New parking law plans hit with delays leaving millions of drivers at risk of £2,000 penalty

Baroness Taylor of Stevenage, Parliamentary Under-Secretary for Housing, Communities and Local Government, told the House of Lords yesterday that the Government would launch a consultation "in the near future" rather than implementing the code straightaway.

The announcement drew criticism from Lord Kirkhope of Harrogate, who helped create the original 1989 parking legislation.

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"We really must have the code, and I'm disappointed, therefore, that the minister refers to yet another consultation. This code is needed, so please can it arrive soon?" he said.

The code has been in limbo since the Parking Code of Practice Act was passed in 2019, with successive Governments failing to implement it.

The minister confirmed the Government was "actively reviewing how best to raise standards in the industry". The announcement comes as the RAC predicts private parking operators will issue a record 14.5 million fines this year, with some drivers already being charged a shocking £2,000 for breaching rules.

Despite calls for immediate action, Taylor insisted the consultation was "very important" to incorporate views from "the motoring public, but also all the organisations, private parking organisations, motorist representatives".

"We don't want to end up with another legal challenge, which would hold it up even further. So it's important we get it right this time," she added.

The Parking Code of Practice Act was secured in 2019 by Sir Greg Knight, following decades of work begun by Kirkhope's Private Members Parking Act of 1989.

The previous Government eventually issued a code in February 2022, but it had to be withdrawn just four months later following a legal challenge from private parking operators.

The legal action centred on two key issues, including proposed caps on parking charges, which were lower than existing industry standards, and ensuring that the code bans debt recovery fees entirely.

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This withdrawal left motorists without the protections the 2019 Act was meant to provide, while the private parking industry continued operating under its own voluntary standards.

"Why doesn't it make clear to the industry we're going to getthis solved? Otherwise,we'regoing to shut off access and your business collapses straight away," Sir Knight said, referring to the industry's reliance on DVLA data access.

Baroness Scott questioned the need for further consultation, calling it "another waste of time and not getting this thing settled" after two previous consultations under the Conservative Government.

Lord Vaux of Harrowden highlighted practical frustrations, noting how motorists often discover "that none of the three or four apps you've already got on your phone works in that car park".

Baroness Winterton of Doncaster, who previously campaigned against "cowboy wheel clampers," called for an independent appeals process and limits on court proceedings to reduce disputes.

The minister defended the need for another consultation, arguing that the previous legal challenges "relied heavily on the fact that there hadn't been proper consultation and that's why we need to make absolutely sure that we do it properly this time".

However, she acknowledged the "distress that wrong and illegal parking can cause people, so we have to get the balance right".

Taylor confirmed that the Government will consider various reforms during the consultation, including the possibility of a regulator. Industry representatives are scheduled to meet with the minister next week.