This is only the beginning ...

Private land parking disputes are set to become the big issue over the next 18 months and 2012 will be the year it all comes to a head...

It doesn't take a Mayan Prophecy to work that one out as clamping is banned and the Protection FROM Freedom Bill works its way through Parliament shifting liability for 'breaches of contract' to a third party and allowing private ticketers to pursue the Registered Keeper using 'purchased' information from the DVLA.
You have been warned.

Express and Echo
Tuesday, August 30, 2011
Calls for action over 'harsh' parking firm

ANGRY motorists are demanding action from the private parking regulator after claiming they were treated harshly by an enforcement firm in the city.
The Echo has highlighted a string of recent complaints about parking firm PPS.



ANGRY: Victoria Davison has complained after being given a parking ticket
at Exeter Central Station

Motorists have expressed concern about the way they have been treated at Exeter's Central Station and other privately owned city centre car parks.
Now two more drivers have contacted the Echo claiming they should not have been given tickets by Premier Parking Solutions, based in Newton Abbot.

Both have contacted the British Parking Association (BPA) – a trade body which regulates firms. They are calling for it to cancel membership for PPS.

Schoolteacher Chris Charlwood, 50, from Cheriton Fitzpaine, was given a £75 fine at Exeter Central Station after PPS claimed his ticket was not visible enough.
The deputy headteacher said: "I was given a fine despite my parking ticket being displayed," he said.
"But because it was in a recess on my dashboard common on some Peugeot cars the parking operative did not see it.
"Nowhere is the motorist specifically directed to a designated display position within their vehicle where the ticket must be displayed. I have complained to the BPA in the strongest terms about the Draconian and unaccountable manner in which this firm appear to manage their parking operations."

Victoria Davison, from Bradninch, was also given a £75 fine after parking at Central Station. She has also complained to the BPA.
She said her ticket was also on display, but facing downwards. "I have written to PPS about the fine," she said.
"But they have threatened to place it in the hands of a debt collector if it is not paid.
"I'm not paying it because my parking ticket was valid. I've complained to the BPA," she said.

The latest complaints come after the Echo featured a story about a patient fined by a different company at the Royal Devon & Exeter Hospital when her treatment overran. Her appeal was rejected.

A BPA spokeswoman said complaints would be investigated.
She said: "We urge those who feel that they have been treated unfairly to contact us with full details.
"The BPA investigates all complaints made against members of its Approved Operator Scheme and disciplinary action is taken against any operator who is found to be in breach of the code of practice." Earlier this year PPS was ordered by Network Rail, which owns the car park in front of Central Station, to be more lenient towards drivers.
It followed complaints made by city MP Ben Bradshaw following a spate of enforcement tickets issued to drivers.
In one case a driver from Exeter was given a parking charge within a minute of pulling on to the station car park.

Despite being contacted by the Echo, nobody was available for comment from PPS.
If you feel you have been harshly penalised by a parking firm contact the Echo newsdesk on 01392 442239.

Are zones effective or unwieldy?

The extract below comes from:
THE JOINT REPORT OF THE PARKING ADJUDICATORS FOR ENGLAND AND WALES
APRIL 2008 TO MARCH 2009

The Department for Transport Traffic Signs Review

The Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions 2002 (S.I. 2002 No.3113)
apply to both Wales and England. In consideration the next version of TSRGD
English Ministers decided it was opportune to undertake a review of road signs,
with particular attention to whether it is necessary for there to be so much
prescription, the impact of road signs on the environment, and to reconsider
precisely how much signing is required to make contraventions of traffic orders
enforceable.

A Steering Group was set up which includes a representative from
WAG as well as The Chief Adjudicator of the Traffic Penalty Tribunal, who has
also been asked to Chair the Enforcement Working Group.

It is crucial that there is full involvement from representatives from Wales,
because of the potential consequences of adopting different signing in England,
and the consideration of the impact of new ideas on sign that must be written in
two languages.

It is inevitable that considerable attention is being given to parking signs and
lines, with particular thought being given to the effectiveness of zones and
whether that principle should embrace more parking imperatives, such as
footway parking, or whether the entire concept of zones is too unwieldy and not
readily understood by motorists.

Following on from the initial meetings and setting up of the three working groups
research will be commissioned by the DfT to examine independently some of the
proposals under consideration.

There will be formal consultation, but the DfT welcomes all input from those who
have an interest or experience of signing. The British Parking Association (BPA)
Welsh Special Interest Group is also looking at the proposals that have been put
forward so far to ensure that considerations for Wales are kept at the forefront of
the Review.