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Essex-wide Day of Action to tackle Blue Badge misuse

On 1 October, the North Essex Parking Partnership (NEPP) conducted a successful Blue Badge Day of Action, resulting in more than 300 Blue Badges being checked, 14 being inspected and six Penalty Charge Notices issued. 

During the Day of Action, NEPP officers focused on Colchester, Clacton-on-Sea and Harlow, where hundreds of Blue Badges were checked for fraud and misuse. Officers were also available to answer any queries from the public.  

The South Essex Parking Partnership (SEPP) also participated in this Blue Badge Day of Action, making it an Essex-wide event. In total, over 700 Blue Badges were checked, 26 PCNs were issued, and two Blue Badges were confiscated across Essex. 

Blue badges provide individuals with an exemption from certain parking restrictions and access to designated disabled parking spaces. The purpose of this Day of Action was to address those misusing the badge and illegally utilising the parking concession.

Examples of Blue Badge misuse include: 

  • Using a badge when the badge holder is not part of the journey.
  • Using a badge that belongs to a deceased person.
  • Using an out of date or expired badge.

Councillor Paul Honeywood, Chair of the North Essex Parking Partnership, said: “The misuse of the Blue Badge is an act of fraud and prevents those with a valid blue badge from being able to use the accessible parking spaces they need.   

“Blue Badge abuse will not be tolerated, and I hope this Day of Action sends a clear message to anyone misusing the scheme.” 

Notes

Blue Badges in North Essex are issued by Essex County Council Social Services. 

For more information about NEPP and Blue Badges, please visit Blue Badge – North Essex Parking Partnership 


Members of the public can directly report Blue Badge misuse to the NEPP via their website: Enforcement Requests – North Essex Parking Partnership 

More information on those eligible for a Blue Badge can be found at Who can get a Blue Badge? – GOV.UK 


NEPP is planning future Days of Action across North Essex. 

NEPP Day of Action sends clear message to persistent offenders

On 21 September, NEPP civil enforcement officers (CEOs), in partnership with the Police and enforcement agents, carried out a successful Day of Action in Colchester to tackle persistent offenders who regularly park illegally in the city centre.

The officers stopped several vehicles on the High Street and received full payment for nine Warrants of Control for unpaid Penalty Charge Notices (PCNs), totalling £915.75.

NEPP CEOs also issued 35 PCNs to drivers flouting parking restrictions and engaged with the public, who expressed safety concerns about food delivery couriers parking on the High Street.

Cllr Daniel Land, NEPP Chair, said: “We are pleased with the results of our Day of Action, and we will continue to take action against those who deliberately choose to ignore the parking rules. Parking restrictions are in place for a reason, and it is important that everyone complies with them. This is about targeting the right people and making our city centre and highways safer for all.”

Cllr Martin Goss, Colchester Borough Council Cabinet Member for Neighbourhoods and Waste, added: “I am delighted to see that NEPP is taking action to tackle persistent parking offenders in the city centre.

“This is a safety issue, primarily, and I am glad that NEPP is taking steps to address it. I hope that this Day of Action will send a clear message to those who persistently ignore the rules that their behaviour will not be tolerated.”

NEPP is planning future Days of Action across North Essex.

For more information about NEPP, visit north.parkingpartnership.org

School road safety scheme launches during Road Safety Week

Earls Colne Primary School 3PR Launch on 15 November: (Not in order) Cllr Richard Van Dulken (NEPP’s Member for Braintree District Council), Cllr Gabriella Spray (Braintree District Council Ward Councillor), Ms Sibley, Headteacher of Earls Colne Primary School, school staff and pupils, Essex Police. and 3PR costumed-character.

Earls Colne Primary School 3PR Launch on 15 November: (Not in order) Cllr Richard Van Dulken (NEPP’s Member for Braintree District Council), Cllr Gabriella Spray (Braintree District Council Ward Councillor), Ms Sibley, Headteacher of Earls Colne Primary School, school staff and pupils, Essex Police. and 3PR costumed-character. 

This Road Safety Week, the North Essex Parking Partnership (NEPP) is aiming to improve road safety for over 400 pupils at Earls Colne Primary School by launching one of its gold 3PR packages.  

3PR, which represents the three parking rules of care, consideration and caution, delivers a positive message about school parking and provides advice and guidance to children, parents and carers on safe and considerate parking practices. As well as focussing on safety outside the school gates, the initiative also encourages sustainable and physically active ways of travelling to and from school such as walking, cycling and scooting. 

This package includes Park and Stride locations, where parents are encouraged to park away from the school gates and complete the rest of their journey on foot. The aim is to reduce the number of vehicles stopping to drop pupils outside of the gates, potentially obstructing the view of pedestrians and cyclists, to reduce congestion and increase safety. 

Partners of this Park and Stride scheme include Earls Colne Recreation Club car park, Earls Colne Village car park (managed by Braintree District Council), Earls Colne Village Hall car park and Riverside Spice car park.

The school will also be operating and patrolling a 3PR zone outside the school, where pupils collect tokens for walking, scooting, or cycling into the zone.  This reduces the number of cars at the school gates and engages pupils by encouraging competition with other classes to be awarded the coveted 3PR trophy.  

In addition to the above, the school has been provided with 3PR resources including 3PR Hi Vis jackets, information leaflets, signage, educational content and much more. 

The school also has a vending machine where pupils can purchase prizes with points earned over each term.   

Cllr Dan Land, North Essex Parking Partnership Chair, said: “I was pleased to attend the launch at Walton last week, seeing kids happy and at the same time safer, is surely what we all want. We are really proud of the work we do to make school drop-offs and pick-ups safer, and Road Safety Week will play a big part in that. Our 3PR schemes genuinely make a difference and I encourage any schools interested in the scheme to get in touch with us via the 3PR website, schoolparking.org.uk.” 

