Pay-by-phone Parking on its way

Earlier this year, Westminster Council became the first in the UK to introduce pay-by-phone parking facilities in the West End. One of the reasons was to try to make it easier for people wanting to park - no longer the need to fumble for loose change in the rain but instead, after one set-up call, the ability to pay to park by sending a text message from their mobile phone. But also, admittedly, there was another reason - the fact that certain gangs were wandering round Westminster on most evenings with chainsaws and merrily running off with all the change which had gathered during the day. The Council was at some points losing over £100,000 a week - something we just couldn't allow to continue. Thus, pay-by-phone was born!

Now pay-by-phone is coming to Maida Vale, with the first parking meters being taken off line in the last few days, ready to be replaced with the new system.

Lee