EXCLUSIVE Don't force elderly to use parking apps: Gove pleads with councils to keep meters
Daily MailCouncils must not discriminate against older people by forcing drivers to use smartphones to pay for parking spaces, Michael Gove has warned. Michael Gove speaks during a statement on the 'called-in planning decision' following the approval of a new coal mine, in the House of Commons in London on December 8, 2022 In a letter to council chiefs, seen by the Mail, the Cabinet minister wrote: 'Cash remains legal tender and it will continue to be used in our daily lives by people who favour its accessibility and ease. Councils should also not replace paper-based parking options such as 'scratch cards' if the only available replacement is an entirely digital option, Mr Gove said. And the British Independent Retailers Association warned of the impact on the high street, calling car parking apps a 'barrier to many car drivers'. Parking meters are vanishing from British streets as operators favour smartphone applications Mr Gove said the Government recognised that digital payments for parking can provide a more 'convenient, efficient, and secure way for the public to pay and can help local authorities reduce costs and raise standards'.
History of this topic
New parking fines and rules in the UK – here’s everything drivers need to know
The Independent
Parking meters have been around for decades but we're still grappling with the best way to handle paid parking
ABC
Higher fees for drivers who pay for parking with cash
The Independent
RICHARD LITTLEJOHN: Why do councils take a perverse delight in making our lives miserable?
Daily Mail
Drivers warned about payment scam on the rise at UK car parks
The Independent
Private parking fines to be capped at £50 in crackdown on ‘cowboy’ companies
The Independent
The technology fixing Britain’s parking problem
The IndependentDiscover Related