Ger Flanagan
Technology that allows motorists to pay for parking using their smartphones is set to be piloted in several new locations around Mayo, with the view of making it a permanent option if successful.
Mayo County Council is teaming up with ‘parkbytext’ to pilot the initiative in suitable areas in Westport, Castlebar and Ballina, with the aim of eventually rolling it out across the county. The facility was successfully introduced to Irish Rail car parks several years ago, and already available in 300 locations nationwide.
Parkbytext is a quick, easy and convenient parking solution that allows motorists to pay for their parking by text, app, online or phone. The benefits to the customer include multiple payment options; text-reminders; printable receipts; automatic account top-ups; a reduced need for paper and the option to extend a parking session.
Director of Services at Mayo County Council Tom Gilligan gave a presentation on the parking system to the SPC Roads and Transportation meeting yesterday (Wednesday) and highlighted the need to ‘give citizens and tourists a better choice’ when it comes to parking.
He stressed that the system is not being introduced to replace the service that is already there, but to provide an ‘extra facility’ to better serve the motorist in today’s connected world.
“We are looking at introducing a pilot pay by text option in a restricted number of locations,” he said. “This is in order to get feedback from customers and various stakeholders to determine how the system could be rolled out across the county after this initial phase is successful.”
Cathaoirleach of the SPC Roads and Transportation, Cllr Annie May Reape (FF) gave the system it her backing, saying it was a welcome initiative.
