverpool International Horse Show at the arena. It supported events at the city’s waterfront venues for the following 18 months.

The opening of Liverpool’s Kings Dock car park took a step closer with the completion of its striking internal and external signage.

Merseyside company Widd Signs worked closely with the architects, Leach Rhodes Walker. Over a four-month period, which began in June, Widd Signs has designed, manufactured and installed a suite of internal wayfinding signage on each of the car park’s eight floors. It has also created the external signage that now runs across the outside of the building.

Phil Bamford, head of operations at Widd Signs, said: “As a local company, we’re delighted to have been able to play a part in the latest phase of the regeneration of Kings Dock. The new facility provides the

waterfront with a car park fit for the future, and we’re proud to have our signage feature in a building that will be seen and used by so many.”

Andy Beale, construction manager at main contractor Willmott Dixon said: “Widd Signs worked with us through all stages of the process, from developing the design to installation. We are very happy with the end product.”

Ben Parllaku, project leader at Leach Rhodes Walker Architects, said: “The car park is looking great and so is the signage, which is bold, clean and eye-catching.”

Earlier this year, Widd Signs created interior wayfinding signage at the Mount Pleasant car park for Liverpool City Council.

JONATHAN TAYLOR, CLOUD 9 PHOTOGRAPHY

Spelling out the arrival of a new car park

Signage is in place

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YELLOW LINES

Make a present of parking pin-ups If you are still looking for a special something for the parking manager in your life, here is Car Parks of Great Britain 2021

D

ogs, kittens, birds, wild animals, mountains, planes, classic cars, tractors… whatever your enthusiasm, there is bound to be a calendar devoted to it. And now, you can plan 2021 while enjoying views of car parks.

Car Parks of Great Britain is the latest project by Kevin Beresford, a photographer who describes himself as Britain’s dullest man. “I’m the dullest man in Great Britain, and possibly the world. I found that a lot of artists do quite mundane things like Andy Warhol’s Campbell’s Soup Cans.”

His enthusiasm for automotive infrastructure has spawned a variety of publica-

tions such as the books Roundabouts of Great Britain (2004) and Parking Mad: Car Parks from Heaven (or Hell) (2006).

Having published calendars based on his roundabout pictures, Beresford has now unveiled one that features a dozen car parks, including the Cherry Pink car park in Telford, Chorlton Street in Manchester, Talbot Road in Blackpool and Castle Terrace in Edinburgh. Beresford said: “What I enjoy about them is the architecture, like any other building I can appreciate them for how they are built and why. The structure of them varies and no two car parks are the same, which keeps it interesting.

“I’ve been taking pictures of hundreds of car parks all over the UK and with those

Popstar’s book is pure gold Gary Kemp is a renaissance man, musician, actor, philanthropist, entrepreneur artist and photographer. We know this because he said so in a major BBC documentary, The Kemps: All True, in which filmmaker Rhys Thomas interviewed brothers Gary and Martin Kemp about their lives and careers following Spandau Ballet’s 40th anniversary celebrations. One project that Gary proudly shared was his book Places I have parked, a pictorial essay based on photos he takes to remind himself where he has parked.

[Ed: You do realise the film was a mockumentary and that the book doesn’t really exist. That said, if it did, I’d buy it!]

The Kemps: All True is available on BBC iPlayer

52 | DECEMBER 2020 | PARKING REVIEW

Gary Kemp presents ‘Places I have parked’

images I made a car park calendar and even wrote a book about them.”

The 63-year-old from Redditch, Worcestershire, is the founder of The Car Park Appreciation Society. He is also its the only member, so far. “I started The Car Park Appreciation Society, but unfortunately nobody has joined yet, so I’m looking for new members who can send me pictures of the car parks they come across.”

Among the hundreds of car parks that he has visited, Beresford does have one he liked above all the others. “My favourite one is demolished now. It was the car park that was used in the Michael Caine movie Get Carter in Gateshead.”

Sadly, Beresford’s favourite car park no longer exists, as Trinity Square was demolished in 2010. Until his society attracts some other members, Beresford will have to grieve alone.

PR344_p53_Build.qxp_PR344_p53 13/12/2020 22:14 Page 53

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