The Sandgate Road car park in Folkestone will return to a traditional pay and display system following feedback on a trial using cameras.
Folkestone & Hythe District Council launched a pilot scheme in February 2024 to test whether Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) would be suitable at that location and elsewhere in the district.
Following an assessment, and in response to the wishes of many residents, it will now be decommissioned on Tuesday 31 March and no further rollout planned. Autobill is no longer available as a result.
Cllr Polly Blakemore – Cabinet Member for Transport, Regulatory Services and Building Control – said: “We’re always open to new ideas to improve services, but the results of this trial did not meet the required standards for performance, reliability or cost effectiveness for us or motorists.”
Issues included vandalism, queues after Leas Cliff Hall events and inaccurate registration plate readings.