5 March 2013

Please note: this news article is in our archive. Articles were correct at time of publication, but should not be relied on for accuracy after the passage of time.

SEVEN East Grinstead car parks are among 17 in Mid Sussex to have retained a prestigious Police award for safety and security following a recent assessment by an independent inspector.

The car parks have been recognised as examples of excellent parking design and will proudly display the ‘Park Mark’ sign of quality for the next 12 months.

The British Parking Association, on behalf of Sussex Police, assessed the award-winning car parks. The assessors declared that all had measures in place to deter criminal activity and create a safer environment for both the public and their vehicles. The Police checked that the car parks are properly managed, maintained and have appropriate levels of surveillance, lighting, signage and cleanliness – all of which contribute to reducing the opportunity for crime.

Crime records show only 13 crimes were reported across all 17 Park Mark car parks in the past year. With 1.4 million vehicles passing through the car parks each year, the chance of becoming a victim of crime is extremely unlikely, around 1 in 100,000.

Mike Bibby, Area Manager for the British Parking Association, said: “It gives me great pleasure, once again, to commend Mid Sussex District Council on this achievement and I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate all personnel involved. Users of these facilities can be confident the council is making every effort to ensure their safety, and that of their vehicles, is taken seriously.

“The working practices of the Council, and the actual condition of their car parks, is an excellent example for other Local Authorities as to what can be achieved.”

Councillor John de Mierre, Mid Sussex District Council Cabinet Member for Economic Development agreed.

“Securing these Park Mark awards for another year shows our commitment to protecting residents from crime and making our car parks as safe as possible. Figures show that instances of crime in our car parks are exceptionally rare and I hope that motorists take confidence from these Park Mark awards, knowing that nothing is more important to us than the safety and security of the people who use our parking facilities.”

* The ‘Park Mark’ is part of the UK Police flagship initiative ‘Secured by Design’ that promotes crime reduction through effective design and security standards in public buildings, roadways, footpaths and car parks as well as private houses.

The award-winning car parks in East Grinstead are :

• Chequer Mead
• Christopher Road
• King Street
• Norton House
• Queensway
• Railway Approach
• Vicarage Road