Andy Burnham has pledged to introduce new rules intended to stop what he described as "rip-off" parking charges imposed on motorists who park on private land.
Burnham said the current system can leave drivers facing steep penalties that many see as disproportionate to any breach. He framed the changes as necessary to ensure penalties are fair and to protect motorists from what campaigners and some members of the public view as punitive private enforcement practices.
The mayor's intervention draws attention to the wider debate over how private car parks are regulated and the balance between enforcement of landowners' terms and consumer protection. Private parking operators issue charges to drivers who they say breach posted terms, but critics argue the level and application of those charges can be excessive and hard to challenge.
Burnham said the proposed rules would aim to rein in charges that are seen as unfair and to bring greater scrutiny to private parking enforcement. He indicated that the measures would be designed to provide motorists with clearer protections, while not preventing landowners from enforcing legitimate parking rules.
The announcement adds momentum to calls for reform from motorists and consumer advocates who have highlighted cases of large penalties for relatively minor parking errors. The details and timing of the proposed changes have not been set out in full by Burnham, but his pledge signals an intention to press for regulatory action on the issue.