Maidenhead & Windsor

Safety and security features in ten Maidenhead Royal Borough car parks have earned them coveted Park Mark Safer Parking Awards.

The awards, run by the British Parking Association and the Association of Chief Police Officers, go only to car parks that have measures in place to deter criminal activity and create a safer environment for drivers and their vehicles.

The newest addition to Maidenhead borough's Park Mark fleet is The Avenue car park in Datchet, winning the award for the first time. It joins nine others across the borough which have just had their Park Marks renewed:

* Maidenhead – Nicholsons Shopping Centre, Grove Road, Stafferton Way multi-storey and Stafferton Way park and ride
* Windsor – Victoria, River Street, King Edward VII, the coach park
* Eton – Meadow Lane.

Cllr Antony Wood, lead member for Maidenhead traffic and transportation, said this was bad news for criminals: "We want to make it as difficult as possible for thieves and vandals to do their work. These car parks have been assessed by the police to ensure they offer as much security as possible to car park users and their vehicles at all times of the day and night.

"By taking expert advice from the police we can do everything we can to help make car parks as user-friendly and crime free as possible."

The Park Mark assessor from Thames Valley Police who judged the borough's car parks was on the look out for safety and security features such as CCTV, effective lighting and good visibility as well as restricted entrances and exits that make it difficult for criminals to make quick getaways without being seen.

The Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead