Pass Mark awarded to various sites across Tendring District Council

Tendring District Council’s facilities demonstrate the highest standards across their parking operations.

Thirty Tendring District Council facilities were recognised with the Park Mark award as part of the Safer Parking Scheme this summer. This is a considerable achievement, highlighting the emphasis on safety that Tendring District Council have put into managing their car parks and their commitment to high standards.

Managed by the BPA on behalf of Police Crime Prevention Initiatives, the Safer Parking Scheme requires each car park to undergo a rigorous assessment by specially trained police assessors. Assessments include management and maintenance of the facility, taking into consideration surveillance, lighting, signage and cleanliness. Car parks accredited under the scheme are awarded the Park Mark® certification, indicating they meet the highest standards of safety and security – facilities across Tendring District Council have managed to accomplish this in the past few months, and we’re proud to have recognised them for this impressive achievement.

Orwell Place car park in Dovercourt is one of the first in the UK to scoop a prestigious new national award for electric vehicle charging facilities.

The Park Access EV award, part of the Safer Parking Scheme run by the British Parking Association (BPA), sets high standards for car parks that provide safe, well-managed spaces and ensure that EV charging points are easy to use for everyone, regardless of accessibility needs.

Opened by Tendring District Council (TDC) on the former site of Starlings Garage and the Queens Head Hotel in 2023, Orwell Place includes public toilets and doubles as a community event space, hosting seasonal attractions such as a Christmas market and Easter fair.

Councillor Mick Barry, TDC’s Cabinet Member for Leisure and Public Realm, said the award demonstrates the council’s commitment to accessibility and sustainability.

“We’re delighted that Orwell Place has achieved the Park Access EV award – one of the first car parks in the UK to do so.

“Orwell Place is a great example of how we’re combining accessibility with modern features like EV charging to meet the needs of our community.

“Supporting electric vehicle charging is part of our wider ambition to create a cleaner, greener Tendring, and we’ll keep investing in improvements that benefit residents and visitors alike.

“Parking is something people tell us matters to them, and we’re determined to keep standards high so our car parks remain safe, welcoming, and well-managed.”

The Park Access EV accreditation enables drivers to identify car parks and EV charging facilities that are safe, well-managed, and accessible for all users.

Naomi Parsons, BPA Area Manager, said only four car parks nationwide have achieved the new accreditation so far.

“Orwell Place car park is a very impressive car park which has successfully met all the criteria for Park Mark, including management and operations,” she said. “This means the car park is also accessible for all users.”

For more information visit https://www.britishparking.co.uk/Schemes

To find Park Mark awarded car parks visit www.parkmark.co.uk

Photo left to right:

Ends - For immediate release

Notes to Editors

For more information please contact the BPA press office – email: media@britishparking.co.uk or visit our Newsroom.

1) The BPA is a not-for-profit membership association. We collaborate with our members and stakeholders so they can support their local communities by providing the parking services they need and improving compliance with parking rules and regulations.

2) The Safer Parking Scheme is a national standard for UK car parks that have low crime and measures in place to ensure the safety of people and vehicles. A Park Mark is awarded to each car park that achieves the challenging standards. The distinctive Park Mark signage helps drivers find car parks where they can confidently leave their vehicle, knowing the environment is safer

3) The BPA manages the Safer Parking Scheme on behalf of Police Crime Prevention Initiatives Ltd (Police-CPI) and with support from the Home Office and the Scottish Government. The BPA employs nine Area Managers to actively promote and manage the scheme throughout the UK.

4) Police Crime Prevention Initiatives Ltd owns the police element of the project. Police CPI works alongside Police Scotland and the Police Service of Northern Ireland to deliver the police element of the Safer Bus Station Scheme.