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Code of pradice might end London parking fine fiasco

8th December 2005
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Page 14, 8th December 2005 — Code of pradice might end London parking fine fiasco
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Which of the following most accurately describes the problem?

Operators delivering into London may have an answer to the huge

numbers of parking fines they currently incur. Guy Sheppard reports.

A CODE OF practice is being launched next month (January) in a bid to reduce the number of parking fines unfairly issued to operators while loading and unloading in London.

At least five central London boroughs are expected to sign up to the code. including Westminster City Council which is notorious for the number of penalty charge notices (PCNs) issued by its contractors.

According to the Brewery Logistics Group, its members received an average of nine tickets a day in Westminster during August, netting the council more than £2011000.

Group chairman Mike Bracey says the other councils expected to sign up are Kensington & Chelsea, Camden, the Corporation of London and Islington. "lJp to 80% of our tickets come from these boroughs," he reports. -It's a serious problem because of the cost of the fines. If we can't park outside the pub, we don't deliver the beer."

He adds that drivers based at Tradetearn's Enfield depot in North London have picked up an average of 250 PCNs a month over the past six months.

The code has been drawn up by business and local government organisations, including the Freight Transport Association and the London Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

Louisa Perry, the FTA's London regional policy manager, says the code is designed to improve consistency in the way PCNs are issued, as well as foster better communication between parking control contractors, delivery companies and traffic authorities.

"Operators are frustrated that different rules apply in each borough," she adds. "The biggest problem is in the central zone — and any operator will tell you Westminster is their bete noire."

Perry reports that as well as encouraging other London boroughs to adopt the code of practice, the aim is to see how it might be applied elsewhere in the country.


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