New payment scheme will entail extra charge
Drivers will soon be able to pay for parking their car in Merton by cashless methods - but for an extra charge.
Merton Council is currently selecting a company to provide the service to people who wish to have the option to pay online or with their mobile phones.
The first phase will see the cashless service rolled out to all 14 council-owned car parks in early summer. The council will then roll out the cashless service across all 3,600 council-operated on-street parking bays by the end of the summer.
The council is setting up the cashless payment service following its consultation with the public on parking in town centres, when people said they would like the choice of using this payment method for a small additional charge.
Every parking location in the borough will have a unique code. Those wishing to pay electronically will need to set up an account with the company the council appoints. They will either be able to pay over the phone, by text, online or by using a free smartphone app.
They will also receive an optional reminder, alerting them that their parking time is coming to an end, and if they wish to stay longer, they can top up their time from wherever they are.
The existing ticket machines will still be left in place so people can pay in cash if they prefer. The council will be updating its website with the latest on cashless parking payments over the coming weeks.
March 31, 2014