Fury as council changes rules over how to pay for parking – don’t get caught out
FURIOUS residents have slammed their council for charging drivers who pay with cash MORE than those who use an app.
Homeowners in Sutton, South London, are fuming at the "discriminatory" change - but the local authority won't budge.
Sutton Council froze the car parking charges at £2 for those using apps such as Ringo, but they increased to £3 for cash payers.
Now those without smartphones, especially elderly members of the community, feel abandoned and cut-off from the outside world.
Others think the "unfair" system has limited their independence by reducing their ability to get out and about.
A spokeswoman for the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities said the disparity in parking charges "unfairly penalises" locals who wish to use the machines.
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"Councils have a duty to ensure that they do not discriminate in their decision making against older people or those with vulnerabilities", they added.
Conservative MP Greg Smith, who is a member of the Transport Select Committee, said: "Councils should not seek to rip off those who still want to use a pay and display machine."
He highlighted while most residents will have access to the parking app, many "can't or don't want to".
Rod Dennis, an RAC spokesman, said Sutton Council's policy is "nothing short of discriminatory".
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He said: "While there's no denying that parking apps can make drivers' lives easier, as everyone with a mobile phone knows, the technology is far from infallible."
The spokesman also highlighted people who have taken the time to download and pay via the app will also be caught out if they don't have phone signal.
"It can't be right that those who find themselves in this situation, or who struggle with technology in the first place, end up having to pay more just to park their cars," he added.
Councils should not seek to rip off those who still want to use a pay and display machine."
Conservative MP Greg Smith
Age UK charity director, Caroline Abrahams, said the policy will hit target the older generation.
"There are hundreds of thousands of older people who depend on their cars but who don't use computers," she added.
"Hiking their parking costs is a disincentive to them getting out and about, and engaging fully in society."
But the council are sticking to their decision and claim it is a necessary change due to the financial pressure they're facing.
Barry Lewis, who chairs Sutton Council's environment and sustainable transport committee, explained pay machine maintenance and cash collections were too much strain on their budget.
He said: "The charge for paying for parking by cash has increased to cover these costs.
"We understand concerns about people who don't have a smartphone but you can also pay using a dedicated phone line.
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"This means that those who do not have a smartphone are not excluded from benefiting from the discounted rate.
"Unlike other councils who have completely removed the option for people to pay by cash, residents and visitors to Sutton still have the option to pay by cash at our parking machines."