British Parking Awards celebrate inspired thinking

London Councils' Nick Lester and students' innovative thinking in an afternoon of surprises at 2014 awards event

Nick Lester won a British Parking Award in recognition of his advocacy work

Nick Lester won a British Parking Award in recognition of his advocacy work

Generation WhY`s award was collected by Jade Gillham and Lizze Unwin

Generation WhY`s award was collected by Jade Gillham and Lizze Unwin

A team of students from Northumbria University were recognised for their innovative approach to re-imagining how parking can be enforced and marketed at the annual British Parking Awards, which were held in London yesterday. The Generation WhY team's Parking Futures project was a 120-page book and series of presentations at events which challenged the parking sector to rethink how they engaged and educated the motoring public.

The report was commissioned by Caroline Sheppard, chief adjudicator of the Traffic Penalty Tribunal, who was recognised alongside the students with the presentation of the Inspiration Award. This trophy was presented in tribute to the late Lynn Witham, founder of consultant Parking Associates, by her brother Gareth Morgan and colleague Kirsty Reeves.

The full winners list can be found by clicking here

The annual parking awards, organised by Parking Review magazine and Landor LINKS, were attended by almost 600 people. The audience reflected the diverse nature of parking as an activity as it included local authority and private sector parking managers, patrol officers, architects, property developers, engineers, transport planners, technology developers, debt recovery agents and cycling specialists.

The awards ceremony was hosted by the comedian and author Shappi Khorsandi at the Lancaster London. Shappi said the fact she did not drive meant she would be neutral while revealing the winners. However, having realised Ealing Council was in the room, she took a moment to discuss, from the stage, how the lack of parking controls made taking deliveries a nightmare on her street in west London.

The event saw a series of awards presented for new and refurbished structures, parking technologies and both teams and individuals working across the sector. Among those individuals was Nick Lester, corporate director of services at London Councils, who was presented with the John Squires Award. Launched at the event, this trophy recognises individuals who have been advocates for the parking sector. Lester has been a key figure in the development of decriminalised parking enforcement policy since the launch of the concept in London in the early 1990s.

Accepting the award Lester said: “I would like to accept it on behalf of everyone who has been rubbished by the local media or assaulted by the NoToMob or some of their friends simply for standing up for a good professional approach to managing parking.”

The work of those patrolling the streets and engaging with the motoring public first hand was reflected in another new trophy, The Front Line Award, which was presented to Jade Glover. A civil enforcement officer working for APCOA Parking (UK) in Southend-on-Sea, she is the parking sector's first ‘Hate Crime Ambassador’, a role that sees her support colleagues who have been victims of assault, liaise with the police and engage with local and national media.

www.britishparkingawards.co.uk