READING Borough Council has proposed the rollout of a digital parking scheme aimed at helping residents book visitor parking online without needing to use physical display cards.
Councillors have put forward plans for a new digital parking system to make visitor parking simpler as part of a wider review of permits which would also see permits for motorbikes and simpler categorisation put in place.
The plans include the ability for residents to book visitor parking for a minimum of one hour at a time, instead of a minimum of half-day, as is currently the case.
It’s part of a wider review of the parking permit scheme following its introduction in November 2023 and a trial of digital permits in Lower Caversham since March last year.
Under the scheme, residents are entitled to 240 free hours of visitor parking and may buy up to 600 additional hours per year.
To book parking for a visitor, permit holders simply log into their account wherever they are, select the number of hours they want to use, set the start time and date, and enter the registration number of their visitor’s vehicle.
Residents can view their permit bookings online, set a reminder when the session is about to expire and extend it if required.
Civil enforcement officers (CEOs) patrolling the streets can use handheld devices to instantly check if a vehicle has the right to be parked in a residents’ zone.
Spotter vehicles with automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) also operate around the borough, checking vehicle details and sending CEOs real time information about any vehicles that are in contravention.
Residents can also report vehicles they believe are illegally parked on the Council website.
Another proposed change to the permit scheme includes the introduction of permits for motorcycles, which have historically been exempt from the scheme.
Previously, it was not possible to physically display a residents’ or visitor permit securely on a motorcycle, but digital permits now resolve this issue.
Motorcycles would be charged at the residents’ first permit rate (currently £48 per year) regardless of any other vehicles owned under the revised scheme.
Members of the Council’s Traffic Management Sub-Committee will discuss the proposed roll out of the visitor digital permits and other changes to the permit scheme at a meeting on Wednesday, June 11.
John Ennis, Lead Councillor for Climate Strategy and Transport, said: “Digital parking permits give residents an easy and convenient way to book parking for their visitors.
“You can access your account online wherever you are and book parking for your visitor without having to scratch off the correct date and time on a card and display it in the vehicle.
“The flexibility to book visitor parking for just one hour at a time also provides better value for money than the existing system.
“Civil enforcement officers can instantly check the validity of parked cars on handheld devices and spotter vehicles will inform officers of the location of any vehicles which are in contravention.
“The digital scheme also cuts down on the printing and distribution of scratchcards and gives residents immediate access to visitor permits online.
“The review of the scheme will also bring motorcycles into line with other vehicles, now that permits do not have to be physically displayed on parked vehicles, but the cost is being kept at the first permit rate, regardless of the number of other vehicles in the household.”
