Private parking firms could be forced to reveal ‘fine hotspots’

PRIVATE parking firms could be forced to reveal the UK’s worst ‘fine hotspots’ as part of a major crackdown to protect motorists.

Councils are obliged to give details of their worst parking traps, including how many penalties are dished out and how much revenue has been raised, in response to freedom of information requests. But private firms which patrol thousands of car parks are under no such obligation to reveal their most lucrative locations.

Motoring group the AA said unless the law is changed to make them divulge this information, ‘parking charge hotspots continue to trap innocent drivers’. The idea is that disclosure would lead to pressure to improve the layout of signs and restrictions.

Last night the recommendation was backed by Tory MP Sir Greg Knight who will today present his parking bill for its second reading in the Commons.

It aims to introduce a statutory code of conduct to put rogue parking firms out of business.

The British Parking Association, which oversees a voluntary code of practice for parking firms, said it welcomed Sir Greg’s bill and urged MPs to back it. ÷ Britain’s biggest parking firm ParkingEye has been put up for sale by troubled outsourcing company Capita.