Cashless parking can digitally exclude older people says Age UK

Worcester City Council is changing arrangements at five of its lowest-demand car parks so that payment can only be made through the RingGo app and Phoneline.

But a charity which supports older people said they have been contacted by people in Worcestershire concerned about the changes at Clare Street, Tallow Hill, Tybridge Street, Commandery Road and The Moors.

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Age UK has experienced calls in Worcestershire regarding fears about cashless parking saying they are being 'digitally excluded'.

Clare Thomas, CEO of Age UK Worcester and Malvern Hills, said: "I can concur with Age UK National’s stance that a significant number of the older people we work with are digitally excluded – not having access to any form of digital technology including computers and smartphones. 

"In fact, we run a very busy digital inclusion service – one-to-one free tuition to encourage and enable older people to become connected.

"In a world in which we are dependent upon digital technology to live our lives effectively and efficiently, being unable to pay for parking with cash is one more example of how older people without access to this technology are being excluded and will find it increasingly difficult to do something as simple as park their car. 

"Social isolation, loneliness and lack of access to services is already an issue for older people in the county, this move to cashless parking will only make this worse."

The council has made the decision in response to a steep drop in the value of cash payments at each of these car parks.

Councillor Lynn Denham, joint leader of Worcester City Council. (Image: Councillor Lynn Denham)

Cllr Lynn Denham, joint leader of Worcester City Council, said: "I think it was a finely balanced decision that the city council made about this.

"We were mindful that the previous provider caused a lot of issues with payments so we want to ensure that would not happen again.

"In my role as a councillor, I have spoken to many people who are happy with non-cash options of payment, with many opting not even carry cash any more.

"However, it is important to mention that not all car parks are becoming non-cash only and there are still parking options in the city for cash."

READ MORE: Worcester City Council to replace payment machines and push RingGo

RingGo also charges 20p extra per hourly rate than the fees listed on the Worcester City Council parking charges on its website. This is due to a “convenience fee”, which is for all pay-by-phone transactions to the provider.

Earlier this year, it was announced that Worcester City Council was working with a new partner, Metric Group, to introduce the new machines, after thousands of drivers were incorrectly charged hundreds of pounds by city council car parks for sessions that they hadn't used in September last year.

Cllr Louis Stephen, Mayor of Worcester, declined to comment on the matter.