Cash, card or app? You decide how to pay and display at council car parks

For the first time, motorists can now pay to park by debit or credit card at council-run car parks - or choose to pay by cash or the RingGo smartphone app.

Councillors backed plans to offer card payments in July as one of the measures to improve town centre parking in the short term, while the council develops a long-term parking strategy to support its ambitious plans to regenerate the town centre.

With work on the parking strategy now underway, the council has launched a survey to gauge residents' views on the parking facilities currently on offer in the town centre - including the options of how to pay.

Each of the council's ten car parks in the centre now has machines which can cater for cash or debit/credit card payments, while motorists can also pay and display by visiting one of the centre's PayPoint stores or via the RingGo smartphone app.

Cllr Claire Edwards, Rugby Borough Council portfolio holder for communities and homes, regulation and safety, welcomed the introduction of the new pay and display machines, and urged residents to have a say on the future of parking in the town centre by completing the survey.

"The new pay and display machines, together with the council's decision to absorb the cost of the RingGo convenience charge for at least a year, mean motorists now pay the same price to park in the town centre and can choose to pay by either coin, card or app," Cllr Edwards said.

"We wanted to offer the choice to residents and visitors while we develop a long-term strategy for parking to support our plans to regenerate the town centre.

"The survey has an important to play in developing our strategy, so we want feedback from residents now to help shape our plans."

Residents can complete the survey online at www.rugby.gov.uk/parkingsurvey

The council also plans to conduct face-to-face surveys at town centre car parks in the coming weeks.

Cllr Noreen New, Rugby Borough Council's Liberal Democrat spokesperson for communities and homes, regulation and safety, said: "We welcome this opportunity for residents to have a say on parking facilities in the town centre and especially on how they want to pay.

"I hope everyone responds to the survey so we can continue to provide the facilities most people want and need."

For more information on paying to park in the town centre, visit www.rugby.gov.uk/parking