Car park improvement Genetic code Rod Williamson, city services team leader at the City of Lincoln Council, on why your car park needs to go under the microscope n 1953, the scientists Francis Crick and James Watson announced their worldshattering breakthrough on DNA cell information at their usual lunchtime local, the Eagle pub in Cambridge. Not forgetting the vital work of the lesser-known unsung heroine, Rosalind Franklin, whose vital underpinning work was formulated at Kings College, London. Cracking the genetic code has enabled an understanding of the structure and function of DNA, thereby creating a whole tranche of medical applications, breakthroughs, and previously undreamed-of potentialities. I The DNA of your car park Each car park can be viewed as its own living, dynamic organism. Within each square foot of space lies a whole raft of information its DNA that requires analysing to find new pathways towards excellence, efficiency, enterprise and eco-friendliness. We need to become scientists (lab coats optional), collecting and collating all the information and considering each car parks unique DNA. Location Where is your car park situated? What roads feed it; which places nearby are traffic generators; what is the access/egress like; what are the economic factors affecting the area; what relationship does it have with nearby large employers/businesses; and what highway signs guide people to it? have; are they recognisable by uniform; what equipment do they use; and are there career progression opportunities? Business analysis Do you have data on bay use, income per space, cost per space, staff costs, energy costs, business rates, consumables and management overheads? Layout Is it surface, multi-storey or underground; what is the standard of maintenance and its life-care plan; are internal traffic areas well signposted; what size are the bays; does it have lifts, EV chargepoints, CCTV, solar power, LED lighting, greenery, fire prevention, or advertising potential? Reputation What are the levels of crime/anti-social behaviour; does it hold Park Mark accreditation; have you received any customer complaints/ praise or mystery shopping exercises? What is the standard of equipment installed; how often is it cleaned and painted? Is your car park well branded; and does it have an online presence? Operation What are the opening times and methods of payment? Is there a suite of tariffs, and what is the method of enforcement? Staffing Are staff available on site or a mobile team; what duties, training and qualifications do they Immune system Is the car park able to respond to changes in legislation, politics, and national and local economic factors; is staff retention good; is there forward planning for new developments and availability of funding; is there a strategy agreement with stakeholders? Analysing the results After analysing the evidence, we need to identify patterns and relationships to see if the car park can be enhanced. Always have the option to try experimental changes to see how they affect the overall health of the car park. It is important to step back from the daily hurly-burly to examine the data through your critical lenses and take time to build up evidence maybe over many years to deeply understand the DNA of your car parks. Make that observation, then ask what can be done or achieved; put forward a hypothesis, implement it and then review its effect and impact. Maybe see you in the Eagle for a swift one to celebrate your improvements? 26