Waverley Borough Council has celebrated recognition for its car parks as it moves towards securing prestigious awards through a series of accreditations.

The Park Mark Award is granted to parking facilities that meet rigorous risk assessments conducted by the Police and the British Parking Association (BPA).

The BPA aims to improve standards in parking, safety, and accessibility. Many Park Access sites also hold Park Mark accreditation, forming part of the nationally recognised Safer Parking Scheme, which is supported by the Police.

These requirements ensure that parking operators implement measures to deter criminal activity and anti-social behaviour, reducing the fear of crime within their facilities.

This reassures users that the car parks have been vetted by the Police and BPA, providing a safer environment through quality management, appropriate lighting, effective surveillance, and cleanliness.

Waverley also received a Park Access award for 19 of its car parks. The Park Access accreditation is the BPA's UK-wide certification for accessibility, recognising parking and electric vehicle charging facilities that are inclusive and user-friendly. It ensures that visitors can travel with confidence, knowing that their parking and EV charging accessibility needs will be met upon arrival.

The awards come amid criticism from residents and local MP Greg Stafford over increased charges at Waverley-owned car parks.

Cllr Tony Fairclough, Waverley Borough Council's deputy leader and portfolio holder for enforcement and regulatory services, said: "This recognition is testament to the hard work and commitment of our parking team and reflects the council's on-going investment programme that ensures our parking facilities are safe, secure, and accessible for everyone.

“We look forward to continuing our collaboration with the Police and the BPA to maintain and improve these high standards."