Elderly drivers risk being hit by 'stealth tax' with rise in cashless parking rule changes
Elderly drivers could find issues when parking with a lack of cash payment options
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Elderly drivers could be “locked out” of city centres with the increased use of cashless car parks and removal of pay-and-display machines.
Car parks and parking operators around the UK have been adopting modern methods of payment for its services in recent years.
This has included the increased use of cashless payment systems, removing the ability for drivers to pay to stay using loose change and coins.
Experts fear that this is another barrier for elderly drivers and low-income families from accessing key services found in town centres.
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Most drivers are now required to pay for parking using a myriad of different parking apps or by using their bank cards at machines.
Newcastle City Council is to become the latest local authority to introduce the new changes, with Eldon Square becoming the first car park to adopt measures on October 17.
The council said it would make parking “more efficient”, but there are fears that it would have a “disproportionate impact” on a number of vulnerable groups.
There are particular fears about those who may not regularly access the internet or have a smartphone capable of using the PayByPhone parking app.
Tracey Mitchell, an Independent councillor, brought a motion forward to call for a cash option to remain to help those who may not be able to pay as easily.
The councillor for the Denton and Westerhope ward said the council had shown a “disinterest” in the needs of drivers in the city.
She added: “Car park users choosing to use cash should still have the option to do so, and failure to provide this option threatens to lock older drivers and low-income households out of the city centre," the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.
The motion was struck down and was not subject to a debate, much to the frustration of some councillors and drivers.
Another councillor, Jason Smith, compared the decision to the planned closures of railway ticket offices.
He said it would be a “stealth tax” for elderly drivers if they were forced to pay with a pre-paid debit card that charges fees to top it up.
The councillor for Lemington ward said it would be a particular issue for drivers who do not use credit or debit cards.
Others may not want to be tracked when using their cards, including those who are victims of domestic abuse.
The council has promised that help will be available to those who need it within the first few days of the scheme, adding that it would be more “cost-effective” for drivers.
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A number of councils around the UK are removing pay-and-display machines
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One expert said that drivers were being treated like “cash cows” with the amount of revenue raised from parking returning to pre-pandemic levels.