The North Essex Parking Partnership (NEPP) has been shortlisted as a finalist for three awards in the national British Parking Awards 2021 recognising organisations that have made a significant contribution to improving parking.
Having won the Communications award and been finalists in another two categories last year, the Partnership is keen to continue its success and has been shortlisted in the Communications Award, Positive Responses to the Pandemic Award and Parking as a Service Award categories this year.
The ‘Communications Award’ category recognises imaginative, engaging and informative approaches adopted by parking organisations to communicating with the public and other organisations. NEPP has been shortlisted for its messaging throughout the Covid-19 pandemic, helping to keep customers as up to date as possible. This includes a dedicated coronavirus webpage to keep residents informed, three videos including showing the benefits of using contactless MiPermit payments and work on social media highlighting the Positive Parking Agenda (PPA) and Selfish Parker campaigns.
The ‘Positive responses to the pandemic award’ will be awarded to recognise and honour the exceptional work that parking teams have done to support the NHS, local authority clients and communities across the UK manage, mitigate and fight the coronavirus pandemic. Along with the dedicated coronavirus webpage, NEPP extended support to NHS staff members by offering a free parking permit. Single yellow line restrictions were eased to allow for increased homeworking and less commuters during the lockdown stages of the pandemic. Residents were also offered a three-month extension to their residents parking permits.
The ‘Parking as a service award’ is presented for creating a positive experience for motorists, recognising work done to create easy-to-understand, non-confrontational and person-centric services. NEPP have created a positive experience for motorists by supporting the Positive Parking Agenda which focuses changing perceptions and misconceptions towards parking, as well as the Don’t be a Selfish Parker campaign. In addition, recognition is given to the 3PR and Park Safe Schools projects which aim to tackle dangerous and illegal parking around schools.
Cllr Sue Lissimore, North Essex Parking Partnership Chair, said: “I’m incredibly pleased that NEPP has been shortlisted once again in multiple categories for the prestigious national British Parking Awards. NEPP continues to receive recognition across the parking sector for its innovation, communications, customer service and project work with partner authorities and I look forward to the results next month.”
Originally launched in 2002, The British Parking Awards seeks to recognise and celebrate best practice, innovation and achievement in the design and management of both public and private sector parking.
The 2021 winners will be announced at the Awards Ceremony on 24 September at Royal Lancaster, London.