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Private car parks require statutory regulation precluding the sector from self-regulating, an MP has advised. Derby South MP, Baggy Shanker has said his constituents are complaining about private car parks, with some having been penalised at the Copeland Street car park in his constituency. The case of Rosey Hudson raised awareness after she had been “fined” nearly £2k ($2,732) for overstaying her parking period. The two associations for private parking, the British Parking Association (BPA) and International Parking Community (IPC), have announced that they will be creating a panel to oversee the sector’s code of practice. However, Shanker, along with 11 MPs, want the government to introduce a lawful code of practice that private car park operators must adhere to.
Shanker describes that he and other MPs received PCNs over the same issue regarding this car park. They argue that statutory regulation is the only way to secure drivers from vague and unjust practices. The letter written to local growth Minister, Alex Norris, reads: “We believe that relying on self-regulation is insufficient. Time and again, statutory regulation has proven the most effective way to protect consumers in other sectors such as banking, energy, and telecommunications. It is clear that the same approach must be applied to the private parking industry.”
The current code of practice was brought into action in June 2024 by the BPA and IPC. A car park operator has to be a member of an ATA to take details from the DVLA to send occupants fines. According to DVLA statistics, operators are creating more PCNs than ever before, it received 7.2 million requests for vehicle keeper details in the first half of the 2024-2025 fiscal year compared to the 4.7 million of the 2016-17 fiscal year. PCNs are requests for payment for the alleged breach of contract by the driver; most PCNs are made in error by the driver and, in most cases, are easily defendable but not proportionate for people to take legal advice.
A representative from Excel Parking, who is responsible for the car park in question, would not grant an interview but via email, they said: “Excel Parking will adhere to any changes made to the private parking industry Single Sector Code of Practice.” They continued to assert their claim against Miss Hudson even after discontinuing their £1,906 court claim.
Read the full article from The BBC here: Read More
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