Cornwall Council confirms which car parks will keep cash payments

TOWNS and villages across Cornwall could have as little as one car park accepting cash in plans announce by Cornwall Council.

Payment machines in a number of council-run car parks across Cornwall will stop accepting cash from August 1.

It will only affect car parks owned by Cornwall Council – with amenties owned and operated by a town council unaffected.

The local authority says that almost 90 per cent of transactions made using card payments, through the JustPark app or Buzzpay website, the move will save around £80,000 a year. Drivers will be able to continue to pay for their parking at the payment machine using a debit or credit card, contactless payment or mobile phone.

Those who prefer to pay by cash will be able to continue to do so – coin payments will continue to be accepted in one car park in each community.

Dan Rogerson, Cornwall Council cabinet member for transport, said: “It currently costs around £100,000 a year to collect, transport and process cash from the 138 council car parks which accept cash and card. This is money that could be far better spent on maintaining our car parks and wider highway network.

“While most users pay to park either by card, online or with their mobile phone, there remain around 12 per cent who pay by cash, which is why we’ll be keeping that option in 43 car parks across Cornwall. We’ve reviewed cash usage levels, accessibility and location to ensure that drivers who want to pay by cash can continue to do so in each town, in Truro and at other locations where we have just the one car park.”

The council added that residents who need to regularly park in a council car park can bring down the cost with the JustPark wallet.