Woolshops Shopping Centre proud to have regained car park safety award

Woolshops Shopping Centre have recently been reawarded the prestigious ParkMark, car park safety award.

The Woolshops Shopping Centre, Halifax, has been re-awarded the prestigious ParkMark award from the British Parking Association.

This award represents the Centre Management’s commitment towards ensuring a safer parking environment for shoppers at the centre.

The ParkMark award was presented by Inspector Derek Benn of West Yorkshire Police & Calderdale Community Safety Partnership to the Woolshops’ Centre Manager, Jason Gregg.

The Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) launched the Secured Car Parks Scheme in 1992 as part of their Secured by Design initiative to encourage those responsible for car parks to improve security standards as a means of reducing criminal activity, the fear of crime and the perception of crime in all car parks and vehicle retention areas.

An independent assessor from the British Parking Association, working with an advisor from West Yorkshire Police Crime Prevention, visited the Woolshops Shopping Centre car park to assess the crime risk within the site and the security for parking. The Centre was subsequently approved for the award of the ParkMark, and the award is valid for a further 12 months before re-assessment.

The ParkMark standard covers good practice in car park management and the criteria for receiving the award include: having CCTV coverage where appropriate, good lighting, clear signs, accessible disabled bays and good grounds maintenance.

Centre Manager Jason Gregg, said: "I am delighted that the Woolshops has been re-awarded the Park Mark. This illustrates that the work of our Customer Service Team in the car park has been recognised by the British Parking Association, and that the high standards required for this award have been ably demonstrated at the Woolshops.”

Inspector Derek Benn of West Yorkshire Police & Calderdale Community Safety Partnership added: "Although crime remains low in the Halifax area, and particularly at the Woolshops, it is important that we do all we can to reduce it even further by working with our partners within the town centre and rewarding their endeavors”.

Jason Gregg added: "Enhancing car park services helps to promote the town to visitors and businesses; people will be more likely to return to Halifax if they know they’ll be able to park in a clean and safe area.”