Service station operator Moto Hospitality has called on the UK government to reconsider its decision to reduce parking penalty charge notices (PCN) to £25, stating it will no longer be a deterrent to unlawful parking.
In a letter to the secretary of state for housing, communities and local government, Moto said reducing the PCN value to £50, which is reduced for 14 days to £25, will incentivise drivers not to pay whilst on site.
As the majority of current HGV parking tariff’s for 24 hours is higher than the recommended reduced PCN rate, Moto said there is no incentive for drivers to pay to park.
The operator added drivers will now chance that the ANPR system will not catch them and a PCN will not be sent out.
Nick Tatum, chief customer officer for Moto Hospitality, said: “HGV drivers/ Hauliers talk and fraudulent activity will increase rapidly, which will reduce income and available space for genuine customers.
“That coupled with the additional administrative burden of the process will I am sure increase costs to consumers which is something that none of us would have anticipated.”
The reduction in PCNs will reduce Moto’s ability to provide a rest stop for genuine customers, according to the service station operator.
This concern was backed by research from the Erasmus centre for urban, port and transport economics at Erasmus University, Rotterdam.
The report, written in response to the UK’s governments decision, found enforcement is key for parking management and avoiding ‘spillover’ problems.
Led author Giuliano Mingardo, explained: “Clearly, lower parking fines will strongly reduce the effectiveness of parking enforcement. Without enforcement any form of parking regulation and management has little sense.
“Not having a proper parking management means going back 20-30 years in time.”
