New Pay Machines For All Council Run Car Parks

Parking in one of Swale’s pay and display car parks should soon be easier with new pay units being rolled out by the council from next month.

Swale Borough Council are installing 38 new pay units that accept debit or credit cards and contactless payments, as well as the existing cash or RingGo App options.

The new pay units are being installed in the council’s 24 pay and display car parks around the borough from November.

Cllr Richard Palmer, chair of the community committee at the council, told SFM News: “We have invested £146,000 from the civil enforcement reserve into these new pay units, which will keep Swale up to date with current technology. Lots of popular car parks now give users the option to pay with cash, card, phone, contactless or parking app, and now we can too. The new technology will allow people to pay by debit or with credit card, and to use the contactless method of their choice to pay for their parking – card, phone, smartwatch, Fitbit, ring or pay fob. Alongside these new additions, people can also still use RingGo to pay by phone call, text message, or app, which allows drivers the option to extend their parking session while away from their vehicle.”

Cllr Elliott Jayes, vice chair of the community committee at the council, told SFM News: “Some of our old pay units have started to be out of service more regularly and we know this frustrates residents. It’s important that visitors have varied and current ways to pay for their parking. If you prefer to use cash, you can. If you prefer to manage your money on your phone or watch to make quick and easy contactless payments, you can. If you forgot your cash and prefer not to use contactless options, you’re still covered.”