Confusion has been raised over the new parking meters in Reading that apparently allow drivers to pay for their parking in advance.
Reading Borough Council introduced new parking payment machines throughout the town last month.
These machines allow contactless payments for the first time, and will eventually be used to implement emissions-based parking charges in the near future.
A post by Eastreadingcommunity on X/Twitter shows a parking machine in Addington Road.
Rules state drivers must pay to park between 8am and 5.30pm each day.
It was initially suggested that the machine was trying to sell a ticket to the person at 9.27pm, a time when parking is free.
However, the machine was prompting the person to pay for parking from 8am to 8.30am on a Monday morning instead.
This means the machine allows people to pay for parking in advance, which led to the confusion.
A council spokesperson has since clarified that the machines will be programmed not to accept payments outside of regulated parking hours to address the issue.
The spokesperson explained: “In the example given, a charge is being shown for the half-hour period when paid-for parking is allowed (8-8.30am).
“However, the programme is being amended so that parking machines will not accept payment outside of charging hours and a message will advise the user to check the signage.
“This update should be in place in the next few days.”
