The FTA is looking to build on its success in reducing the number of parking fines issued by Westminster City Council by persuading other "less progressive" boroughs, such as Camden, Richmond, Southwark and Lambeth, to follow suit. A survey of FTA members operating in London reveals they have seen a 30% reduction in the number of Penalty Charge Notices (PCNs) issued in Westminster in the first half of 2009 compared with the same period in 2008.
The reduction is largely due to the close relationship the FTA has established with Westminster's business account manager for parking services, Hayley Regan. Achievements to date include an extension to kerbside loading from 20 to 40 minutes, and encouraging civil enforcement officers to take a "light touch" with CVs parked in loading bays.
Gordon Telling, FTA head of policy for London, tells MT: "PCNs are a £600m problem across London and if we can extrapolate the 30% reduction seen in Westminster, the savings could run into tens or hundreds of millions of pounds for our industry." Telling adds that by avoiding issuing thousands of PCNs that are later overturned on appeal, and instead having a "sensible conversation" with operators over parking enforcement, the boroughs can also save money.
The FTA is now part-funding Regan's role until the end of March 2010, when the position will be reviewed. She will be visiting other boroughs to explain the work she has been doing with the FTA and London operators.
Meanwhile, the FTA is looking at ways to extend the delivery window available to operators. Natalie Chapman, FTA regional policy manager, London, South East & East of England, says: "We are working with the Noise Abatement Society and the DfT to develop further night-time trials similar to the one that took place two years ago with Sainsbury's in Wandsworth."
Telling adds that a major stumbling block to more out-of-hours deliveries is the London Lorry Control Scheme (LCS), which restricts deliveries between 9pm and 7am Monday to Friday. However, the boroughs of Barnet, Hillingdon and Redbridge have opted out of the LCS, with Havering due to withdraw from 1 April 2010. Chapman adds: "The more boroughs that opt out, the less effective it is."
