The beginning of the end for dodgy parking firms?

A stringent new code of practice that will ban rogue parking operators who fail to observe its rules from accessing driver data and issuing charges, thus effectively driving them out of business, has received government support that should ensure its passage into law.

A private member’s bill * introduced by Sir Greg Knight, the Parking (Code of Practice) Bill
has been accepted by communities secretary, Sajid Javid, who will work with motoring groups and other experts to develop a code that will provide “fair, clear and consistent regulation”.

It has been introduced at a time when the inconsistent practices, substandard signage, confusing appeals processes and intimidating payment letters of rogue parking companies are causing more drivers to question the fairness of the rules on parking.

13 times more tickets are currently issued compared with a decade ago and last year almost 10,000 people approached Citizens Advice for guidance on parking penalties.

The views of many motorists, as well as some town centre-based CPA clients whose staff and customers regularly fall victim to predatory parking firms, were echoed by Steve Gooding, director of the RAC Foundation, when he commented –

“Drivers don’t want a parking free-for-all, but they do want a system that is fair to all parties and that’s what a code of practice set by government – rather than the industry itself – should bring about.”

• A private member’s bill is introduced by an MP who is not a minister.