In Nottinghamshire, six of Newark and Sherwood District Council’s car parks have retained the Park Mark, Safer Parking Scheme Award and the Disabled Parking Accreditation for another two years. They are Appletongate, Castle House, London Road, Riverside Arena, Riverside and Town Wharf. The council also achieved the Park Mark award for its new lorry park, which opened in June on the Great North Road. Pictured left to right are Peter Gravells, British Parking Association (BPA) Area Manager; Boguslawa Motylska, Designing out Crime Officer, Nottinghamshire Police and Brian Rawlinson, Parking Services Manager, Newark & Sherwood District Council.
The Safer Parking Scheme is part of Police Crime Prevention Initiatives (PCPI) that recognises facilities that have measures in place to reduce crime, and the fear of crime, in parking areas. Each facility goes through a risk assessment by police and the trade body the British Parking Association on lighting, surveillance, cleanliness and management practices.
The lorry park is one of the first in the region and includes design features to reduce the possibility of crime. With ANPR activated gates, the park is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week and enables vehicles to turn up, have their number plates scanned and leave after their stop. The park comes with a Certas Energy HGV refuelling bunker, lorry wash, shower facilities and restaurant serving hot and cold food. The park will also offer off-street parking for visiting coaches to encourage more footfall into the historic town. After district council investment the park has been extended to provide 167 spaces to reduce the number of vehicles parked on the roads.
Designing out Crime Officer Boguslawa Motylska said: “We are really pleased with the facility and the results so far.”
Peter Gravells, British Parking Association Area Manager, said: “I am delighted that the car parks and the lorry park within Newark and Sherwood District Council’s control have achieved the awards as it means they are continuing to deliver a safer environment for those using the facilities. It is a fantastic achievement and testament to the effective management and high parking standards being maintained.”
And the district council economic development committee chairman Councillor Keith Girling said: “This award recognises the on-going work we are doing to make Newark and Sherwood a safer place to live, work and visit. This award gives reassurance to anyone using our council car parks that we have taken measures to ensure the safety of both their vehicle and themselves. The lorry park extension is excellent, it brings better facilities to Newark with more space for lorries to park safely and securely. It has already had a positive impact on Newark’s economy by bringing more people into the area.”
All parking facilities with the Park Mark award can use signage featuring the Park Mark tick, so that drivers know where to go for safer parking. Early adopters of the scheme pointed to a dramatic drop in vehicle-related crime of over 80 per cent. Some 5,000 UK car parks have the Park Mark award; visit www.parkmark.co.uk.
