Two town car parks are going cashless

CHARNWOOD Borough Council is installing contactless barriers and ticket machines at Beehive Lane and Granby Street car parks to make them safer.

The council has also committed to supporting businesses for longer by keeping parking free in all councilowned car parks until the end of July.

After this, parking charges will be reintroduced.

Councillor Jenny Bokor, lead member for Loughborough, said: “We are pleased to be introducing contactless barriers and ticket machines and we hope they can be installed in the next couple of weeks.

“When combined with contactless payments, it means customers will not have to touch any buttons to enter the car parks or pay for parking at both Beehive Lane and Granby Street.

“We have also introduced social distancing requirements such as a one-way pedestrian system with signs, arrows and markings as we look to keep visitors, workers and shoppers using our facilities as safe as possible.”

The council suspended parking charges in March when lockdown restrictions were brought in to make it easier for key workers to park.

However, the council is losing about £75,000 a month in lost parking income.

This funding is used to maintain the car parks and contribute towards other services including looking after parks, street cleaning, enforcement, street furniture and environmental protection.

Coun Bokor said: “When contactless machines have been installed, the charges will be reinstated next month.

“Other areas have brought back charges before now and we have held on as long as we can.

“We have held off as long as possible.”