Government crack down on cowboy parking companies

Transport minister Sadiq Khan today signalled the Government’s intention to crack down on rogue parking firms with the introduction of tough new rules limiting the access to driver data.

Currently, private companies can request vehicle keepers’ details from the DVLA in order to issue penalty notices for drivers who have illegally parked on private land.

They will now all need to be a member of an Accredited Trade Association – requiring them to abide by a strict code of conduct – to get this information.

The measure is part of a broader cross-Government action plan to radically overhaul the rules governing the enforcement of parking on private land, due to be published in the Autumn. The plan is designed to target rogue firms and landowners who unfairly clamp vehicles or demand extortionate payments.

Transport Minister Sadiq Khan said:

“Where drivers break legitimate conditions set by landowners then it is right that penalties are applied. But we will not tolerate unscrupulous firms breaking the law by overcharging or intimidating motorists.

“We want a fair system that is clearly communicated with an independent complaints procedure.

“In order to achieve this we will be publishing later this year a cross-Government action plan which will help us to protect motorists and put a stop to the unacceptable behaviour of cowboy clampers and rogue parking firms.”

Other measures being considered include a compulsory licensing system for clamping firms which will ensure they behave responsibly and will allow the Security Industry Authority – the body that regulates the private security industry – to hold them to account.

This has recently been the subject of a consultation from the Home Office, the results of which will be announced later this year. However, specific measures are likely to address issues such as excessive penalties for releasing clamped vehicles, impounding cars unreasonably quickly after being clamped, inadequate signage warning drivers that clamping takes place and inadequate processes for dealing with objections from drivers.

The Government is considering how they can secure an independent review of complaints, and how best to make sure motorists are aware of their rights under consumer protection legislation.

New technology could signal the end of the line for paper tickets

Paper travel tickets could become a thing of the past under proposals announced by the Government today.

New technology, enabling mobile phones to double up as "swipe and go" cards and bank cards to be used to pay directly for journeys could revolutionise how travellers purchase and use tickets according to the new consultation.

The Government estimates that the benefits of universal 'integrated smart' ticketing could be as much as £2 billion per year through improved journey times and faster, more convenient and reliable purchasing and use of tickets, with benefits for local government and operators too.

Central to the vision is the implementation of smart ticketing infrastructure using the Government backed ITSO specification to allow seamless travel between, and within, cities and regions; and different modes of transport.

Some of the more innovative proposals could see electronic tickets or pre-pay credit loaded straight onto a mobile phone enabling it to be used as a ticket; or “contactless” payment which will allow ordinary bank cards to pay instantaneously for travel simply by being passed over a terminal, dispensing with the need for a ticket at all.

Transport Minister Sadiq Khan said;

"Experience has shown that smart ticketing can be a key part of offering a 21^st century public transport system. And of course the easier it is to use public transport, the more people will do so, which is why I want to see a universal coverage of smart ticketing on all modes of public transport in England as quickly as possible.

"We know that passengers want quicker journeys and better reliability, and smart ticketing will help us do that. We could see the end to waiting in line at ticket machines, while buses could spend half the amount of time sitting at the bus stop waiting for people to board and looking for the right change. In some cases, direct payments may even do away with the need for a ticket at all.

"The technology and the interest is already out there and I want to see it used to not only help passengers but also reduce congestion, pollution, improve the local environment, and help local authorities plan more effective local transport systems."

The Government hopes that the Smart and Integrated Ticketing Strategy will build on the success already seen in London where 'Oyster’ smart cards are now used for 78 per cent of bus and tube journeys.

Jonathan Bray, Director of the Passenger Transport Executive Group Support Unit said:

"We fully share the Government's ambition to see smart ticketing introduced across Britain's largest urban areas as soon as possible. Oystercard has become intrinsic to London life - passengers have a right to expect a similar deal in the next tier of major urban areas.

"We look forward to continuing to work with Government on the reform of bus subsidies that's currently underway to help make this happen."

