A CONSULTATION has been launched on new pay and display car parking machines in Bromsgrove, which could go cashless.

Bromsgrove District Council is asking drivers for their views as it gears up to replace its pay and display machines in the town.

Existing pay and display machines can only take coins, with around one in five drivers currently choosing to use the ‘MiPermit’ website and app to pay online instead.

New machines could take card payments, including contactless, and may be cashless – accepting cards only.

Bromsgrove District Council leader and portfolio holder for economic development and the town centre, Cllr Karen May, said: “Good accessible car parking is vital for a healthy town centre, and we are always looking to improve the service.

“As part of that, we’re now in the early stages of reviewing our pay and display car parking machines and some questions have come up including whether they could go cashless, have contactless car payments in light of Covid-19, and so on.

“We want to hear from drivers on the issues, so a simple consultation has been launched to gather your views. Officers will bring all the responses into the decision-making process.”

To have your say, go to ‘Pay and Display Car Park Cashless Payments Survey’ at bromsgrove.gov.uk/consultations by the closing date of 5pm on Friday October 22.