IT’S one of the biggest bugbears of moving home in Reading – getting settled in without incurring the wrath of the traffic wardens. But if a new trial scheme for digital parking permits is successful, the temporary permits could be a thing of the past.
Residents in Lower Caversham are the guinea pigs for the pilot run by Reading Borough Council.
The aim, the council says, is to create a simpler, more flexible and more responsive service for local residents.
It would operate in a similar manner to the Ringo Parking App used for on-street parking and in borough car parks: the permits would be registered online so patrolling wardens can check if a vehicle has a valid permit – nothing needs to be displayed on the windscreen.
Reading Borough Council says a similar scheme is in use in London and other towns and cities, and will mean permits can be issued instantly, with no need to wait up to 14 days as with the current scheme.
And digital permits means no more discs falling from windscreens, or confusion for visitors with the scratchcard system. The intent for these is that visitor permits can be issues by the hour instead of half-day.
Cllr Tony Page, Reading Borough Council’s Lead Councillor for Climate Strategy and Transport, said: “Digital permits are widely and very successfully used in other parts of the country.
“The main advantages of digital permits are that they are instantly issued online, negating the delay and cost of physical permits being posted.
“The ability to use visitor permits by the hour should also prove popular, as it represents better value for money for local residents.
“We are now keen to hear the thoughts of permit users on our proposals, ahead of any decision to launch the pilot in the autumn.”
He continued: “If the trial is approved, it is a change for residents who are of course used to seeing physical permits in windscreens. It is important to remind residents that just because a physical permit is not showing, it doesn’t mean a car does not have a permit.
“Our wardens will be patrolling the residents’ zone as usual and checking every single vehicle for a valid permit. We recognise that regular enforcement checks are a fundamental part of delivering effective residents’ parking schemes.
“I would stress to residents this would be a pilot, which means we welcome all feedback, both through the current statutory consultation process and during the trial itself, if it comes to fruition in the autumn.”
The council currently operates 19 residents’ parking zones in Reading, comprising 16,000 households and 12,000 parking spaces.
A consultation on the plan runs until Thursday, August 25, can can be seen at: https://consult.reading.gov.uk/dens/digitalpermits/
Feedback from the consultation will be considered in a report to the Council’s Traffic Management Sub Committee on Wednesday, September 14.
If the pilot is approved the Committee will again consider feedback from local residents in the pilot area before Councillors consider whether it should be implemented boroughwide.
Roads taking part in the pilot
The Council is proposing piloting the scheme in Zone 02R in Lower Caversham, covering the following streets: Ardler Road, Brackstone Close, Briants Avenue, Champion Road, Coldicutt Street, George Street, Gosbrook Road, Heron Island, King’s Road, Marsack Street, Mill Green, Mill Road, Montague Street, Nelson Road, Piggott’s Road, Queen’s Road, Send Road, Southview Avenue, St John’s Road and Washington Road.
A spokesperson for the council said: “The zone was selected because it is well defined and reasonably sized, with 584 current resident permit holders, and will offer the Council valuable feedback from residents living in the trial area.
“Residents in the zone would continue to apply for their permits online under the pilot, just as they do now.”
