The Isle of Wight Council is making it easier for tourists and coach companies to purchase visitor parking permits, it has been announced.
The permits allow tourists or coach companies to park in any council-run car park for a set period in set towns, ranging from two days or up to 14 days, meaning they don’t have to pay for parking each time. Currently, anyone wanting to purchase a visitor permit can only do so at certain hotels or by contacting the council.
From 1st April, the council is making this easier by making the permits available via PayByPhone instead of at selected hotels or via the council. This allows visitors or coach companies to purchase any permits using their mobiles. The council is also making the permits Island-wide and no longer town specific.
The news comes as local residents have become angry with the Council’s decision to rid free parking across the Island and to increase the parking charge time from 18:00 to 20:00, as well as increasing charges.
Councillor Jon Gilbey, Executive member for finance, said:
“The current system for purchasing tourist or coach permits has been in place for a number of years and has not kept up with modern technology and is out dated.
“Only having the permits available at selected hotels or by calling the council is not meeting modern requirements and needs updating. From April we will have a system in place that allows people to buy tickets using their mobile and is an expansion to the everyday process many people use on the Island when paying for parking.
“I am sure it will be much more popular and a lot easier for tourists and coach companies alike when visiting the Island.”
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David Thornton, chief executive of Visit Wight, said:
“Making it easier to buy tourist parking permits is a great step forward and will encourage tourists to stay longer in our towns and villages and use the local facilities such as shops and restaurants. It will also mean they can visit many parts of the Island without having to worry about buying car parking tickets for every stop off.
“It will play a part in encouraging people to see more on the Island, thereby creating a stronger tourism economy and bringing benefits to the resident community.”
Details on how to contact PayByPhone to pay for parking are available on every council-run parking ticket machine across the Island and on the council’s website at iwight.com
