City reveals plans for cashless parking

A MAJOR overhaul of parking could be introduced in York – including moving to a cashless online system.

City of York Council councillors will be asked to approve the following changes at a meeting next Thursday. They include:

■ Launching an online service where residents can apply and pay for parking permits, as well as visitor permits.

■ Introducing shorter permits – such as monthly parking vouchers – and the option to pay by direct debit so residents can spread the cost.

■ Moving to paperless virtual parking permits.

■ Launching an app or pay by phone service to replace onstreet parking machines.

It is hoped the changes will make parking easier for residents and visitors, save the council money and improve the city’s transport network.

But there are no plans to reduce the cost of parking permits included in the report.

Coun Andy D’Agorne, executive member for transport, called for a review of parking in the city last year and said he welcomes progress on upgrading parking services.

He said: “These changes will make parking more user friendly for residents.

“Quite a significant number of people coming into the council’s West Offices are there to deal with parking.

“One of the other suggestions is to introduce a direct debit so people can pay monthly for their parking permit.

“Anything we can do to help reduce the administrative costs means the council will have more money to pay for other services.”

The report adds: “A parking strategy will emerge as part of the next review of the Local Transport Plan which will have a significant consultation plan.”

The project will be discussed at Executive, on Thursday, November 28 at 5.30pm.