Thanet’s first ticketless car park goes live today at Trinity Square in Margate.
The digital system reads a motorist’s registration number, via new Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras at the entrance and exit of the car park, allowing users to only pay for the amount of time they are parked for rather than tickets being set by the hour. There are new touchscreen machines for paying by card or apple / android pay as well as cash. The system allows contactless payment at the exit barrier. Regular users of the car park, can register online for an account.
Council leader Bob Bayford said: “Ticketless parking has been used across the country for years but this will be the first in Thanet. We know parking matters to both residents and visitors. In July 2018, car park users across the district told us they wanted a more streamlined and convenient service. The ANPR system being piloted uses the latest technology and will offer exactly that.
“Benefits include paying at the end of your stay; paying only for the time you’ve used; the ability to pay by card; plus the option to set up automatic payments if you are a regular user of the car park. Monitoring Trinity Square throughout the pilot will help us review the success of the scheme and establish the potential for any future roll out to further car parks.”
Blue Badge holders will continue to be able to park for free but must register their vehicle(s) by completing an online form https://thanetparking.co.uk/#bluebadge or by calling 01843 577000. They should continue to display a valid blue badge in their vehicle.
Medical centre users have been considered and there will be a 10 minute ‘grace’ period where users will not be charged. This will allow people to pop in and collect prescriptions or medication.
There are signs around The Limes reminding patients about the 10 minutes free parking. Council officers have also spent the last few weeks at the medical centre speaking to people and notifying regular car park users including Blue Badge holders and local taxi firms about the changes.
The pilot will be reviewed after a six month period and there are no plans to extend the system to any other car parks in the district before that time.
Your having a laugh 10 minutes to get in and out of a doctors just to pick up a prescription what planet are they on it took a friend 20 plus minutes last week just to get a prescription must say this just having a good laugh writing this 10 minutes indeed.
Stealth tax on going to the doctors shame on all councillors for agreeing this scam
I agree with Big Chris above. 10 minutes to get in and out of the Doctors is a joke when there are queues and appointments to consider. Half an hour would be more in line for the quickest options and the Council staff should realise this if they have been informing patients about the changes. Here we have more greed by TDC with parking charges on the sick and vulnerable who just want to see a doctor or Nurse at the surgery.
Just yet another money making scheme to fleece us, 10 minutes free really? As previously mentioned it takes so much longer than that to even pop in but they know that. They’re just following regulations to say this. I won’t be parking in there anymore I’d rather walk further from a side road than give TDC anymore of my money!
Tax on the sick, 10 minutes should be 30 minutes at least
In limes surgery at 4/45 , car park virtually empty, stupid idea will cost council money, people Parking on street
Please note everyone, other services can now be accessed online so that should save you driving to the Doctor simply to make an appointment or repeat prescriptions etc. I like the fact this new system monitors drivers, hopefully it should keep the criminals away. Trinity square has been renowned over the years for seedy behaviour and we must keep the vulnerable and sick safe from the criminal world.
Seedy World of criminal councillors time to go TDC
Take the bus.
Will the ANPR cameras be able to recognise foreign number plates? If so will they and manage to collect any fines from them.
If they have a system that works I am sure the Dartford Crossing will pay TDC a fortune for it. Within a week the barriers will be broken, and the car park be full of foreign number plated cars.
Foreign plates do not even need to register I thought so yes another freebie for cars not registered who will police this bob Bayford himself
Does this mean the existing Ringo ticketless system that is available at all other TDC car parks and on street parking is incompatible? Surely a retrograde step?
Can you register for automatic payment… ?Surely this would make more sense.
Seems a little half baked.
“Benefits include […] plus the option to set up automatic payments if you are a regular user of the car park; …”
All you’ve got to do is read the piece.
I did Tony! Perhaps I didn’t make it clear enough, granted. It would sound that it’s not compatible with the existing Ringo system, so another app required for just one car park was my point…
Well my last comment re parking in Thanet went down well. Now Tdc have really racked their brain, whoever’s turn it is to try to use it. I’ll try again. All parking in Thanet especially trinity sq and all roads and car parks Free. Charges for parking in Westwood car parks £1 per visit. Tdc to collect all fees. No expense to the owners of Westwood.
Do the charges only apply to UK registered vehicles?
Well what a surprise, our esteemed leader so proud to have his picture taken advertising parking charges. This is the bloke who thought it was a good idea to send half of south London to Botany Bay in the summer and then tell the local residents that’s the price we pay for living by the sea. God help us from these idiots, both locally and in government.
I’ve given up any hope we might come to our senses, but it’s becoming clearer each day we have become completly stuffed by the tories and will now accept anything they say and do. By the way, did you know they’re thinking of Hiring those ferries we haven’t got again……there’s no end to it!!