It’s a case of out with the old, in with the new, as Blenheim’s CBD prepares to move to new Pay by Plate parking meters.

The new meters mean drivers enter their vehicle plate number and their desired parking time at the terminal before using coins or credit/debit cards to pay for their parking.

The ticketless system, which will also be available via a mobile App, will see 170 of the old Duncan ‘lollipop’ meters, replaced with 24 new payment terminals. The off-street Pay & Display meters will also be upgraded to Pay by Plate.

Parking times and tarriffs will remain the same but the new Pay by Plate meters allow people to move between kerbside parking spaces and use unspent parking credit during the day.

Council’s Parking Sub-Committee Chairman Councillor Brian Dawson, says the new system is used in Auckland, Tauranga and Christchurch as well as in Australia and in Los Angeles in the United States of America.

“It is a very easy system to use, you simply enter your plate number, select your parking time, press ok, pay and then walk away. The ticketless system means there’s no need to return to your vehicle after you’ve paid for your parking, and the new ‘Pay my Park’ app will allow drivers to pay for parking and top up remotely.

“Council has arranged for a practice machine to be available to members of the community so anyone can come in and test drive the new system,” Councillor Dawson says.

Findlater Construction has been appointed to carry out the ground work for the installation of the new terminals. They are scheduled to begin work on 2 May and are expected to take around six weeks to complete this work which will be carried out in stages. The first conversions will take place in Queen, Market, Scott, Maxwell and High Streets. Disruption to pedestrians along footpaths during this time will be minimal with some work being carried out after business hours.

ENDS

© Scoop Media