City starts iPhone parking scheme

Parking machines have been upgraded to accept payment by iPhone

Motorists with iPhones are now able to use them to pay for parking under a new scheme in Gloucester.

Special software has been installed as part of an upgrade of all of the city's on-street pay-and-display machines.

Users set up an account with Wiltshire-based MiPermit and use their iPhones to choose where and for how long to park.

A Gloucestershire County Council spokesman said it was believed to be the world's first ever iPhone parking application.

Some cities in the UK already offer a parking payment service using standard mobile phones.

'More reliable'

Cabinet member for the environment, Councillor Stan Waddington said: "Most of us lead very busy lives and there's nothing worse than when you've found a space to park, the pay-and-display machine doesn't work and you waste time having to hunt around for one that does.

"Hopefully, these new machines should make that a thing of the past because we want people to enjoy coming to Gloucester."

Parking manager, Jim Daniels, said: "The current stock is particularly old and prone to breakdown.

"The new machines, apart from being far more reliable, will all be solar-powered so saving on costs and improving the environment as well.

"They will also be networked and will be able to tell us when and where there is a problem, which will help reduce maintenance costs."

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