New initiative puts motorists in the driving seat for parking payment choices
More flexibility with paying for parking is coming to Buckinghamshire.
Anyone parking in Buckinghamshire, in either a council run car park or on street chargeable parking bay will shortly be able to benefit from a new initiative which gives customers greater flexibility in paying for parking.
Following a successful trial last summer which took place in car parks in High Wycombe, Princes Risborough, Bourne End and Marlow, Buckinghamshire Council has from 1 July begun rolling out the National Parking Platform (NPP) to all its car parks and on street chargeable locations across the county.
The NPP works by giving customers the flexibility to choose which supplier they purchase their parking time through. Up until now, only one digital supplier, RingGo, has been available, but with NPP, the choice of parking provider will extend to include other suppliers including JustPark, PaybyPhone, and Appyparking.
Each supplier has its own app and fees. Some also have a telephone number so parkers can choose the option that best suits them. With different suppliers offering different convenience fees across one area, the initiative forces them to be competitive in their pricing which benefits customers.
The move to NPP supports the Council’s ambitions, set out in its Parking Strategy.
Steve Bowles, Buckinghamshire Council’s Cabinet Member for Communities explained: “We recognise that driver behaviour, demand for parking, and how customers choose to pay for their parking, has significantly changed in recent years. It is important that we adapt to reflect these changes. Using the NPP puts drivers in control of what they pay for their parking and helps to drive down the costs which is good news for everyone.”
Payment machines already in place in car parks will remain for use as normal, providing a non-digital method of payment for those who prefer to pay for their parking in this way.
Roll out of the NPP will take place throughout July with completion by the end of the month.
For more information about the National Parking Platform visit: https://npp.org.uk/
More information on Buckinghamshire Council car parks can be found online: www.buckinghamshire.gov.uk/parking-roads-and-transport/parking