Car Park Management for Mid and East Antrim Borough Council
Seamless transition across 53 council operated car parks with zero disruption
CPS Parking Solutions was appointed to manage and enforce all off-street car parks operated by Mid and East Antrim Borough Council. The project covered a diverse portfolio of 53 car parks, including a major multi-storey facility in Ballymena town centre, with additional locations in Carrickfergus, Larne, and coastal areas with high visitor traffic.
Our appointment required a full operational transfer on a tight mobilisation schedule, with uninterrupted service and minimal disruption across both urban and rural locations.
Borough-Wide Car Park Operations and Enforcement
CPS delivered a borough wide operational handover, working in close partnership with Council officers to provide a coordinated, professional rollout. Key deliverables included:
- Onboarding over 50 pay-and-display machines, including maintenance of existing equipment and installation of new machines
- Migrating all season ticket holders into CPS systems to ensure continuity for regular car park users
- Deploying parking enforcement officers and implementing appeals and back-office support processes
Tailoring enforcement strategies to suit the unique usage patterns of each location
Support for First Time Charging Locations
For sites where parking charges were introduced for the first time, CPS provided specialist support including:
- Equipment installation, relocation, and removal to fit new site layouts
- Expert guidance on signage overlays, tariff changes, temporary notices, and Council communications
- Support for user education ahead of go live to ensure smooth adoption
CPS also collaborated with the Council to implement tariff updates, including a new all-day parking rate to support town centre workers, ensuring consistent updates across signage, payment systems, and enforcement procedures.
Comprehensive Parking Enforcement and Legal Compliance
All parking enforcement is conducted by trained, uniformed CPS officers, supported by our in-house legal and back-office team. Our enforcement process includes:
- Issuance of Parking Charge Notices (PCNs) for misuse or non-compliance
- Full case management and appeals handling
- Debt recovery and legal escalation, including access to the Enforcement of Judgments Office (EJO), a unique capability within Northern Ireland
This approach ensures that enforcement is lawful, proportionate, and effective, protecting council revenue while encouraging fair parking usage.
Ongoing Car Park Management and Monitoring
CPS continues to provide day-to-day management across the entire estate, delivering:
- Monitoring and maintenance of all parking machines
- Fault detection and response services
- Usage, income, and enforcement reporting to council stakeholders
- A dedicated contact point for queries or escalation
Adjustments for seasonal demand and tourism related traffic, particularly at coastal sites
Results and Impact
- Successful borough-wide operational transition delivered on time
- Improved compliance and better space turnover in high-demand areas
- Enhanced council reporting through a single, clear point of contact
Stronger alignment between parking policy and operational execution