Plans to stop card payments at carparks are ditched as controversial parking plans are given a shake-up
Controversial plans to introduce charges at a number of free carparks across the Havant borough have been ditched after public opposition - as well as plans to ditch the ability to pay by card.
However the council is looking at issuing parking permits to nearby residents to allow them to use these carparks as they are often displaced by shoppers and commuters. The ability for them being used by parents to ‘park and stride’ during term time to take their children to nearby schools is also proposed.
The council has also ditched plans to force motorists to pay by RingGo or by cash and stopping the ability to pay by card - with around a third of all transitions being done in this way.
A report to the cabinet said: “In a previous report this method of payment was recommended to be removed from the parking meters to save a banking charge of £50k. However, further research has shown that to remove the option from the parking meters would have incurred a charge of £28,500 and would have significantly reduced the options to the customer to use a method of payment of their choice.
“In the UK over half of adults (57% in late 2024) now regularly use mobile wallets like Apple Pay or Google Pay for payments. In 2024/25 303,200 transactions at the meters were via chip & pin or wave & pay – this equates to a third of all transactions. Therefore, it is recommended that we retain the chip and pin and wave and pay methods of payment.”
However it is recommending going ahead with plans to introduce Sunday and bank holiday charges at all its paid-for carparks, where charges do not current apply, which would raise an extra £100,000 for council coffers. It is also proposing to raise parking charges across the board as well by 8.88 per cent.
The report also proposes introducing seasonal charges to Beachlands carparks on Hayling Island which will mean that they will be free after 6pm between October 1 and March 31. Currently charges are in place from 8am to 10pm Monday to Sunday all year round.
The report also proposes to raise the age for discounted season tickets at Beachlands from 65 to 67 for new permits in line with the national retirement age - with 62 per cent of all Beachlands parking permits currently sold to the over 65’s.
It said: “The current parking charge regime around the borough has inconsistencies and residents would benefit from a clearer, fairer parking charges.
“The council needs to implement a robust savings plan to address the budget deficit and support delivery of statutory front-line services, increasing the revenue from parking charges across the borough will assist the council in meeting its financial priorities.
“No proposals to increase parking fees will ever be seen in a positive light. However, by refining the review in light of feedback and discussed with community representatives and councillors, it is hoped that the outcome is more acceptable, whilst still delivering the refresh of the charging regime needed.”
If the cabinet approves the recommendations then a 28-day formal statutory consultation on the proposed changes will be held before any changes were implemented.