Theatre-goer criticises council's parking machines
BEMUSED Ray Bell has criticised new parking machines in Cheltenham's Regent Arcade car park.
The number plate recognition machines were installed last July.
When drivers want to leave, they use a touch screen to key in their registration number and a picture of their car appears. They then make a payment for their length of stay.
Mr Bell said the new machines were impractical for dozens of motorists using them after attending a show at the nearby Everyman Theatre.
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He blamed the devices for causing "utter confusion" and a long delay.
It follows the 75-year-old, who lives in Birdwood, near Gloucester, having watched a performance of a pantomime with his grandchildren and other members of his family.
He said he then joined a long queue for a parking machine but found when it was his turn to pay, he needed his car registration number.
He said: "I didn't know it. I had only had the car for a couple of weeks and I've not got the best memory in the world. So I had to go to the car to get the number.
"It may be a wonderful system if you're using the car park for shopping but it does not suit somebody coming out of the theatre with a horde of grandchildren."
He said he tried to pay using his iphone but was unable to do so.
After then being informed that he could pay his £5.50 parking fee at home using the internet, he left and later paid that way.
Owen Parry, the council's integrated transport and parking manager, said staff were available to help if there was a problem.
He added: "We appreciate that our car parks are very busy during the Christmas period.
"Our staff are on hand to help customers during these busy times and we have a range of different ways that people can pay for their parking; this includes pre-paying, paying by phone or within 24 hours of leaving the car park.
"We understand that Mr Bell isn't a regular visitor to this car park. However, his comments are welcome and will be taken on board."
Comments
by tishwash
Saturday, January 05 2013, 3:26PM
“It's not that difficult, people just don't like change.”
by Raccoon
Saturday, January 05 2013, 2:40PM
“Today's Citizen carries this story (despite the fact that it relates to Cheltenham) and guess how they have spelt the word 'meters' in the headline. Yes, international units of measurement.
It seems that the only problem was that Mr. Bell couldn't remember his registration number. Has anyone else complained about the system?”
by verysceptical
Saturday, January 05 2013, 2:17PM
“Its not that difficult, just that the council bought outdated technology.
The screens require pin point precision to type your reg number in, (best if you have an average height nine year old to do it for you I find), and dont queue behind anyone over 50!
There are no signs to say you can pay by phone so hes a bit silly for even trying to do that, and if he can work a pay by phone system them he can surely use the parking meters? There are plenty of signs that tell you what you will need to do to leave the car park, I'd suggest people take notice of those.
Best tip is this...the ANPR cameras are at the top of the ramp, just before the first spaces. If you get within about 6' of the car in front of you, they can't "see" your plate. Ergo, when you come to leave it asks for your full reg and how long you've been there.
I'm saying nothing more than we've saved a load of money parking this year!
And before anyone complains, you still have to pay for the minimum one hour stay but I think £1.50 is a fair charge for leaving ones car in a car park thats actually too small for most modern cars and generally means your car gets damaged by other parkers.”
by Hubert1841
Saturday, January 05 2013, 7:43AM
“"We understand that Mr Bell isn't a regular visitor to this car park. However, his comments are welcome and will be taken on board." Is this Newspeak for "We'll ignore him, the daft old codger"?”