Hillingdon Council wins British Parking Awards 2010

The British Parking Awards were launched in 2002 by Parking Review Magazine and are supported by the British Parking Association (BPA). They seek to recognise best practice and innovation in the management, design and enforcement of parking.

Hillingdon was named Overall Winner after being shortlisted for four awards and winning two; the Innovation Award and the Back Office Team of the Year. The Innovation Award recognised the work in launching the HillingdonFirst smart card; that gives residents preferential parking rates while the Back Office Team of the Year award was for professionalism in dealing with appeals and permit matters, and for developing training for parking staff. The overall winner award recognises the single most outstanding example of excellence in the UK parking industry during the past year.

Cllr Burrows, Cabinet Member for Transportation commented: "Hillingdon is proud to have a parking services that firmly puts the residents of the borough at its heart. At the same time businesses and visitors are benefiting from a first class service that other local authorities from across the country are looking to emulate."

80% of residents asked in a recent survey, had used their card at least once since the scheme was launched last year with 61% of residents using their card regularly at least once a week. Many of the residents, when asked to comment on the scheme, praised the council for listening to residents and for putting them first as well as supporting local businesses.

The British Parking Awards 2010 took place at the InterContinental Hotel in London on Friday 12 March. The winners were revealed to an audience of over 500 people by leading impressionist Jon Culshaw.

Find out more about the British Parking Awards at www.britishparkingawards.co.uk.