New cashless car parking scheme brought in

A new cashless parking system allowing drivers to pay for parking by mobile phone has been introduced in the Lancaster and Morecambe district.
John Wheeley from RingGo, Coun Abbott Bryning, Lancaster City Council Cabinet member for parking and Jerry North, Manager of St Nicholas Arcade Shopping Centre, hail the arrival of the district's new cashless car parking scheme.John Wheeley from RingGo, Coun Abbott Bryning, Lancaster City Council Cabinet member for parking and Jerry North, Manager of St Nicholas Arcade Shopping Centre, hail the arrival of the district's new cashless car parking scheme.
John Wheeley from RingGo, Coun Abbott Bryning, Lancaster City Council Cabinet member for parking and Jerry North, Manager of St Nicholas Arcade Shopping Centre, hail the arrival of the district's new cashless car parking scheme.

Lancaster City Council has hailed its new system by saying the days of remembering to carry spare change for car parking meters has come to an end.

Whilst all of the ticket machines will still accept coins, drivers will have the option of paying for their parking by debit or credit card over the phone.

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Users will also have the advantage of topping up their parking time by phone and getting text reminders of when it’s about to run out.

You can pre-register with the new system - called RingGo – either on the internet at www.myRingGo.co.uk/register or by using the RingGo apps for iPhone, Android, Windows and Blackberry 10 handsets (downloadable either through your handset or from the relevant app store).

Alternatively you can register at the same time you want to park either by using the RingGo apps or by calling the RingGo number displayed at the car park.

When you use RingGo for the first time, you will be asked to provide:

Your vehicle registration, make and colour

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The four or five digit location code (shown on signs at car parks and on ticket machines) where it is parked

How long you want to park for

Your debit or credit card details

On subsequent visits, the system recognises the mobile phone being used and simply asks customers to confirm their vehicle, location, how long they want to park and card security code.

In addition to the fee for parking there is a 20p convenience charge for using this service. The option to receive a reminder advising that your parking time is running out will cost an additional 10p. This gives you the option to top up your parking time if need be (additional 20p convenience charge applies).

Councillor Abbott Bryning, Lancaster City Council’s Cabinet member with responsibility for parking, said: “I’m really pleased that the city council has been able to introduce this simple park, ring and go alternative to paying for parking in its car parks across the district.

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“Visitors and shoppers with mobiles and smartphones will no longer need to hunt for change to pay for parking or worry about getting a ticket if they are late getting back to their cars.”

Jerry North, manager of St. Nicholas Arcade in Lancaster, said: “This is great news for visitors to the town who may not necessarily have a pocket full of change or know how long they might want to stay and enjoy a visit to our district.

“A great bonus for visitors is being able to get reminders that your parking time is nearly up. Being able to top up and extend your parking time means if your shopping takes longer than expected or you decide to combine shopping with sightseeing, you can still park and pay without having to return to your vehicle.”

This new facility is now in operation at council car parks across the district and full details and instructions are available on all payment machines or by visiting www.lancaster.gov.uk/parking

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The service is being offered in the following off-street car parks:

Lancaster Short Stay

St Nicholas Arcades, Lower St Leonardgate, Moor Mills 1, Moor Mills 2, Moor Mills 3, Spring Garden Street, Cable Street, Nelson Street, Charter House, Lucy Street

Lancaster Long Stay

Lodge Street, Auction Mart, Dallas Road, Edward Street, Upper St Leonardgate Cars and Coaches

Morecambe Short Stay

Library, Pedder Street, Billy Hill, Bay Arena, Marine Road No 1, Marine Road No 2, Marine Road No 3, Marine Road No 4

Morecambe Long Stay

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Festival Market / Old Station, Morecambe Railway Station, Morecambe Bus Station, Goods Yard, Telephone Exchange, Town Hall, West View Road, Marine Road No 5, Marine Road No 6, Battery Breakwater Cars and Coaches, Heysham Village Cars and Coaches, Coastal Road, Back Brighton Terrace

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