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Solar power for parking machines
Portsmouth City Council is making its pay-and-display machines greener and easier to use.
By the end of the year half of the 300 machines should be running on solar power. Around 50 have already been switched.
Meanwhile, some machines are being being fitted with chip-and-pin technology to make them easier to use. About 30 machines now take credit or debit cards, and more will follow.
Parking Manager Ken Ellcome said: "We're always looking for ways that technology can make parking more convenient.
"Last year we made it possible to pay by mobile phone at all 300 machines, so people didn't have to look for change.
"Now we're introducing chip-and-pin, which is another easy cash-free way to pay. But you can still use old-fashioned coins if you want to.
"Drivers want to have a choice of easy ways to pay, and we're also bearing in mind that Portsmouth is growing as a tourist destination.
"We're also busy converting our machines to run on solar power. This will save council tax payers' money, because it's much cheaper than mains electricity.
"Unfortunately, the chip-and-pin machines can't run on solar power yet, but our supplier is working on a solution for us.
"Portsmouth is working hard for a greener parking service."
Cllr Lynne Stagg, the council's Cabinet Member for Traffic and Transportation, said: "No-one likes paying for parking, but the money supports vital council services. When I do have to pay, like every driver, I want to be able to do it quickly and easily, so these new developments are great.
"And any way of lessening our impact on the environment has to be good. These solar-powered machines do that, but are cheaper to run as well, so they really make sense."
