In rare good news for the nation’s motorists, a new app is set to end a significant parking complaint that’s irritated Brits for over ten years. Though it won’t reduce costs, the Labour party has disclosed that soon, British drivers won’t have to endure the hassle of downloading numerous apps from different private companies simply to purchase a car park ticket.
Under Government-endorsed initiatives, drivers will be given the convenience of using a singular app, the National Parking Platform, to pay for parking across any participating car park. This streamlined “one-app-fits-all” system will allow motorists to delete redundant private car park apps from their smartphones.
The anticipated National Parking Platform has sprung from a series of successful trials within the UK, coordinated by the Government alongside the British Parking Association (BPA), aspiring to uncomplicate parking for UK drivers.
Motorists are set to benefit from an unparalleled ease in paying for parking, with one app servicing a multitude of carparks, as reported by The Sun. This comes after Labour prompted several key private parking firms – including RingGo, PayByPhone, and JustPark – to integrate into the new state-supported scheme, reports the Express.
The aim of the centralised service is to dismantle some of the hurdles motorists encounter, particularly the maze of confusing regulations and lack of consistency found among the array of privately-run car parks across Britain.
The Minister for the Future of Roads, Lilian Greenwood, has announced: “This government is on the side of drivers and dedicated to giving everyone simpler, more flexible parking. I’m delighted that this fantastic project is being taken on by the parking sector with no extra cost to taxpayers.”
She added: “This is public infrastructure done right: built by government, shaped with councils and now delivered by the sector that knows it best, at a time where we’re investing a record £1.6 billion through our Plan for Change, to mend our pothole-ridden roads that damage cars and £4.8 billion to deliver new road infrastructure that will better connect people.”
In the 10 local authorities where this new technology has been trialled, the system will be operated on a not-for-profit basis by both councils and private parking firms, with more administrative areas being added to the platform. Under the scheme, drivers will be able to pay for their parking using any platform.
BPA Chief Executive, Andrew Pester, commented: “Today’s announcement marks the result of 6 years of dedicated work by our parking sector to make paying for parking easier.”He added: “We’ve strongly supported the National Parking Platform from the start, so we’re thrilled with this outcome and excited to collaborate with the Department for Transport and the new NPP company to create a better parking experience for all drivers.”
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