In January 2019, the Council embarked on a trial of ‘Pay by Phone’, a cashless parking system allowing users to pay for their parking via an app on a smart phone or by calling an automated number
Since the start of the trial the pay by phone service accounts for 40% of all parking payments. This demonstrates the appetite for alternative methods of payment and a movement away from cash-based transactions.
The current coronavirus pandemic has increased public awareness of hygiene and many shops and restaurants are now only taking cashless payments. More members of the public are using cashless options than ever before and it is deemed the appropriate time to upgrade the Council’s parking facilities to wholly cashless systems.
The Council operates 16 car parks and three on-street parking locations with pay and display machines around the Borough. Machines in the car parks are often vandalised or stolen for the money contained within them and cash is now a very expensive method of payment to process.
From 19 October, all car park payment machines operated by Broxbourne Council will be cashless, only accepting credit or debit cards via contactless or chip and pin. The option remains of using the Pay by Phone system via an app on a smart device or by a direct phone call.
Cash machines will be phased out starting from 5 October. Notices will be displayed in the car park informing customers of the exact date of the change.
Visit the parking section of the Council's website for information on the parking service.