Parking madness in Southport
AS the summer holidays and the local and national elections come ever closer, the problem for shoppers parking is getting worse, but "the end is in site" says Sefton Council. Southport's outdated parking meters will finally be scrapped after Sefton Council confirmed that they would be replaced by this summer (2015). The problem has resulted in many businesses complaining that locals and tourists have been put off coming into Southport after their customer's cars had been issued fines over the last few years.
"You look around and see just how devastating this fiasco has been to the Town. Ok, it is not all the frustration and annoyance these outdated parking meters have coursed that is to blame, but it really is the icing on the cake for many. The issue is that drivers come to get goods from us or to visit the Town on a day out and suddenly find they can't pay for a ticket via the pay and display machines. So what do they do? They leave the cars to look for change. It is shocking that the old machines do not accept the "new" 5p and 10p pieces and it has taken so long to consigned to the scrapheap. How long does it take to change them? The "new" coins are not event "new" as they had been introduced in 2012 and the long delay in the introduction of them has lead to many motorists looking for the 'correct' coinage and returning only to find a red sticker along with the fine! The customers we have lost as a result will probably never return! Also the fees are far too high, but that is another issue. At least the new pay and display ticket machines are now on the way! Let's hope whoever gets into Sefton Council is better organised than those in currently." said one extremely annoyed local shop owner.
A Sefton Council spokesperson has told us:- "We will be installing the machines with brand new ones over the coming weeks. Once installed they will accept all types of coins along with chip and pin and contactless (NFC) payments. Then later on this year we will be introducing a facility to enable drivers to pay by mobile phone as well."
Is this, as some shops say, too late or is the introduction of the new technology going to make easier to park up and shop in the Town and attract more customers? Please let us know your views by emailing us to:- news24@southportreporter.com.
