BPA News Updates and information from the BPA team In the newsroom The BPA has launched a new online newsroom and public affairs hub that will present all media, campaigning and lobbying activity in one dedicated site and improve the Associations communications with the media. Relevant information about the Associations activities from press releases to campaigns and blog posts will be available, as well as facts, statistics, reports and research. Membership updates will continue to be posted on the homepage of the main BPA website. The newsroom can be accessed at britishparking-media.co.uk or from News & Public Affairs in the main menu navigation of the BPA website. Steve Clark, BPA director of operations and business development, has recently appeared on Radio 4s You and Yours and was also interviewed by Gloria Hunniford on the BBC1s Rip Off Britain. Clark was asked for his comments about complaints involving parking charge notices. He also spoke about the BPAs work with the government on the Parking (Code of Practice) Act. You can listen again at bit.ly/ PNDec20y (approx 16 minutes in) and watch again at bit.ly/PNDec20ROB (approx five minutes in). Next steps for Park Active The BPA is holding a webinar on Thursday 3 December at 2pm, which will look at where the parking sector fits into the active travel landscape and how can it be part of an active travel evolution. It will also discuss how public and private operators can align parking, active travel and commercial opportunities in 2021, and share guidance about the Park Active scheme. To find out more and to register, go to bit.ly/PNDec20PA Account manager changes The BPA has made some changes to its account management structure. To find out who is looking after you, please go to bit.ly/PNDec20AM Congratulations to our heroes! The BPA is delighted to announced the shortlist for its People in Parking Awards. All of the shortlisted entries have been invited to a virtual awards event on 17 December, where the winners will be revealed. Thank you so much to everyone who sent in a nomination we were bowled over by the brilliant work that has been done by so many fabulous people, said Rebecca Harper, BPA membership engagement manager. We look forward to announcing the winners good luck to everyone! Team Leader Award Greg Hughes, commercial director, JustPark Jason Watson, team leader, APT SKIDATA Steven Winton, contract manager, APCOA Colleague Award Jennie Lewis, senior operations officer, Ashford Borough Council Christina Martinez, head of customer service and head of global operations, Parkopedia Avisha Martin-Patel, senior consultant and electric vehicle lead, Project Centre Community Award Alison Fitzgerald, civil enforcement officer supervisor, Worcester City Council Penham Excel, Unlawful vehicle research Jeremy Landey, Kellie Newell, Paolo Orezzi, Marston Holdings, Jobs For The Homeless (see pages 34-35) Long Service Award Masum Miah, base enforcement manager, NSL Services Group Roy Tunstall, head of parking services, Liverpool City Council Maureen Williams, base enforcement manager, NSL Services Group Hazel Game, senior traffic order specialist, Project Centre Outstanding Contribution Award School streets (Covid response) team, Cardiff Council Steve Clark, director of operations and business development, BPA Civil enforcement officers (Covid response), Isle of Wight Council JustPark Product and Engineering team, JustPark Penham Excel, Unlawful vehicle research Record response to Baywatch Baywatch, the Disabled Motoring UK (DMUK) annual survey into disabled parking abuse, usually focuses on disabled parking abuse at supermarkets. This year, it asked Blue Badge holders to reect on all their parking experiences during the past 12 months. One of the most alarming survey results was that 96 per cent of respondents think local authorities are not doing enough to tackle Blue Badge abuse. Only one in ve Blue Badge holders had ever been asked to have their badge inspected by an ocial. Three-quarters of respondents said they nd it dicult or very dicult to Cooking up a storm! The BPA mentoring scheme, sponsored by the CDER Group, got off to a great start in November as six mentees were matched with experienced mentors from across the BPA membership community. Training was given by an external provider before a fun social event took place in the form of an online cook-along with professional chef Sean Singco. nd suitable disabled parking on everyday journeys, and more than 80 per cent said they often or very often saw disabled bays being abused. Two-thirds said they had seen disabled bays being removed during the pandemic. Dave Smith, BPA head of public aairs and communications, said: The results show that more must be done to tackle the abuse of disabled bays, and the publics attitudes towards disabled and accessible parking needs to change. The parking sector has a clear role to play in this. For the full results see bit.ly/PNDec20BW As a kitchen novice, I found the idea terrifying, but finding the utensils on the night was even harder! said mentor Peter Lowe, managing director of RTA Associates and chair of the Parking Wales group. It was great fun and a good way to break the ice. You can find out more about the scheme at britishparking.co.uk/mentoring 46 britishparking.co.uk PN Dec 2020 pp46-47 BPA News.indd 46 23/11/2020 16:25 CDER