Jakki Sibley, Headteacher of Earls Colne Primary School, said: “Here at ECPS we’re very committed to finding new ways to encourage a calmer, safer and greener school journey for our families. NEPP has been excellent in providing the resources to set up the 3PR initiative and with help formalising our Park and Stride schemes with local partners. We are looking forward to seeing the positive impact the Park and Stride and 3PR zone will have on cars stopping outside the gates to drop off pupils.   

“I think 3PR is an excellent scheme, fully funded by NEPP, they have provided us with the resources we need to help educate pupils, families and our local community around road safety at the school gates. 

“I’d like to take the opportunity to say thank you to the local businesses who have supported the scheme and allow our families to use their facilities, this community is great at working together and this is no exception.” 

Yesterday’s launch at Earls Colne Primary School follows an identical gold 3PR launch which took place at Walton-on-the-Naze Primary School on 4 November, as well as three silver 3PR package launches last week.

Suzie Bliss, Headteacher of Walton-on-the-Naze Primary School, said: “The launch was great fun and meant that lots of our families were engaged and involved. So far, it has already had an impact on the parking outside our school.  

“Thank you to NEPP’s 3PR team for the event.”

To find out more about 3PR, visit schoolparking.org.uk

Walton-on-the-Naze Primary School Launch on 4 November: (Not in order) Cllr Dan Land (Chair of the North Essex Parking Partnership), Cllr Delyth Miles (Tendring District Ward Councillors), Mrs Bliss (Headteacher of Walton-on-the-Naze Primary School), school staff and 3PR costumed-character.

School starts the new year with new road safety scheme 

Photo of 3PR launch at St Teresa’s Catholic Primary School in Colchester on 10 January 2023: (Not in order) Councillor Martin Goss (NEPP’s Member for Colchester City Council), Ward Councillors Sue Lissimore and Leigh Tate, Mrs Kelly (Headteacher of St Teresa’s Catholic Primary School), school pupils and the 3PR costumed-character.

St Teresa’s Catholic Primary School in Colchester has started the new year by launching one of the North Essex Parking Partnership’s (NEPP) Gold 3PR packages to improve road safety outside the school for its 200+ pupils.  

3PR, which represents the three parking rules of care, consideration and caution, delivers a positive message about school parking and provides advice and guidance to children, parents and carers on safe and considerate parking practices. As well as focussing on safety outside the school gates, the initiative also encourages sustainable and physically active ways of travelling to and from school such as walking, cycling and scooting. 

The school will also be operating and patrolling a 3PR zone outside the school, where pupils collect tokens for walking, scooting, or cycling into the zone.  This reduces the number of cars at the school gates and engages pupils by encouraging competition with other classes to be awarded the coveted 3PR trophy.  

In addition to the above, the school has been provided with 3PR resources including 3PR Hi Vis jackets, information leaflets, signage, educational content and much more.  

Cllr Dan Land, North Essex Parking Partnership Chair, said: “It’s fantastic that another school has signed up for our very popular and effective 3PR scheme. Almost 30 schools across North Essex have now signed up to the scheme and I would encourage any schools interested in the scheme to get in touch with us via the 3PR website at schoolparking.org.uk.” 

Mrs Kelly, Headteacher of St Teresa’s Catholic Primary School, said: “The children are very excited about sharing 3PR’s message with their parents and carers and showing our neighbours how we always act with kindness and consideration – even when we are parking!”  

To find out more about 3PR, visit schoolparking.org.uk

Local rising star recognised at national awards

Group photograph (from left to right): Joel Hughes – Taranto System, Jake England (NEPP), Annie Oliver – PCM (UK) and awards host, Kerry Godliman. Joel Hughes and Annie Oliver are past winners of the Rising Star Award © Matthew Walker Photography.

The very best of parking management was celebrated at the prestigious British Parking Awards 2022 on Wednesday 19 October 2022, where the North Essex Parking Partnership (NEPP)’s Group Operating Manager, Jake England, won the national ‘Rising Star Award’.

This award shines a spotlight on the rising stars in parking who are nominated for consistently making an outstanding contribution to their team and the wider parking sector. Jake England was nominated for the award for his commitment to service improvement and development.

Jake joined the parking sector when he began working for NEPP as a Civil Enforcement Officer in 2013. Since then, Jake has embraced professional development opportunities offered by NEPP and has worked hard to progress his career with the organisation to reach his current position.

NEPP was a finalist in an impressive five categories at this year’s British Parking Awards, including: the Communications Award; the Back Office Award; Parking Technology; Rising Star, and the Parking Partnerships Award.

Jake England, Group Operating Manager at the North Essex Parking Partnership, said: “I am delighted to win this award. The NEPP team’s passion to deliver innovative outcomes for the citizens within our communities – whilst faced with the contemporary challenges of the last three years – is truly inspirational and I am proud to represent them.”

Councillor Dan Land, Chair of the North Essex Parking Partnership, said: “I am so pleased for Jake and the team, a fabulous achievement! Jake is a hardworking and dedicated NEPP employee, whose commitment to his role and the sector is exemplary.”

The British Parking Awards, originally launched in 2002, seek to recognise and celebrate best practice, innovation and achievement in the design and management of both public and private sector parking. The 2022 winners were announced at the Awards Ceremony on 19 October at the Royal Lancaster, London.

For more information about the awards and to view the results, please visit: Home | British Parking Awards 2022

Jake England, Group Operating Manager for the North Essex Parking Partnership with the Rising Star Award © Matthew Walker Photography.