East Riding car parks are set to receive new parking payment machines by the autumn, prompting a Hornsea councillor to seek assurances over the availability of cash payment options for visitors.
Plans are under way to roll out new parking payment machines across East Riding car parks by the end of the summer, bringing an end to the current network of ageing payment terminals.
The move to update the ticketing infrastructure will see a brand new provider take over the system, aiming to modernise how motorists pay for their parking stays across the local authority area.
However, the transition has sparked debate over how many of the newly installed terminals will accept physical cash, particularly in popular tourist destinations along the coast.
Hornsea Councillor Barbara Jefferson raised concerns that reducing the number of cash-accepting machines could negatively impact visitors and ultimately affect the local authority's parking revenues.
She highlighted that large car parks require adequate facilities so that tourists are not forced to wander around searching for a way to pay with coins.
The prospect of a single cash machine breaking down in a busy parking area was also raised as a potential issue that could leave motorists unable to pay for their stay.
Councillor Jefferson said:
"That wouldn't be even sensible where we are because there are big car parks. We have visitors who don't want to go looking for a cash machine. If there's only one, I've pointed them out in the past to say there's another one in the other car park and so on and so forth. We need to keep cash machines in there, otherwise we're making it difficult for people to pay. Especially if one breaks down because if that's the one that's on the car park, no one pays and the income isn't there."
In response to the concerns regarding the availability of traditional payment methods, the local authority has offered reassurances that the distribution of cash-friendly machines is being carefully planned.
Carl Gillyon, Head of Highway Network Management, explained that the council has conducted a thorough review of payment habits to determine exactly where coin payments remain vital.
He noted that historical data regarding the use of cash, contactless cards, and mobile applications has informed their strategy for the upcoming installation phase.
Mr Gillyon said:
"That review and the replacement thereof machines has been done with detailed analysis of where cash card and app is used and has been used over the last number of years. So where there is a high cash need and we've got evidence of that through the information that we've gathered, then there will be more than one cash machine. Where cash is very rarely used, then there may only be one cash machine, but that's based on the evidence that we have. Please rest assured that where it is a high cash use area, there will be more than one cash machine available."
The council is now working closely with the newly appointed contractor to finalise the scheme and begin the physical replacement of the units.
While the exact number of machines per car park will vary based on the gathered evidence, the local authority is pushing for a swift rollout to ensure minimal disruption for drivers.
Providing an update on the expected schedule for the project, Mr Gillyon said:
"The contractor has just been let and we're hoping that full installation has taken place by the end of the summer. So, pretty quickly. That's the timeline. We're working with the it's a brand new provider. We're working with them to develop a scheme. Yeah. Hopefully, by September-October, everywhere will be in in receipt of a new parking machine."
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