A new digital visitor parking permit scheme will be rolled out across Reading next week. The new system is more convenient and easier to manage for residents and will replace the need for visitor scratchcards.

The expansion of the scheme follows a successful 15-month trial in Caversham which showed many of the visitor parking hours were previously wasted.

All new applications for visitor permits will be supplied with digital versions from Wednesday 12 November. However, all existing paper permits will remain valid until the last date printed on them.

Each permit pack will equal 120 hours and residents will be able to book visits in minimum blocks of one hour, allowing more flexibility of how the time is used. Under the previous scratchcard system visitor parking could only be booked for half a day at a time, resulting in many wasted hours.

Households which are part of the scheme will receive two free packs, equalling 240 hours in total, and they may purchase another five packs per year, totalling 600 hours, at a cost of £26 per pack.

To book parking for a visitor, permit holders simply log on to their account wherever they are, select the number of hours they want to use, set the start time and date and enter the registration number of their visitor’s vehicle.

Cllr John Ennis, Lead Councillor for Climate Strategy and Transport, said:

“Digital visitor permits offer residents much more flexibility when it comes to booking parking for their visitors.

“Parking can be booked by the hour which means householders will no longer have to waste half-day permits on short visits, which account for a majority of cases.

“Bookings can be made and managed instantly online and there is no need for physical permits to be displayed in vehicles.

“The digital scheme cuts down on printing and postal costs while civil enforcement officers can still instantly check parked vehicles on their handheld devices, backed up by spotter vehicles which can check the number plates of parked cars.

(Pic: Reading Borough Council)