BROMSGROVE District Council has moved to clarify the situation surrounding cashless parking, confirming people will be able to pay cash in every one apart from the Churchfields multi-storey.
It will be a relief for many people who were concerned some, such as the elderly and people without smartphones, would be dissuaded from using the town centre.
The proposal will be put forward by Bromsgrove District Council’s cabinet next Wednesday, January 26.
The cabinet has recommended the Cashless Parking Scheme (CPS) be adopted for all pay and display car parks and be operational as soon as possible.
A pay and display system on the Recreation Road South Car Park with CPS system will replace the ‘pay on foot’ system and again – at the request of the cabinet – will become operational as soon as possible.
The move will halve costs for the district council as with a CPS system no tickets are issued. Annual costs incurred by cash collection from ticket machines – currently at £20,000 per year – will reduce to £10,000 and supplying tickets will drop from £9,000 to £4,500.
The report said the implementation of a CPS option for all ‘pay and display’ car parks was ‘considered an important necessary step forward, particularly as these
facilities provides the Authority with a significant amount of income’.
It added other local authorities – such as Stratford-upon-Avon District Council – had converted all their machines to CPS.
“In a society where people increasingly do not carry cash, the ability to pay for parking by a mobile phone app or direct with a credit/debit card will ensure that we are providing modern payment facilities for users of council car parks.”
The council said a comprehensive survey had been undertaken by its Engagement and Equalities Advisor, utilising their knowledge in inviting as many participants as possible to hopefully provide comprehensive reactions.
Close to 600 people had their say in the survey about whether the council should adopt a Cashless Parking System.
Of the 535 who answered the question about paying for parking, 462 (86.36 per cent) said they used coins and 73 the MiPermit App.
When asked if a card payment option was made available, of the 533 who answered, 333 (62 per cent) said they would use it and 200 (38 per cent) said they would not.
A total of 522 people answered the question on issues surrounding paying for parking – 246 said they had no change on them, 103 said they had problems using the app and the remainder 218 said they had no issues.
The full council is expected to vote through the proposals next Wednesday.
