THE NEW car parking machines which will enable visitors to Bromsgrove town centre to use credit and debit cards, along with the MiPermit app and cash, will be up-and-running on Valentine’s Day (February 14).
The decision to make all pay and display car parks able to accept all three types of payment was made at full council on Wednesday.
Cashless options for parking payments were publicly consulted on in late 2021 and a decision has now been made to install new machines based on this feedback.
Results from the consultation showed that more than 60 per cent of respondents wanted some form of card option whilst others preferred cash.
Bromsgrove District Council contractors will be installing brand new machines, some of which accept both card and cash, in all car parks apart from the Churchfields multi-storey which will take just virtual permits and the app.
The council said disruption to car parks between now and February 14 will be minimal with a small number of spaces barriered off and changeovers should only take a matter of hours to complete.
Bromsgrove District Council leader and Portfolio Holder for Economic Development and the Town Centre, Coun Karen May, said: “Good, accessible parking is vital for the success of our town centre.
“We have listened to what our residents and visitors wanted and once installed we will have a variety of options for car park users.
“The pandemic has changed the way many of us do things, with contactless payments high on the list.
“We’ve retained the cash option on the machines for those who still prefer or need it. I am proud to say that when this changeover is complete, we will have one of the most up to date systems in the whole of Worcestershire.”
Existing pay and display machines can only take coins, with about one in five drivers currently choosing to use the ‘MiPermit’ website and app to pay online instead.
The new machines will be able to take card payments, including contactless, but the decision to keep a cash option was agreed to give a choice to all visitors using the car parks.
This work is the latest phase of car park improvements to take place across the district following recent upgrades to lighting and electric charging points.
Regular car park users are advised to apply for a virtual permit for the long stay pay and display car parks as this could provide significant savings.
Call Matthew Mead on 01527 64252 3345 or email [email protected] for more on the upgrades.
New parking system could help clampdown on illegal parking in other areas
WE REVEALED on Thursday that the new pay and display car park systems could free up enforcement officers to tackle illegal and irresponsible car parking across the district.
Click here for more.
