Richmond Council has confirmed they are to accelerate the removal of all pay and display parking machines across the borough. Apparently the decision was way back in March 2020 but only came to light in the last weeks.

There has been no clear publicity or consultation around this change which will severely impact the most vulnerable users. There will be no option to use cash to pay for parking. Payment for parking now requires residents and visitors to contact Ringo (a phone based service) every time they park.

A Ringo account is required together with a mobile phone and debit/credit card. Whilst the app is relatively straightforward, not everyone has a Smartphone with a data allowance and is comfortable using it. The website is more complex whilst the text interface is complex and confusing requiring extremely precise entry. The phone interface is equally complex and confusing and requires many keys to be pressed via an automated system.

There is no option to speak to anyone.

The 30 minutes residents’ parking will continue to be available for now, but this requires the Ringo account holder to pre-register as a resident on the Ringo website. This requires a photograph of a driving licence or council tax bill to be uploaded to the Ringo Website. There is an option for copies of these to be sent by post after the rest of the residency application is made on the website.

There are many elderly and vulnerable people for whom this change will deny them access to parking in the borough. This whole approach is discriminatory against a group of residents and visitors, especially so for those with the greatest needs.

Paul Nacmanson from West Twickenham said “The Libs who run the council have a long track history of not listening. In a now familiar patter there is no transparency, no consultation, and of course no interest in the impact on motorists especially the most vulnerable.”

If you will be impacted by the change please get in touch. We would like to hear your views.