New parking app could make scratchcards obsolete by September

Thursday 11 February 2016

A new parking app could be on your phone by the end of the summer – and it could mean you won’t need scratch cards any more.

App developers are bidding for the rights to develop the new software for the Department of Infrastructure, who want it to be in place by the time that the schools go back in September.

They want an app that will let people park in a carpark or a space on the street, and pay for their parking on their phone – and they want it to give people a 15-minute warning when their parking payment is about to expire.

Infrastructure Minister Eddie Noel said that they were expecting the tenders from shortlisted developers back in the next few weeks.

“We are hoping that it can be in operation by the time that the schools go back in September,” said Deputy Noel.

“We’re waiting to see what comes back from the tenders. I want this in as soon as possible because it provides an alternative to scratchcards, and it provides more flexibility.”

He added that the new app would run in parallel to scratchcards, and that traffic wardens would be able to check whether drivers had paid for their parking by scanning their numberplates.

The idea is that the app would send the user a message when their pre-paid parking was about to expire, giving them the option of paying more to extend.

The idea of extending number-plate recognition – the system in place in Sand Street car park – has been scrapped, because Deputy Noel said it was a more expensive solution, and less convenient for drivers.