MOTORISTS say they have been driven up the wall by their council after the authority removed the option to pay for parking with cash.
Drivers in Hounslow, West London, say they feel “discriminated against” as they grapple with new technology in order to buy tickets.
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Drivers in Hounslow, West London, can no longer pay for parking with cashCredit: MyLondon/ BPM
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Resident Romeo-Mihai Manciu has said the change is an ‘inconvenience’Credit: BPM
The council said it was forced to phase out cash across the borough from 2016 due to the “high incidence of vandalism of parking metres”.
It has left many residents, especially those who are elderly, furious as they struggle to operate smartphones.
Pensioner Jana Palova says more needs to be done to make sure elderly residents are brought along with change.
The 80-year-old said: “I am not against new technology, but I do object that the council doesn’t cater for all.
“Many old people do not have a smartphone.
“Many of those who have one do not use apps, or only have a ‘Pay As You Go’ contract which is cheaper to use. I am one of them.”
Ms Palova says the other option to call a number to pay for parking is “no good” as she is hard of hearing.
Following its decision to phase out cash, Hounslow Council set up PayPoint in local shops, allowing residents without a phone or without the necessary parking app to pay for their parking.
This doesn’t cover free parking bays, however, so the council is looking to include a free ticketing option through PayPoint so residents can still physically pay for tickets.
In the meantime, residents can phone up to register their vehicle for free parking in the borough for three months.
But Ms Pavola has slammed the council’s efforts.
She said: “Why make this so complicated? I pay my council taxes to Hounslow for nearly 50 years.
“Is it my fault I am old, with mobility issues and not computer savvy? There are thousands of people like myself.”
Another resident, Romeo-Mihai Manciu, said it was an “inconvenience to constantly have to think about having the latest update on your phone”.
He told MyLondon: “If I want to pay with cash, why can’t I pay with cash? It’s discrimination.
“There are a lot of orthodox Christians and Romanians that I know who say their religion is against a cashless society, and some even frown upon using card, so what about them? How are they doing to pay?”
Councillor Salman Shaheen, cabinet member for parking, parks and leisure at Hounslow Council, has insisted the uptake new system has been “smooth” with “very few complaints”.
He said: “However, there are a small number of residents who’ve written to us concerned about digital inclusion.
“This is something we take very seriously and we have listened to their feedback to adapt the system to meet their needs.
“Therefore, residents without access to a mobile phone or unable to use the app will be able to use PayPoint in shops.”
“I am always happy to speak with residents about how we can improve parking in the borough.”
https://www.thesun.co.uk/motors/20046104/discriminated-against-cant-pay-parking-cash/
