Parking (Code of Practice) Bill can deliver a better parking experience for motorists

The BPA welcomes the Parking (Code of Practice) Bill, a Private Members Bill sponsored by Sir Greg Knight MP. The Parking (Code of Practice) Bill had its first reading on 19 July 2017 and is supported by Kevin Brennan MP (Labour), Pete Wishart MP (SNP), Jacob Rees-Mogg MP (Conservative), Daniel Zeichner MP (Labour), and Graham Jones (Labour). All have signalled their intention to provide for a Code of Practice to better regulate the management of parking on private land.

We have always believed there is a need to establish a standard setting body overseeing a single code of practice to give the motoring public a level playing field when dealing with parking operators that manage private land and eradicate confusion created by multiple codes of practice.

Andrew Pester, BPA Chief Executive said: "We are delighted that parliamentarians are listening and taking decisive action to ensure the private parking sector operates in a consistent and transparent manner for the motorist. The BPA has been calling for better regulation of the private parking sector, and the common Code of Practice provided by this Bill is good for the motorist and the sector."

The BPA has been at the forefront of raising standards in the sector for many years.  The first Code of Practice for our Approved Operators was published in 2006 and the Approved Operators Scheme (AOS) launched in 2007, becoming the model for Accredited Trade Associations (ATA).

Accompanied by a full internal and third-party audit and Scheme of Sanctions, for many years motorists have been treated more fairly. In 2012 we launched POPLA, an independent appeals service for parking charge notices issued on private land in England and Wales. This service is free to the motorist and run independently of the Association, in agreement with government.