The end of the parking attendant? (28/09/2007)

By the middle of next year the number of Parking Attendants on patrol in Central London will be reduced by almost 20 per cent.

Westminster Council will have made this reduction through the introduction of wireless CCTV technology. The cameras, which have been rolled out across Soho and the West End, are focussed around known congestion areas and are able to be moved within hours once traffic flows improve.

The Department for Transport is expected to announce next month new guidelines from the Traffic Management Act, which will be introduced from April 2008 and will give local authorities the option to change the name of parking attendants, to "Civil Enforcement Officers" who would be able to gather information that maybe used as evidence for Anti-Social Behaviour Orders, as well as issuing parking fines.

Westminster Council’s Cabinet Member for Economic Development and Transport, Councillor Danny Chalkley said:

"The use of wireless CCTV cameras for parking is yet another enlightened parking measure and will improve traffic flows in the heart of London.

"CCTV will get more parking tickets right first time which will mean fewer appeals. By reducing the number of Parking Attendants by a fifth on street, as well as using cameras, we believe that there will be fewer challenges by motorists.

"Is this the end of the Parking Attendant? Probably not. Although we are reducing the number on the street we foresee a continuing role for Parking Attendants in the future working in tandem with CCTV cameras."

ENDS

Notes to Editors:

Photographs of CCTV cameras are available on request.

Westminster City Council has so far deployed 30 wireless CCTV cameras, and is adding to this number each week, with a total of around 200 anticipated by the middle of 2008. These will be capable of being installed at 250 locations across the City to support traffic management, parking and highway enforcement and crime and disorder monitoring.

Westminster currently has an average of 250 Parking Attendants on the streets at any one time. This will be reduced by 10 (almost 5%) from end October and 40 (almost 20%) from next August.

The CCTV cameras will detect and fine those vehicles that are parked or moving illegally and causing obstructions to other drivers.

Motorists who wish to find out more about the CCTV enforcement can visit our website www.westminster.gov.uk/parking or call our dedicated Parking Services hotline on 020 7823 4567.

Evidence gained during the pilot scheme last year showed that there had been a marked improvement in traffic flow due to a reduction in contraventions and consequential changes in drivers' behaviour.

Other anticipated benefits of the scheme include increased confidence of Parking Attendants regarding their personal safety and increased driver awareness that can be picked up on camera for PA abuse. We therefore anticipate a reduction in reported attacks on PAs.

According to guidance in the Traffic Management Act, Parking Attendants will become known as Civil Enforcement Officers (CEOs) & will have a wider remit such as inspecting parking equipment, checking & reporting defective signs/markings, issuing information leaflets, providing witness statements & appearing in front of the Parking Adjudicator.

Last week (Tuesday 18th September) Westminster City Council's parking team won the prestigious e-commerce award at the National Customer Service Awards for the introduction of the innovative pay by phone parking.