Users of the Sandgate Road car park in Folkestone will pay at the end of their stay as part of a 12-month trial.
Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras will record the exact time motorists arrive, meaning they will only be charged for the duration actually required upon their return.
Additionally, it will free up enforcement officers to focus their efforts on inconsiderate parking elsewhere in the district.
Residents and visitors using the car park will still be able to use card or cash via the ticket machines. You can also register to pay automatically when you exit by using our new Autobill service from Monday 5 February 2024.
Signing up is easy, fast and secure – extra benefits include skipping the queue to pay and avoiding the need to scrabble around for loose change. Simply create an account and then add your vehicle and payment details.
The ANPR cameras and automatic barriers will be in place, initially, for 12 months as part of a trial. The intention is to roll them out to other car parks if successful.
How it works:
- Step one: Enter the car park, the ANPR camera will read your registration plate. Once parked up, you don’t need to do anything – just head out into Folkestone town centre and get on with your day!
- Step two: When you return, enter your vehicle registration into the ticket machine and pay using card or cash. Alternatively, register for ticketless payment using Autobill and head straight for the exit.
- Step three: Exit the car park – the barrier lifts automatically when the camera reads your registration plate.
A Folkestone & Hythe District Council spokesperson said: “The convenient and hassle-free system will make parking easier and quicker for those visiting Folkestone town centre.
“This trial will help free up more time to attend our parking hotspots, such as coast areas during the summer and around our schools at the beginning and end of the day.
Visit folkestone-hythe.gov.uk/parking/sandgate-road-car-park-payments for more details about how the Sandgate Road car park trial will work, including information for Blue Badge, season ticket and permit holders.