Car parking machines to become cashless and ticketless in North Lincs
NEW ticketless and cashless machines are being rolled out in car parks across North Lincolnshire, ending the option of paying with coins.
The existing machines have become “unreliable and difficult to use”, says North Lincolnshire Council, with the new ones also said to be “more environmentally friendly”. All of the new machines across the council’s car parks are expected to be up and running by mid-March. Visitors will be able to pay by card as
Being a ticketless system, these new machines are much more environmentally friendly ... Cllr John Davison
well as by phone and the MiPermit app.
Cllr John Davison, cabinet member for safer, stronger communities Ashby, Bottesford and Scunthorpe (urban), said: “I am extremely pleased that our promise to residents made in 2011 has ensured that 95 per cent of all parking in North Lincolnshire is free, supporting both our residents and hard-pressed retailers.
“Unlike many other councils who have installed app-only machines, we have ensured that people are not disadvantaged by new technology, allowing those not comfortable with the use of mobile phones and apps to pay by card.” The authority says visitors to town centre car parks have saved almost £20m thanks to a two-hour free parking policy introduced in 2014. More than 13 million free tickets have been issued during this time, around 95 per cent of all tickets issued, including all-day free weekend parking.
The new micro machines deliver the “latest cashless smart payment technology” meaning people will pay-by-plate.
Visitors to the car park will input their car registration and pay if required for longer stays, and then walk away.
The new parking machines won’t give out paper tickets and have no moving parts, which the council says will mean less chance of them breaking down due to ticket printers and coin jams, and no more litter from old tickets.
Parking enforcement officers can then check if cars have been registered on the system when they’re walking around.
Cllr Davison added: “Being a ticketless system, these new machines are much more environmentally friendly, will reduce the council’s carbon footprint, and will stop the littering blight caused by discarded tickets.”
Drivers can still park for two hours for free during the week, and it will remain free all day on Saturdays and Sundays.