The second UK wide lockdown has meant the shutdown of many businesses, which has a knock-on effect to the car parks serving those businesses.

Parking Operators have contacted POPLA to confirm that operations at many sites have closed, and they’re having to furlough staff. This impacts their ability to deal with appeals.

Motorists ability to deal with appeals will also be affected. To form effective appeals, many motorists want to speak to the business they were visiting when they parked: for example, to prove that they dined at a restaurant or were staying at a hotel where parking was reserved for customers only. They can’t contact those businesses if they are closed. In some instances, motorists will want to revisit a car park when making their appeal and may not be able to do so if they are required to isolate.

Given that the latest lockdown has impacted operator and motorist ability to deal with the appeals process, POPLA has taken the decision to adjourn consideration of appeals from Friday 27 November 2020 until 4 January 2021.