Student Launches New Website to Solve Parking Problems

LONDON, September 22 --

A new website - www.parkatmyhouse.com - is launched today by Anthony Eskinazi, a 23-year old maths graduate student, to link people who need to find parking spaces with those who have space to spare. Its launch is timely as it has just been announced London's public transport fares will rise yet again.

Owners of homes and businesses all over the UK with space for a car in their garage or driveway can now advertise their space on the site and be linked to people needing somewhere to leave a car, when working, attending a concert, event or a match in an area with limited parking or unsatisfactory or expensive public transport. Use of the site will be free to all who use it. It is expected that those with space to let will agree a fair fee with their parkers.

The sophisticated design of Anthony's site instantly maps the exact location of the nearest residential parking space close to the parker's chosen destination. It's very easy to use, by even the most technophobic.

"The idea came to me in San Francisco recently," said Anthony today. "I was attending a Giants' game with a friend and found that there were massive queues to get into the stadium car park and a US$10 charge. Yet I noticed lots of empty driveways in the neighbourhood. I didn't have the owners' permission to use any of these. In future, by using parkatmyhouse.com the owners will be able to make their space generate a useful income, instead of the money just going to traffic wardens. Those hoping to park will have an easy, affordable solution.

"I anticipate that the scheme will take off first in London where new spaces are being identified every hour and are already available to rent for a few hours or much longer. The technology of my site provides a free service throughout the United Kingdom. The more people with spaces to share who log on and register, the more happy parkers there will be."

Notes for Editors:

A high resolution photograph of Anthony Eskinazi is available via the PA Photowire or viewable at www.mediapoint.press.net or www.prnewswire.co.uk

Anthony Eskinazi, 23, studied mathematics at Leeds University, graduating in 2005 after spending a year studying at The University of California at Berkeley. He is now a graduate trainee with a leading firm of accountants. He lives in North London. As well as creating parkatmyhouse.com he has operated an IT Fix It service, run an E-Bay business while a student and developed many other websites including The Joshua Gilbert Rhabdomyosarcoma Appeal Charity website (www.jg-rabdo.com). He created this site, aged just 13, to share research and sponsorship information following the tragic death from cancer of a family friend. At that time web design was expensive, and after teaching himself the necessary skills Anthony offered his services to the family free. The site has had more than 60,000 visitors since its creation. He has also devised www.perfecthomepage.co,uk which allows users to create their own customised website homepage and have immediate access to the latest news headlines and UK TV Guides. Another of Anthony's creations is http://www.casino-wins.co.uk which has over 900 registered members and is a successful income-generator.

Parkatmyhouse.com uses new 'Web 2.0' technology, allowing full interactive access to the site. No other website offers so much useful information about parking spaces and services in the UK. Eventually Anthony intends to add Australia, the United States and Canada to his listings.

Using the site is very simple and entirely free of charge. Those with space available should go to http://parkatmyhouse.com/registration.php and give their details. There are guidelines to protect personal information. Those hoping to find a convenient parking space should search on the location of the venue they want to park near by its name (no need to know the postcode) and available spaces in the vicinity pop up instantly, together with the distance to the venue, the availability of public transport and other services and commercial parking spaces. The parker then uses a simple contact form to get in touch with the space owner. There is also information on the site about restaurants, pubs and bars near the venues listed. (In due course Anthony intends to offer the opportunity to book hotels, restaurants and car parking spaces on the site.)

Paying for the space: Anthony recommends that those with space to let negotiate directly with those wishing to park a fair price for the space, dependent on local parking charges and the time the space will be occupied. It is anticipated that in most cases these charges will be less than those of a commercial car park or meter.