Pay-as-you-go parking meters to disappear

PAY-AS-YOU-GO parking machines are set to disappear from the streets – leaving motorists at the whim of up to 30 different smartphone apps to pay charges.

The move could make parking payments challenging for elderly or vulnerable motorists who may not have a smartphone, or struggle to use apps if they do, according to The Times.

Mobile phone operators are switching off the 3G data networks that power the parking meters, which has forced councils to scrap the machines.

A common complaint among motorists regarding the switch to parking payment apps is how many there are, which can slow people down and result in missed appointments as they have to download yet another app.

Britian’s biggest parking app RingGo has up to 515,000 users but there are many other apps, such as, ParkMe, Parkopedia, Just Park and PayByPhone which are needed across the country.

The British Parking Association said the change could ‘alienate some people, including the elderly’ and that there should also be a cash or card alternative that is available for use.