Credit card payment for car parking rolls out across Cheshire East

 

More motorists across Cheshire East can now take advantage of paying for parking via their mobile phone.

The successful RingGo system being trialled in 18 Council car parks has now been rolled out to an additional 47 sites across the Borough.

Now motorists can use a credit or debit card via their mobile phone, as well as cash, to pay for off-road parking in all 65 of the Council’s pay-and-display car parks. The number to ring is: 020 3046 0010.

This means an additional 4,759 parking spaces across the Borough can be paid for on-the-spot via debit or credit cards.

Councillor David Topping, Cabinet member in charge of service commissioning, said: “Our aim is to provide customers with a wider range of payment choices, as we realise that people have busy lives and don’t always have large amounts of change on them.

“We said when the initial trial was launched, that if it proved successful and popular with the public, we would look to invest across the whole Borough – and, true to our word, that is what we are doing.

“Using the latest technology for simple and safe card payments gives motorists greater choice and flexibility and helps make paying for parking easier and less stressful.”

Payment by RingGo was introduced in November 2011 at 18 car parks across Cheshire East and has proved a great success.

Payment is made using mobile phone technology and a debit or credit card. Car parks featuring the RingGo service simply require customers to contact RingGo by phone, smartphone app, SMS or online.

First-time users can register with RingGo by using the RingGo app, logging on to www.myringgo.co.uk/register or telephoning the service at the time they want to park.

Cllr Topping added: “You don’t even need to put a ticket in your window, as our enforcement officers will be able to check that fees have been paid, using RingGo via their handheld units.

“Should your meeting or shopping trip overrun, you can even give RingGo a quick call and extend your length of stay, without returning to your car.

“We realise that cash has been the predominant method of payment over the years, which is why we trialled this method first in selected locations.

“Our feedback from customers is that many would like the option and convenience of paying by card, especially for longer stays in busy town centres or close to railway stations, where customers can park for up to five days.

“I’m sure the RingGo service will prove increasingly popular with people as we move steadily away from being a cash-based economy and society.”

Three-month and 12-month permits are also available to buy, which give customers a substantial discount and negates the need for regular payments altogether.

Also, parking on seven car parks across the Borough is free of charge from 3pm each day. This is to support businesses and encourage more people to visit their local town or village centre.

For the names and locations of all the Cheshire East Council car parks that provide the RingGo service, or to find out about ‘free after three’ parking, visit the Council website at: www.cheshireeast.gov.uk