MOTORISTS can now pay to park using their mobile phones after the official launch of cashless parking in the county. 

This week, East Sussex County Council added alternative payment method to on street parking in Lewes, Hastings and Eastbourne. Cllr Carl Maynard, lead member for transport and environment and respresentatives from the council’s parking team officially launched the scheme with John Wheeley from RingGo (pictured).

 The county council has signed up with RingGo to offer shoppers, visitors and residents the option of paying for parking with credit or debit cards using a smartphone app, text message or by phone.

Customers will be able to park their car, contact RingGo by smartphone app, phone, SMS or online, and pay the parking charge. They will even be able to extend their stay without returning to their car.

For motorists parking regularly in on-street bays, there is an option to pre-register online or by using the RingGo smartphone app, giving their vehicle’s make, registration number and colour and payment details.

Alternatively people can register at the time of parking by using the RingGo app or calling the number advertised on the machines.

There will also be an optional text reminder service. For a cost of 10p, customers can be notified 10 minutes before their parking time is due to run out enabling them to extend their stay.

The alternative system does not use pay and display tickets as civil enforcement officers will be able to check which vehicles have paid to park.

Posters have been placed on all on-street parking machines with instructions on how to use RingGo.