A new parking payment system that works through automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) is being trialed for 12 months at three park-and-ride car parks in Oxford.
According to Oxford City Council, the scheme has exceeded expectations with just under 10% of customers signing up in the first month after the trial commenced on October 24.
Oxford Direct Services (ODS), which manages the car parks on behalf of Oxford City Council, said it decided to trial the new technology-based scheme to encourage participation and compliance with parking, and minimise the issuing of fines.
Caspar Morris, parking team leader, ODS, said: “ODS is like a social enterprise; we consider the impact of our decisions on the community. This new approach fits in with that ethos of doing good. For people who sign up and register a payment card, this approach completely takes away the risk of being fined and is incredibly convenient.”
The fully automated parking payment system detects when drivers enter and leave the car park, and then charges them automatically. It is operated for ODS and Oxford City Council by Hozah, which also operates ANPR parking for city councils in Coventry and Croydon.
Users do not need to phone or download an app after signing up via the Hozah website. Once registered, users can just drive in and out of the car park at any time, with parking receipts issued by email or text. Furthermore, each transaction costs an additional 20p.
Oxford City Council added that all other parking payment methods are still available, with the aim being to assess which ones customers prefer at the end of the year.
