London Parking Fines
A TNT Express Services-led campaign against the imposition of heavy fines caused by the ‘no parking’ policies of London borough councils has resulted in a series of new measures to help ease the problem.
TNT Express Services has been spearheading a six-month, industry-wide revolt challenging Westminster and Camden Councils to alter its policies to help accommodate collections and deliveries to businesses in the capital. TNT was facing potential fines up to £300,000 per annum under the existing arrangements.
TNT, the UK Express Carriers Forum and Westminster and Camden officials held summit talks on July 15th and 16th to try and resolve the difficulties.
A raft of new proposals looks like signalling an end to the dispute. The measures agreed include:
Westminster and Camden Councils allowing delivery companies unlimited time to collect and deliver goods before 11am in zoned parking meter areas, residents car park bays and time-limited pick-up and drop zones.
Using new technology to foster co-operation between traffic wardens and drivers to minimise the risk of vehicles overrunning 20-minute collection and delivery times.
The two councils reviewing their procedures for enabling companies to appeal against parking fines.
Setting up a new Liaison Group between neighbouring London borough councils including Lambeth and Kensington & Chelsea, to establish a consistent approach to parking signs and restrictions. The express delivery companies and local retailers will be represented at the Group’s bi-monthly meetings
Production of an educational video focusing on drivers and traffic wardens to promote a mutual understanding of each others roles.
TNT will also be introducing a new warning device into its vehicles in the London boroughs known as ‘Move It’. The system is based on a light sensitive sensor located on the window of the vehicle. The traffic warden touches the sensor sending a signal to a pager worn by the driver while away from the cab. The signal tells the driver that the warden is monitoring the length of the vehicles stay from that point on.
TNT has successfully piloted ‘Move It’ in Manchester earlier in the year.
Under a review of Westminster Council’s parking fine appeals procedure, companies will now be encouraged to submit evidence of a delivery note when lodging an appeal against a parking ticket. The Council has intimated that proof that the vehicle was parked for a bona fide delivery at the time of the ‘offence’ would be taken into account during the appeal process.
The new accord will also signal the end of the TNT- led programme of challenging every parking ticket issued. This follows a move by Westminster Council to generate weekly reports for each major carrier documenting the tickets imposed on the company during the period.
The intention is that TNT will immediately pay fines at a rate of £50 each and then appeal against any disputed tickets. The initiative is designed to effectively ‘freeze’ the parking fine and stop it from escalating up to the maximum level of £100.
Looking ahead, the London borough council’s Liaison Group featuring Camden, Kensington & Chelsea, Lambeth and Westminster will offer the Express Carrier Forum the opportunity to raise any future parking issues. Electronic mapping technology will be employed by companies to monitor any ticket ‘hot-spots’ and the data fed back to the bi-monthly meetings for investigation.
