Reading is set to modernize its parking system, making payments easier and greener for everyone in town
Reading: The council is shaking things up with parking in town. They’re planning to swap out old pay and display machines for new cashless ones. This move aims to make payments easier and cut costs.
Right now, maintaining the current machines costs a pretty penny—about £44,000 a year. But with the new plan, they expect to save around £35,000 annually. Sounds like a win-win!
They’re also going to reduce the number of machines from 168 to about 75. The ones that stick around will be in the busiest spots, while around 20 will still take cash, especially near places like the hospital.
Some machines just aren’t pulling their weight. For instance, two machines on Wokingham Road barely made any money last year. So, they’re getting the boot.
Along with this change, parking fees are going up, especially for petrol and diesel cars—by at least 20%. The council discussed all this in a recent meeting, and it’s clear they’re serious about modernizing.
Some opposition councillors are worried that these changes will hit drivers of older cars the hardest. They think people should have more time to switch to cleaner vehicles before the new fees kick in.
But the lead councillor for climate strategy, John Ennis, had some strong words for those concerns. He believes the changes are necessary for a greener future, even if it ruffles a few feathers.
In the end, the council agreed to start a six-week consultation about these changes. They want to hear what everyone thinks, especially about emissions-based parking permits.
So, if you’re in Reading, keep an eye out for these updates. It looks like parking is about to get a whole lot different!
