CASHLESS parking meters, special doctor's parking permits, simplified parking fees, and the end of free car parks could lie in store for Harrow's drivers.
As part of a wholesale review of parking arrangements and fees, Harrow Council's cabinet committee will vote on Tuesday whether to start plans to allow motorists to pay to park over the telephone with their credit and debit cards or a pre-pay card.
However, a report by Anne Fine, transport policy officer, says in order for the service to cover its costs, a "small additional charge" - estimated to be less than 20p - would have been levied on each transaction although the option of coin payment would remain.
Councillor Phillip O’Dell (Labour), portfolio holder for environment and community safety on Harrow Council, said: "These proposals are about setting fair and simple parking charges across Harrow that support traders in our town and district centres.
"The new system will be clearer for motorists too with the introduction of credit or debit card payments making it quicker and more convenient for people to park in Harrow.
"We need parking controls in our town and district centres to keep traffic moving and make sure there is a turnover of parking spaces for visitors.
"However, the introduction of parking ‘holidays’ with free parking around planned events is another way we can help local traders by loosening controls at the right times."
Other proposed measures are:
n scrapping the 15 different on-street parking charges in favour of one of four flat rates depending on the proximity to retailers, public transport and leisure facilities
n a single fee for visitor parking permits
n converting all remaining free public car parks into pay-and-display
n introducing doctor's parking permits, limited to two per GP surgery where those businesses lie in a controlled parking zone
n changing the elibigility criteria for having an on-street private disabled parking bay
n bringing in a cheaper business parking permit for those using more eco-friendly vehicles
The cabinet committee is being urged to reject both adjusting the cost of residents-only parking permits to reflect each vehicle's emissions and the introduction of peak-time parking tariffs to encourage greater use of car parks at quieter periods.
These changes affect the principles behind the setting of parking fees although the specific charges themselves will not be outlined until the Labour administration's draft 2012/13 budget is published in December.
n What do you think? Contact chief reporter Ian Proctor at ianproctor@trinitysouth.co.uk
