Call to ensure drivers can still pay cash for parking as department moves to halve pay & display machines
The Commissioner for Older People has asked the Department of Infrastructire to ensure that drivers will still be able to pay for parking by cash as it slahes the number of its pay and display machines in Belfast, Newry and Lisburn.
The Department says it will remove almost half of the pay and display machine it across the three cities and it moves to ticketless parking.
It currently has 279 machines for on-street parking in the three cities and aims to cut to that to about 150.
The plan reflects reflects a growing move to app-based car parking payments, but the remaining machines will still accept cash payments.
The department is responsible for managing on-street parking across NI while local councils and private operators run off-street car parks.
The Department for Infrastructure (DFI) says its existing fleet of pay and display machines is approaching end of life and that "provides an opportunity to modernise infrastructure alongside rationalisation".
However concerns had been raised about how those who prefer to pay by cash - and may not have a smartphone - might be able to continue paying by cash if almost half the machines disappear.
The Commissioner for Older People, Siobhan Casey, told the News Letter: “It is important that drivers continue to have the option of paying by cash as well as through other cashless methods. Maintaining choice is important, as not everyone wishes to use digital payment options or has access to a smartphone.
“As these changes are rolled out, it is crucial that new arrangements are clearly signposted and easy to understand, particularly where machines are being relocated or removed. Clear information and accessible signage will help all drivers, including older people, to use the system with confidence.
“I would call on the Department to keep the impact of these changes under review and ensure that accessibility remains at the heart of the scheme.”
In response, the Department insisted that no streets that currently have pay & display machines would be left without a machine that will accept cash for parking.
A DFI spokeswoman told the News Letter: "In some locations there are multiple machines on the same street. While these may be consolidated into a smaller number of machines, there will still be machines on streets that currently have them.
"Machines will be retained or relocated to areas where they are most needed, based on usage levels, accessibility, footfall, and the surrounding street layout.
"Where machines are removed, users will have to walk to the nearest available machine to purchase a parking session.
"However, there is no requirement for customers to return to their vehicle to display a ticket, as parking sessions are linked to the vehicle registration.
"Where machines are removed, additional signs will be installed to aid and direct customers to the nearest machine. New machines will also have new signage to increase their visibility."
The phone app used for transaction, Just Park, has been operational for some time and will continue to be used.
The work will be rolled out in phases, with appropriate arrangements in place on affected streets until machines and signage are in place.