ParkRight rebrand may boost image

Thursday 11th September 2008, 11:50AM BST.

ParkRight WardensShropshire’s parking service ParkRight may be rebranded in a bid to improve its unpopular image.The proposal has emerged under the current review and public consultation into the future of the service and is included in an exempt report being presented tonight to Shirehall watchdogs. The costs involved for uniforms and stationery are said to be “not significant”.

The report says that consideration should be given to the current reputation of ParkRight and whether or not the opportunity should be taken to rebrand the service ahead of the creation of the new unitary Shropshire Council next April.

There will be “cost implications”, the report adds, as both print materials and parking attendant’s uniforms would need to be changed.

However, it is anticipated these costs will not be significant.

The ParkRight agency is administered by Shrewsbury and Atcham Borough Council on behalf of the county council and the other four district and borough authorities.

It has attracted controversy since its introduction with numerous complaints by members of the public.

There have been claims too from businesses in Shrewsbury that trade has been damaged by aggressive parking enforcement.

Today Phil Crossland, county council assistant director for transport and highways, said the review was considering a number of issues.

“One part of the review is looking at whether we should continue to call ParkRight by that name given the move to the new unitary authority, and whether we should be calling it something like Shropshire County Parking Service,” said Mr Crossland.

“Rebranding is a minor part of the review. The bigger issue is getting a service which is right and appropriate for Shropshire.”

The current consultation ends on September 19 and officers are expected to bring forward firm proposals in October.

Mr Crossland said the report made no recommendations.

By Dave Morris


  1. 1
    belle vue

    As Obama says… you can put lipstick on a pig, but it’s still a pig!

    Report abuse

  2. 2
    Y Mab Darogan

    Rebranding!!!!

    Shropshire County Council has now lost its marbles

    How will rebranding Parkright improves its image?

    Are they going to start wearing penguin costumes???

    Report abuse

  3. 3
    Matt

    So if you change the bottle you magically change the contents! Brilliant thinking!

    Yes! Your county is safe with magical thinking like this from your new unitary authority!

    Report abuse

  4. 4
    spencer

    There is nothing wrong with parkrights image, they are only unpopular with people who park illegally…

    Report abuse

  5. 5
    Itsallajoke

    So even though the consulatation isn’t finished, a decision to keep ParkRight (reclothed or not) has already been made – nice one!!!

    Report abuse

  6. 6
    Realist

    Is the new uniform Black Shirts, Black Trousers and Jack Boots?

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  7. 7
    Julia

    Spencer not everyone who hates parkrights are parking illegally. changing there uniform will not change the image of a poor quality, debit weilding, “wannabe” police/traffic force. the staffs attitude is awful, and I have watched many a member of park right staff hover over cars just waiting to catch people out. Oh and by the way I don’t drive before anyone says I’ve obviously had one or two fines!

    Report abuse

  8. 8
    Brian Howett

    Can re-branding reduce the number of people required to fill in ONE parking ticket as shown in the article?
    Do they need Councilling, legal backup, clerical support, – and two Assistants to do one job?
    What does this service cost, who pays, and how much can we save by doing without ParkRight?
    BJH

    Report abuse

  9. 9
    Rodney Nosnail

    Y Mab Darogan, they may try rebranding, (lollipops anybody), they certainly won’t be able to wear penguin suits, otherwise they’ll all need CRB checks – that’s the law in Shropshire: all people dressed in penguin suits and handing out leaflets (or tickets, it’s all paper after all), MUST be CRB cleared to work in the community. And if any of them are working their shift alone, they’ll also be interrogated by council staff to see what they’re up to.

    Report abuse

  10. 10
    Rodney Nosnail

    Forgot to add: uniforms and stationery costs are said to be “insignificant”. Bet we’ll never understand what “insignificant” means to the council. Bet it’s more than the “insignificant” fixed penalty parking fine that they’re prepared to go to any length to get their mitts on, even spending “insignificant” amounts in digging up signposts and moved them a few yards backwards to allow their lawyers (for an “insignificant” fee) to try and convince tribunals that they were in the right all along.

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  11. 11
    Y Mab Darogan

    Rodney Nosnail – ah but you are forgetting if you wear penguin costumes when trying to make a serious point the public listens to you therefore if the Parkright wardens wore penguin outfits we would all take them seriously and respect the views and tickets they hand out.

    Plus as a added bonus lots of small children will see penguins walking the streets.

    next we will have to encourage the Police to wear Lion costumes and maybe the county councillors of Telford and Shrewsbury could wear monkey costumes.

    all in all the environmental protesters have kickstarted an amazing new initiative.

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  12. 12
    agreived of wem

    they do a goo job them lads, who cares what they call them, thank god we now have thwm

    Report abuse

  13. 13
    markyb

    I suppose we should all park in telford Town Park – that way, the lone Parkright man will be stopped by the Council jobsworths for questioning before they can plant a tcket for illegal parking.

    Report abuse

  14. 14
    DaveH

    Y Mad I don’t think it was the Environmental protesters using free speech you belittle it was the jobs-worth reaction to them, it shows what the council would do if it could.

    Report abuse

  15. 15
    stan kennedy

    What does not significant mean regarding the costs involved ie uniforms printing etc

    Report abuse



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