The key benefits of smart ticketing include:

• Allowing passengers to load tickets or credit in advance of travel, speeding up boarding times and reducing queuing;
• Fraud and security. Smart tickets are far harder to replicate and can be electronically 'killed' the moment they are reported lost or stolen with any remaining balance refunded.
• Sophisticated rules can be applied to 'cap' an individual's cost of travelling at a certain level so that they will always pay the best ticket price possible for the journeys they actually make.
• Operators will be able to run their own loyalty schemes and offer ticket types to suit individual customers' needs.
• Joining up services through using smartcards for other products such as library membership, leisure centre entry, benefit entitlement, parking, bike and car hire, and even lift share arrangements

Minister welcomes progress at key Crossrail station

Transport Minister Sadiq Khan visited the construction site at the Crossrail Canary Wharf Station today to see the progress being made on Western Europe's largest infrastructure project.

Canary Wharf is the first Crossrail station under construction and the start of work was marked on 15 May this year by a joint visit from the Prime Minister, the Secretary of State and the Mayor of London.

Sadiq Khan said:

“This project will boost the UK economy by at least £20bn and create and support thousands of jobs, relieve congestion and provide a high speed rail link across London. It's good news to see that this project is well and truly underway."

“Work is on schedule, with the station foundations being laid through a specialist 'Giken' piling method designed to minimise noise pollution to surrounding buildings.”

Boasting independent step-free disabled access from street to platform, Canary Wharf Station will be constructed below the water within the West India Docks complex.

Earlier in the day the Minister had visited the newly opened Crossrail Visitor Centre near Tottenham Court Road.

The Visitor Centre opened earlier this month to act as a one-stop shop for local residents, businesses and anyone interested in learning more about the redevelopment of Tottenham Court Road Tube station and the Crossrail project in general.

As construction progresses further centres will open along the route, helping to ensure that people are kept informed.

£440m Funding Boost for Street Lighting

An extra £440 million will be made available to help local authorities modernise their street lighting, Transport Minister, Sadiq Khan announced today.

Local authorities across England will be able to apply for the Private Finance Initiative (PFI) credits to improve street lighting on their local roads.

Announcing the funding Sadiq Khan said:

“Good quality street lighting improves road safety and reduces crime and the fear of crime. This funding will help to create safer and healthier local communities by promoting social inclusion and more sustainable patterns of transport such as cycling and walking.”

Full details of how local authorities can apply for this funding will be issued to all local authority Chief Executives in September asking for formal Expressions of Interest by December.

This is the 3^rd bidding round for street lighting credits. Projects from the last bidding round in 2005 are now completing their procurement.

(CLG) Khan: New report offers 'rare insight' into racism suffered by UK Chinese community

A new Government-funded report into levels of racism experienced by members of the UK Chinese community should start a national debate on how best to tackle the problem, Cohesion Minister Sadiq Khan said today.

Hidden from Public View, published by The Monitoring Group-Min Quan Project following a Connecting Communities Grant from the Department for Communities and Local Government, examines how best to monitor and tackle racist incidents against UK Chinese people.

The report finds that:

* Chinese-origin people in the UK experience substantial racism - perhaps as much as or more than any other minority ethnic group.

* Perpetrators can be as young as 10, with their behaviour often dismissed as 'a bit of fun'.

* In particular, the report cites numerous examples of owners and workers in the Chinese catering industry facing verbal abuse and non-payment for goods on a daily basis - in some cases escalating to physical assault and even murder.

Mr Khan reiterated Government support to combat racism in all its forms, and pledged to respond to the report's full list of recommendations by the summer.

Sadiq Khan said:

"As a Government, we are committed to tackling racism wherever it occurs. That is why we have funded today's report, which should start a national debate about the plight of the UK Chinese community.

"Sadly, the Min Quan Project's findings confirm our worst suspicions, offering a rare insight into the harrowing physical and verbal abuse that members of the UK Chinese community often face. Clearly this is unacceptable.

"We have taken steps to ensure a victim of any hate crime is able to report it, and have it investigated in an appropriate and sensitive manner. Like all communities, UK Chinese people should be able to live their lives free from the fear of attack."

