DRIVERS could benefit from a new parking system in Huddersfield town centre.
Kirklees Council officers have drawn up a plan to introduce payment by mobile phone.
The new system – which would be introduced in Huddersfield, Holmfirth and Dewsbury – is designed to make parking more convenient.
Kirklees Cabinet will decide whether to bring in mobile phone payments at its meeting at Huddersfield Town Hall at 3pm on Tuesday.
Council leader Clr Mehboob Khan believes the system will benefit drivers and town centre businesses.
The Greenhead Labour man said: “It provides much more convenience for motorists. I think it will be welcomed by visitors to the town centre.
“Over time it will also benefit town centre retailers in that their customers will be able to shop with the knowledge that they don’t have to worry about their parking.”
Mobile phone parking payment is already used in Leeds, Sheffield, York, Rotherham and Nottingham.
Clr Khan said: “I’ve used the system in other cities and found that it helps because you don’t have to worry about having the right amount of money for parking.
“Also, if you’ve left your vehicle and decide you want to stay longer, you can use your phone to pay the additional fee without having to return to your car.
“However, you still have to bear in mind the maximum time limit.”
If the Cabinet backs the change, mobile phone parking payments will be introduced in April. The system will work alongside traditional parking meters.
Kirklees will need to spend £5,000 on parking orders.
Council parking wardens will also need 3G cards for their hand-held devices to enable them to tell which cars without pay-and-display tickets have valid parking. The new equipment is likely to cost £1,500 a year.
But Clr Khan pointed out that the reform would also save Kirklees money.
“There will be transaction payments rather than money in a meter which has to be emptied and paid into a bank account,” he said.
“Over time the system will pay for itself.”
Clr Khan expects mobile phone payment to become popular in Huddersfield.
“The future is for much more electronic payment using mobile phones and logging on to websites,” he said.
Drivers must register with the service by recording their car’s make, colour and registration number. They also have to enter their credit or debit card details. Registration takes a few minutes
After parking, motorists call the payment number and enter the location code, which is provided on a sign or pay-and-display machine
Drivers must also enter the length of time they wish to park
Mobile phone parking generally costs between 10p and 20p more than conventional parking payment.
