Call for Sheffield council car parks to have a range of ways to pay
Sheffield City Council is being urged to make sure people can still pay for their parking in cash
A Sheffield councillor who doesn’t use parking apps said that there must continue to be a range of ways to pay to park, including by cash.
Coun Sue Alston told fellow members of Sheffield City Council’s transport, regeneration and climate policy committee (March 20) that she “has no idea” about parking apps.
Councillors were discussing looking for a new cashless parking contract as the current contract, managed by PayByPhone, is scheduled to expire on July 31. It therefore has to go back out to tender.
Coun Alston said: “I have had a number of complaints over a period of time where, if you don’t own a smart phone or you have left it at home, you have to take the risk of a fine or leave Sheffield to go elsewhere.”
She said that pay and display machines should not be removed from council car parks.
Council head of streetscene services Ben Brailsford said that there would still be a number of ways to pay to park, including by phone or text or by visiting a nearby convenience store to pay over the counter.
He said that generally pay and display machines, which also accept contactless card payments, would remain, except in car parks where they have been dug up and stolen. The council has to foot the bill for a replacement and make good any damage if that happens.
Committee chair Coun Joe Otten was keen to see systems in place where people paying to park could visit a nearby store and if necessary be able to press a screen for an hour’s free parking.
Coun Peter Gilbert asked if drivers could pay to park within 24 hours, like with the Clean Air Zone charges. Mr Brailsford said those systems need ANPR automatic number plate recognition cameras.
Coun David Barker said any new operator must act to tackle fake QR payment code notices that have appeared in car parks.
Councillors agreed to approve the commissioning of a new four-year cashless parking contract through a competitive procurement exercise with an estimated value of £1.4m.
The operator’s transaction fee will continue to be absorbed by the council as part of the new cashless parking contract, they decided.