Transport chiefs in one of the UK’s biggest cities have claimed it “isn’t sustainable” to maintain cash parking despite concerns around older drivers.

Newcastle City Council will wind down its cash-collecting service by the end of March, preventing road users from paying with physical money.

The Council is installing cashless payment systems across all of its car parks meaning motorists will need to use a bank card or phone app.

Christine Herriot, the council’s director of Operations and Regulatory Services, announced the plan to end cash transit within weeks.

The move has been promoted after admitting other companies they collected the money from had also gone digital in recent months.

She said: “The council had its own cash in transit service and we used to collect from the Tyne Tunnel, from universities, and from all of our car parks.

“But lots of organisations we were collecting from have gone cashless and we have wound down the cash in transit service. It will be coming to an end at the end of March this year. It simply isn’t sustainable to have collections of cash from car parks.”

Last year, independent councillors brought a motion calling for the cashless parking system to be delayed. 

It came after Councillor Tracey Mitchell had even warned the new rules could have a major impact on older drivers who may not have access to the internet or cashless services. She also suggested those on low incomes could be “locked out” of visiting the city centre.

Cllr Mitchell previously remarked: “Car park users choosing to use cash should still have the option to do so and failure to provide this option threatens to lock older drivers and low-income households out of the city centre.”

Newcastle City Council said the new cashless machines were being phased in as new ticket machines were installed.

They claim the move will make the parking service “more efficient and cost-effective” for customers.

Councillor Jane Byrne, cabinet member for a connected, clean city at Newcastle City Council, defended the move last October.

She commented: “When we carried out consultation earlier this year we received very useful feedback from organisations including Newcastle Disability Forum and the Elders’ Council.

“This has helped us to understand any concerns and look at how we can help people adjust to new payment methods.

“We have a range of support options in place which we hope will help people to understand and feel reassured about changing the way they pay for parking.”

Express.co.uk has contacted Newcastle City Council for further comment.

[ad_2]
Post source: Express