Shropshire car parks achieve national awards

Shropshire Council car parks have been recognised in a national scheme for high standards of safety and security.  (April 2011)

‘Park Marks’, which are awarded as part of the Safer Parking Scheme, have been attained by 29 council car parks, including three Park and Ride sites in Shrewsbury.

The scheme is designed to reduce crime and the fear of crime in car parks.  It is an initiative of the Association of Chief Police Officers and is managed by the British Parking Association.

The car parks were inspected to ensure they reached the standards required for the Park Mark. The inspection needed to show that measures in place deter criminal activity and create a safer environment for the driver and their vehicle. The award also requires that the facility is properly managed, maintained and has appropriate levels of surveillance, lighting, signage and cleanliness – all of which contribute to reducing the opportunity for crime – while reported incidents of crime are very low or nil.

Councillor Martin Taylor-Smith, Shropshire Council’s Cabinet member for transport and IT, said:

“Being awarded 29 Park Mark Safer Parking Awards is an exceptional achievement, and we are very pleased that the significant efforts and investment in our county car parks has helped us to gain these accolades.

“The awards demonstrate that we are putting the most effective measures possible in place to ensure these car parks are safe and secure for the people who use them.

“Ensuring our county car parks are safe places is a priority and we are continuing to work on improvements which will bring more of our car parks up to the Safer Parking standard.”

Doug Hosking, Shropshire Council parking and transport officer, added:

“We are proud to say that Shropshire offers safer places to park and this has been recognised by both the police and the British Parking Association.  It’s important for customers to know they can park their car in a safe environment.”

PC Tim Weaver of West Mercia Police, said:

“The relationship between the police and the parking industry has never been stronger and crime is reducing in our car parks.  Park Mark is becoming the recognised icon of the motoring public when choosing where to park.”