CREDIT and debit card payments will be available again in Worcester City Council’s car parks from next month, as new payment machines are installed.
The City Council is working with new partner Metric Group to introduce the new machines, following problems last year that saw customers charged multiple times for card payments. Its 14 car parks have been cash-only since that time.
It is also changing arrangements at five of its lowest demand car parks so payment can only be made through the RingGo app and phoneline. This is in response to a steep drop in the value of cash payments at each of these car parks.
The five affected car parks are at Clare St, Tallow Hill, Tybridge St, Commandery Road and The Moors. The latter is open to the public on Saturdays and Sundays only.
These car parks represent just 359 spaces out of the total 2,316 car spaces available across the City Council’s estate of 14 car parks, although the 101 spaces at The Moors are only available at the weekends.
Customers at those five locations will be able to pay either by downloading the RingGo app to their smartphone, or by calling 01905 880055.
Lloyd Griffiths, director of operations, homes and communities, said: “I would like to thank our customers for their patience following last year’s payment problems and I am sure they will all understand why we took the decision to temporarily suspend card payments.
“Our new partnership with Metric Group will enable us to restore the levels of convenience and dependability that drivers using our car parks rightly expect.
The City Council is parting company with its current payment machine supplier Flowbird after problems with the company’s systems led to thousands of car park customers being charged multiple times in error last year. All the excess payments were subsequently refunded.
All 14 of the City Council’s car parks have recently been awarded the prestigious Park Mark in recognition of their high levels of safety, cleanliness and tidiness, and clear signage.
