Pay-by-phone parking comes to the UK

as Putney trials the new cashless parking system

A new cash free scheme which enables motorists to pay for their parking charges using a mobile phone could provide a model for other local authority services.

Wandsworth is the first council in the UK to introduce a completely cash and paper free transaction as an alternative to its pay and display machines.

The technology has been developed by phone-parking specialists Parkmobile and was launched on Monday in Putney town centre.

The attraction for motorists is they no longer need to carry the right coins for the meter - and once parked they can never run out of cash. Provided the vehicle is not left for more than the maximum stay allowed in the bay there is no chance of getting a parking ticket.

The key to the scheme is a transponder card which the driver places inside the windscreen. One short phone call activates the card and another terminates the parking session.

Parkmobile are currently talking to a number of councils interested in offering this payment option. People who sign up for the card - at a cost of £1 a month - will be able to use it in any area where the scheme is operating.

Ruud Valenter hands Cllr Tracey a mobile phone from which the council can check all parking statistics (above)

Wandsworth Council's cabinet member for regeneration and transport Kathy Tracey said

"It has taken the council and Parkmobile less than three months to get this new service up and running.

"We haven't had to touch the pay and display machines. The only changes on the street are the stickers on lamp columns. These carry a three digit code which drivers use to identify where they are parking. In the future it is easy to imagine other applications for the pay-by-phone technology. Wandsworth will be examining not just the take-up for parking payments but also the potential for its extension to a host of other council services, including residents permits.

Parkmobile chairman Ruud Veltenaar added:

"We are very excited to be bringing the Parkmobile pay-by-phone solution to Putney. Thousands of motorists already enjoy the benefits of our cashless parking service in Europe. We are convinced it will spread quickly across London and the rest of the UK.

"Our system brings an end to the inconvenience caused by the search for coins and pay and display machines. From the comfort of your car you can start and stop your parking payment simply using your mobile phone. It takes the stress out of parking!"

Drivers can register for a card online at www.parkmobile.com. The company will then set up a secure payment arrangement.

February 2, 2004