In our Case Studies area, we shall be bringing you stories involving the applications of Gerda Products throughhout the UK.

Gerda were asked if they could design a locking system providing various levels of controlled access, which would assist in keeping the gate closed when not in use, thereby reducing the number of abandoned vehicles, the associated environmental problems therewith, and ultimately helping to reduce the levels of anti-social behaviour.

The barrier gate locking system has been adopted in a variety of Local Authorities Boroughs which have experienced major improvements impacting well on the housing community.

An example of vehicle access control management as best practice can be found in the 'Paid Parking Estate Schemes' document, from Clapton Neighbourhood, London Borough of Hackney, which details management procedures implemented. Excerpts are taken from the document as follows:

To Learn More about the Gerda Barrier Gate Locking System, Click Here

The Old Way

The Council had procedures in place for the letting and management of parking spaces & garages. The Estate Parking Permit Enforcement Scheme commenced on 28th November 2001. However, these schemes were not strictly controlled and did not take into account vehicle related anti social behaviour and the affects of such nuisances on our residents / estate communal areas.

A New Way Forward

The Clapton Partnership was formed in October 2001 as a result of the Council’s proposed Estate Improvements Initiative for 2001 / 2002. The initiative is founded on a partnership approach between residents, the Council and other agencies working principally at estate level. Tenants and Residents Associations and Estate Committees were at the forefront in establishing the needs of the estate, monitoring progress and contributing local knowledge. The partnership produced a vision statement which highlighted the following as its basic objectives:

• Make Clapton a desirable place to live
• Make Clapton a place where Council services are delivered effectively and co-operatively
• A community that supports neighbours through regular interaction with the support of an active TRA
• Make Clapton housing estates a safer and more secure place to live
• Make Clapton an area where all sections of the community have equal access to services

As a result of the partnership’s basic objectives the “Paid Parking Estate Scheme” was created with the acceptance that the absence of an effective control of access to our estates, had lead to the increase of anti social behaviour on the communal parts (i.e. dumping of rubbish, abandoned vehicles, prostitution from vehicle and the selling of drugs). Clapton Neighbourhood has had a great deal of success with the new parking system which has lead to an article in the Local Government News. The Neighbourhood has also reduced the amount of abandoned vehicles it deals with by 80%.

The “Paid Parking Estate Scheme” is centred around specially designed Gerda gates & keys which when used by residents can only be retrieved by closing the gate. When an estate has been identified for the introduction of a “Paid Parking Estate Scheme” the Housing Manager must contact the Estate Safety Manager so that a joint inspection can be carried out of the estate. This inspection will consider the following:

1. The number of Garda Gates needed to secure the estate.

2. The placement of bollards for the protection of certain areas within the Estate.

3. The number of rented parking bays that can be created (this should include a number of disabled parking bays).

4. The cost of painting these bays and other no Parking signs on the ground.

5. The placement of signs to estate entrances confirming “No Unauthorised Parking & Statutory Fees Apply”.

Estimates for the above works must be obtained and passed to the Head of Area Housing Services for discussion with the Neighbourhood Panel and the Tenants & Residents Association of the identified estate. The scheme will then be considered under the “Estate Repairs & Maintenance Initiative”. On approval of a “Paid Parking Estate Scheme” the Housing Manager will initiate the following procedure to ensure its smooth introduction.

Ascertain an installation date for the Gerda gate/s from Estate Safety Manager which will normally be four weeks from the Neighbourhoods request.

Arrange for the painting of numbered parking bays and no parking signs on the ground, via Highways Department.

Arrange for the creation of the new rent accounts for the parking bays by the Rent Account Section.

Two weeks before the installation of the Gerda gates, a standard letter (PPES1) should be sent to all residents. This letter confirms the start date for the “Paid Parking Estate Scheme” and guidelines on who can apply for a parking bay.