The Government agrees that efforts should be made to improve the reporting of race hate incidents against UK Chinese people.

A number of initiatives are already underway to tackle racism and race hate crime wherever it occurs, which the UK Chinese community can also benefit from.

This includes True Vision, a project established in May 2004 and funded by all 23 police forces, which provides information on hate crime in all its forms, and how victims can report it - including through the True Vision website.

The Government also agrees that the good work undertaken by some police forces and criminal justice agencies to tackle race hate crimes should be encouraged and shared more widely.

(CLG) Khan: Celebrate best of British on St George's Day

Cohesion Minister Sadiq Khan has called on communities to use St George's Day to celebrate the best of British values.

This year there have already been successful parades where communities have defied the critics and united to fly the flag and enjoy this traditional day of celebration.

The latest Citizenship Survey published today also confirms that people feel a strong sense of belonging both to their neighbourhoods and to Britain.

Of those questioned, 84 per cent reported feeling a strong sense of belonging to Britain, while nearly four out of five said they feel a strong sense of belonging to their neighbourhoods - including 36 per cent feeling that they very strongly belong, up from 27 per cent in 2003.

On a visit to the Royal British Legion in Rotherham, where he thanked members for putting their lives on the line, Sadiq Khan said:

"There is a long tradition in this country of local people supporting celebrations and marking special days in their communities. St George's Day is an important date in our calendar and as England's national day, should be a time when we all reflect what is good about our community.

"It is a particular pleasure to visit the Royal British Legion on St George's Day. The values that St. George represents are those of the Legion: courage, commitment and compassion. They are the best of British values.

"For too long we have seen the flag hijacked by those who spread race hate or people shying away from a celebration of English culture and history because of a fear of offending somebody. We should not let these people spoil this celebration which is an opportunity to show the true spirit of this country - one of inclusiveness, tolerance and friendship.

"Let us all celebrate England's proud history and the strength of different communities living together side by side."

(DCMS) Government publishes guidance to help realise the potential of Churches and Faith buildings

The Government and the Church of England today published 'Churches and Faith Buildings: Realising the Potential', to help churches and other and faith groups find resources to make their buildings more sustainable by enhancing the facilities and services they offer to local communities.

The paper has been produced as a result of a joint working party between Government departments and the Church of England.

Launching the report, Culture Secretary Andy Burnham said:

"Churches and other places of worship are at the heart of neighbourhoods. They are the local landmarks by which we navigate and they often represent the best of our heritage. At the same time, both the buildings and the people that frequent them, are so often active in enhancing the lives of many people, offering services to meet the needs of the local community.

"This excellent paper brings together two important things - the bricks and mortar of much-loved buildings, and the benefits they bring as resources for the wider community. Put them together and we are helping these buildings to meet the challenges of the future."

Sadiq Khan, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Community Cohesion in the Department for Communities and Local Government, said:

"I welcome the faith buildings paper - it will give faith groups support to develop their buildings for wider public use, and offer them and other community groups increased opportunities to come together in shared public spaces.

"Faith buildings of all kinds are a really important local resource and should be made the most of, which is why the guidance will identify a range of funding and other resources available to faith groups to enable them to improve and modify their buildings for wider community use and for a range of different purposes.

"I know the information in the guidance will be useful and I am sure we will see an increase in the number of faith buildings being used to bring people together, forming strong community links and helping to deliver the services local people need."

Across the country, churches and other faith groups are looking at what more their buildings can bring to local communities. Faith buildings are more likely to be better maintained and adapted for community use when they are well used. At the same time, churches and other faith groups are ideally placed in every community to provide facilities, services and a positive and stable presence.

The paper confirms the position of churches and faith groups as significant contributors to society as part of the third sector. It proposes a range of actions to help faith groups engage effectively in local and regional agendas, it outlines some resources that might help to make church and faith buildings more user-friendly as part of wider community activities, and it proposes ways in which providers of funding and policy makers might better understand what faith groups bring to community.