A next generation ticket machine has appeared at the Civic Car Park in Abingdon. As well as the new £1 coin it will also be able to take contactless payments, and Chip and Pin cards. So motorists staying more than the two hours free parking have lots of options including paying for their parking via the Connect Cashlesss mobile phone app.

The new machine even opened the coin slot when I made a movement nearby. I have not heard it speak yet but would not be surprised if it has that capability.

In Abingdon Town Centre some new bays have been painted for the residents parking scheme.

It currently costs residents £100 a year for a permit to park in the town centre spaces, but that will soon be going up to £120.

New play and display machines will be coming in March 2017 to replace the current ‘obsolete’ machines. The new machines will allow payment by telephone, credit cards, and coins, but won’t support the current card based system whereby residents can get a day’s parking for visitors for 40p. New scratchcards will be used instead, allowing 25 days visitor parking, and an additional 25 days at a cost of £20.

Other people using the on street parking will be charged 50p for an hour, up from 40p, and 80p for 2 hours, up from 60p.

The Vale of White Horse District Council have budgeted quite a lot of money in the next couple of years on car park improvements. They will invest £2,000,000 in expanding car park capacity throughout the Vale in next year’s budget. And this year are spending £150,000 improving the public conveniences in the Abingdon Charter Car Park, and £800,000 to transform the appearance and extend the serviceable life of the car park itself.

The Vale invested £320,000 in 2006 on refurbishment and prolonging the usefulness of the Charter Car Park.

So it will be interesting what more will be done this year to improve this facility ten years on.

This may be of limited interest… There is currently a consultation underway about increasing the number of residents parking places in West St Helen Street and St Helens Court.

A lot of residents, and temporary visitors like nurses, already park along St Helens Court. 10 metres either side will become legitimate if the proposal goes through.

There is currently 10 metres residents parking outside the flats at 66-76 West St Helen Street. That is to increase to 18 metres. So in total there could be 5-6 additional parking spaces.

Normally there is not a problem finding parking on weekdays. It is weekends, and evenings, when there are not enough spaces.