The Housing Manager should distribute the standard leaflet (PPES2) by placing on the windscreen of all vehicles on the estate and delivering to each property. This must be done the Friday before the commencement of the scheme. This leaflet confirms that any unauthorised vehicles found on the estate on the commencement day of the scheme will be removed. The leaflet also highlights the statutory charges in relation to the removal and subsequent storage charges.

Arrangements must be made with Walthamstow Salvage (giving them at least seven days notice) for the removal of vehicles on the estate, on the commencement day of the scheme. It is of the utmost importance if the Paid Parking Estate Scheme is to work that officers are on the estate during the first few hours of the scheme commencement.

Initial Action

The Neighbourhood Office to send out standard letters confirming the scheme start date, dates for the collection of keys and that no vehicles should remain on estate after the commencement date unless permission has been sought and given by the Council. Access to the parking bays / garages in the car park area or restricted parking areas will only be accessible with a special Gerda key.

The Neighbourhood Office should apply the following procedure when allocating
keys:

• Parking spaces can only be rented to residents who are not in rent arrears
• Parking spaces can only be rented to Leaseholders/Freeholders who are not in service charge arrears
• Residents who rent a parking space must show proof of identification i.e. Passport, recent utilities bills.

Residents who rent a parking space must show proof of ownership of the vehicle and legal cover, by providing, MOT, Insurance document, Vehicle ownership document and Tax disc.

Parking bays will cost £1.25 per week rental. Once parking bays have been allocated, if resident allows their rent account or service charges to fall into arrears, a Notice to Quit will be served to terminate the use of the parking bay or garage. Failure to return the barrier gate key will result in the car being treated as unauthorised, and taken to the car pound. Costs for the release of the vehicle are £105.00, plus £12.00 per day for storage and return of the Gerda key. The release costs are the same for unauthorised vehicles which are parked on the estate.

If there is any misuse of keys i.e. allowing non-key holders access to the designated parking areas, the individual concerned will have their permission to park revoked for abusing the procedure.

The Neighbourhood has made special arrangements for the carers of elderly residents and disabled residents to obtain access onto the estate. However, the same process for obtaining the keys would apply (provision of necessary documentation) and their vehicle can only use the specially marked disabled parking spaces.

The Neighbourhood has also made special arrangements for residents who need access on the estate for deliveries or removals. Residents can obtain a barrier gate key from the Neighbourhood Office by leaving a £50 deposit which is given back to the resident once the key has been returned.

Monitoring of unauthorised parking is managed by the Neighbourhood Office.

The ultimate responsibility for the Council’s health & safety policy rests with the Directorate of Housing. Health and Safety is clearly a day to day management responsibility and as such, managers within each Neighbourhood have delegated responsibility to advise the Director of Housing of necessary changes to policies and procedures and to ensure they are properly implemented.

The Neighbourhood Office has over the past three years taken steps to highlight the implications for this authority’s insurance liability and our responsibility under the Health & Safety Legislation. In relation to the unacceptable situation developing on our estates with unauthorised parking and vehicle related anti-social behaviour.

The Neighbourhood has ensured that each estate within its management has a permitted number of vehicles that can safely park. As there will be a clear health & safety risk if the number of vehicles exceed the permitted number which may affect our insurance liability.

The Neighbourhood has designed its parking scheme to take into consideration the following:

• Location of fire hydrants. Ensuring that the width of estate road for passage of emergency appliances is not less than 3.2 metres as a result of unauthorised parking.
• Ensuring that emergency appliances turning & sweep circles are not blocked by unauthorised parking.
• Ensuring that vehicles cannot park on paved area within estates, which create extra hazard to pedestrians with sight disability or parents with young children with prams and pushchairs.

Relevant legislations:

• The Health & Safety at Work Act 1974
• Management of Health & Safety at Work Act Regulations 1992
• Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992
• Fire Precautions Act 1971
• Fire Precautions Act (workplace) Regulations 1997

To Learn More about the Gerda Barrier Gate Locking System, Click Here