September 12, 2022 3.48 pm This story is over 26 months old

Lincolnshire coast pay-by-phone car parks to finally get machines

Some drivers gave up in frustration
Anderby Creek car park near Chapel-st-Leonards | Photo: Google

Pay-by-phone car parks along the Lincolnshire coast will get pay machines installed after complaints that older people were discriminated against.

Lincolnshire County Council introduced parking charges to six east coast sites last year.

Users had to pay the fee through an app, website or by text, which proved frustrating for some people.

The council has now agreed to install cashless parking machines at the two biggest car parks, Anderby Creek and Huttoft car terrace.

Tickets bought there will be valid at the other four council-run sites (Wolla Bank, Moggs Eye, Marsh Yard and Chapel Six Marshes.)

A report which was due to go before the Environment and Economy Scrutiny Committee this week says many people struggled with the pay-by-phone technology, or couldn’t get signal in the remote areas.

“Much of the feedback requested that pay machines are installed due to these problems and that phone systems were discriminatory against elderly visitors not well versed in the technology, or for those who did not own a mobile phone or other device,” it says.

The Pay By Phone scheme wasn’t popular with everyone | Photo: Adobe Stock

“It is now apparent that without their usage, a number of visitors had either left the site or had stayed without payment and run the risk of a penalty charge notice being applied.”

The machines will be paid for through ticket revenue and penalty charge notices.

Although users could pay through the website from home, there was no guarantee that there would be a space upon arrival.

The Pay By Phone system will still be operating at all six car parks.

Between April and August this year, the car parks have generated over £84,000 through ticket sales.

Another £22,000 has been made through Penalty Charge Notices, with Anderby Creek seeing the most issued.

The change was due to be discussed on Tuesday, however the meeting has been postponed due to the death of Queen Elizabeth II.

The report says that the introduction of modest charges has helped to maintain the areas, and has reduced problem parking.

Previously, Huttoft car park would often see ‘wild camping’ motorhomes which stayed for days, took up several spaces, and left litter and waste.

The parking charges are applicable between Good Friday and the end of October.