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From this week, drivers parking in Scarborough Borough Council owned car parks, will have a quicker and more convenient way to pay for parking - by mobile phone, using their debit or credit card. The cashless payment system, 'RingGo', will go live on Tuesday 16 June in council car parks across the borough. After parking, drivers simply dial the local rate number 01723 812815, which is shown on the signs and payment machines around the car parks. A driver will need to provide the location code, also shown on signs, their car registration number and the length of time they want to park. Payment will then be taken from the driver's debit/credit card. First time users will need to give full details of the payment card they use, but the next time they use the service, they will only need to provide the last four digits, as the state-of-the-art technology is able to identify the mobile phone that is being used. Using the service costs a flat rate of 20 pence in addition to a car park's normal parking fees. No parking tickets are issued as parking attendants can accurately check which vehicles have paid using the RingGo system through special mobile phones, which link directly to RingGo's central data system. Drivers can also extend their stay by mobile phone without having to go back to the car park and feed the cash machine, and without running the risk of getting a Penalty Charge Notice. Cllr Andrew Backhouse, Scarborough Borough Council's Cabinet Member for Technical Services said: "I am very pleased that we have been able to launch the RingGo system in our borough. It will bring additional benefits for both our resident and visiting motorists who will be able to park without having to hunt for loose change and be safe in the knowledge that they can extend their stay if necessary without going back to the car park. It has been rolled out across the borough so that a driver who uses RingGo in Scarborough one day, can use it in Whitby or Filey the next, without having to re-register. You can still pay by cash in our car parks, but this new system gives extra convenience and choice." The council is hoping that the new cashless option will be particularly useful for visitors to the borough, especially as the recession is persuading many British holidaymakers to stay closer to home, and the strong euro is encouraging visitors from the continent. Harry Clarke, Commercial Director for RingGo agrees: "Scarborough Borough Council couldn't have picked a better time to broaden their range of payment options. We have seen unprecedented levels of interest in RingGo over the last couple of months - especially from councils that will benefit from high levels of tourist trade. Forward-thinking councils have recognised they can best capitalise on the expected tourist boom this summer, by offering visitors a wider range of facilities." |
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