Most Pay & Display Machines To Become ‘Cashless’

The majority of pay and display machines in Market Harborough car parks are set to become cashless.

The terminals are to be replaced with new technology enabling faster card payments and reducing costs of cash collection.

Harborough District Council say allowing mostly card and pay-by-phone payments will result in lower operating costs, allow parking charges to be kept lower.

However, at least one machine in each of the car parks it operates will still be able to accept coins.

The details have been revealed in a new Car Parking Strategy, which proposes no increase in charges but moving to a single charging structure across all pay and display car parks, rather than having short and long stay ones.

Free car parks serving parks, leisure centres and open spaces will also be kept free of charge.

Cllr Darren Woodiwiss, Cabinet lead for Car Parking, said: “Our commitment to deliver effective services with sustainable finances is at the forefront of this initiative.

“We recognise that making some changes will have an impact on residents, businesses and visitors though they are necessary for the essential improvements we need to make.”

The council’s car parking strategy will be discussed at the next Services and Communities Overview & Scrutiny Panel meeting of 31 October.

A period of consultation will then commence between November and January prior to the proposed approval of any final strategy by Cabinet in early 2025.