Safer parking in Inverness
Motorists using Highland Council’s Old Town Rose Street car park can be assured that it has recently been awarded the Park Mark Safer Parking award from the Association of Chief Police Officers.
This award brings the total of car parks in the city to have Park Mark status to three as Rose Street joins the Eastgate, and Falcon car parks also in the scheme.
For people using parking facilities that have won the Park Mark Safer Parking award, it means that they are parking in an area that has been vetted by the Police, to make sure that the site has had measures put in place to create a safe environment. Park Mark awarded parking areas are run by operators who are concerned with their users safety and the safety of their vehicles, and who have done the best they can to reduce crime and the fear of crime on their site.
The assessments for the Park Mark scheme include scrutinising measures put in place that help to deter criminal activity and anti-social behaviour, thus doing as much as possible to prevent crime and reduce the fear of crime.
Presenting the Award to Highland Council’s Car Park Supervisor Philip Barron, Northern Constabulary’s Chief Inspector Colin Souter said: “It is important for motorists visiting the Inverness city centre that they can park their cars knowing the car parks they use have been vetted to the high Park Mark standard, which demonstrates effective measures have been put in place to help make them safe from crime. We have seen Eastgate, Falcon and now Rose Street receive these awards thanks to the efforts of Phillip Barron and his team. I am delighted to be able to present Philip at the Rose Street Car Park with this Award and thank him and all the attendants for the important work they do for us all.”
Provost William Smith said: “I congratulate Philip and his team on the excellent work that they have put in to achieve this award. It demonstrates not only to locals but also visitors to Inverness, our commitment to managing high quality car parking facilities, that feel safe and have measures in place to help reduce levels of crime.”
Councillor Norrie Donald, Chairman of The Highland Council’s City of Inverness and Area TEC Services Committee said: “This is great news for the Old Town Rose Street car park, well done to all the TEC Services staff involved. In addition to the new access tower, improved lighting and comprehensive CCTV coverage at Rose Street car park, TEC Services will be carrying out a further £500K improvements next year.”
Phillip Barron, Highland Council’s Car Park Supervisor said: “We have introduced a number of ways in which we can help people using Rose Street car park feel safer and enjoy their visit more while in Inverness. In addition to providing spaces for 900 vehicles for short, daily, long stay and annual parking we offer breakdown assistance, advice, information and will accompany people into the building to their cars late at night for those who require it.
“We aim to provide a friendly and helpful service to our car park users. We know many of the contract yearly drivers and their vehicles by sight, and recently a Christmas shopper left an expensive gift outside the lifts and we managed to track them down by the CCTV and reunite them with their present.”
Head Traffic Warden Jimmy Fisher said: “It is refreshing to see the amount of work that has been carried out at Rose Street car park. Prior to the renovation works it was a dark and dingy place and the public were reluctant to use it. Now they are more inclined to use it as it is a brighter, safer user friendly car park.”
Old Town Rose Street Multi Storey Car Park is situated in the centre of Inverness within walking distance of the Inverness Bus Station, Railway Station, city centre and the shopping malls.
The capacity of the car park is 900 spaces offering a variety of parking options, short stay (for shoppers), daily parking (for workers), long stay (for storage while on holiday or business) and contract yearly parking (for regular users at £1.22 per day).
Old Town Rose Street car park offers 24 hour parking with attendants patrolling from 6am to 11pm combined with CCTV cameras throughout the car park. All attendants on shift carry a mobile phone (0787 9206048) and can be contacted during 6am – 11pm.