Date: 22/02/2008
The Council has responded to customer feedback by making it easier to use the pay and display ticket machines in the Borough's car parks.
People who park in Council car parks will only have to input the last 3 digits of their car registration numbers now, instead of all 7, when they buy their tickets from the machines.
Comments received from residents and visitors to the Borough had indicated a level of dissatisfaction with the requirement to input the full registration number.
By recording registration numbers, people who do not pay to park are prevented from using somebody else's ticket to escape paying their fines.
The Council also saves council tax payers' money when customers provide details of their registration numbers, because more users pay for a correct ticket and appeals against excess charges decrease significantly. Savings are also made on staff time because fewer excess charge notices are processed.
Councillor Emily Thrane, Executive Member for Corporate Services, said: "I know that some people have trouble remembering the whole of their registration numbers, so this change in the pay and display machines will hopefully make life a little easier for them."