Systems from WPS that include contactless payment card in/card out equipment have been chosen by Bournemouth Council for one of its largest car parks, Richmond Gardens.
In what is believed to be the first installation of its kind, WPS, a UK parking equipment firm, has replaced the pay-and-display ticket-based system with a WPS ParkAdvance product.
When a customer uses their contactless card (‘wave and pay’) at the point of entry a virtual ‘token’ is created (the process is called ‘tokenisation’), converting data from the card on a secure closed system; rather like the Oyster system deployed on London Underground and buses. When the customer comes to leave and inserts their card again, a fee is calculated based on length of stay, and deducted from the card.
Through ‘tokenisation’, the system only recognises the transaction, and for the busiest car parks with multiple entry and exit lanes like Richmond Gardens the potential is to cut time and costs. In line with banking requirements, contactless cards that are presented may occasionally be declined at random obliging the user to additionally ‘dip’ their card into the reader at the Exit Terminal, but if it is made clear to customers that this is for their protection, the benefit outweighs any temporary delays, according to the product developers.
WPS was chosen in a competitive tender. Elaine Smith, Deputy Parking Services Manager at Bournemouth Council, says: “WPS ticked all the right boxes in terms of being forward thinking and able to offer flexible payment options, something we recognised as being central to creating a long-term parking solution. Bournemouth is the UK’s premier coastal resort well known for its seven miles of golden sands and natural beauty. Situated two hours from London we welcome over seven million visitors a year.
“In comparison to other neighbouring towns, Bournemouth provides a very affordable parking offer across all car parks. The new system installed by WPS will enhance the customer experience by providing easier and more convenient ways for customers to pay. In the long term it will also help reduce the council’s maintenance and running costs as fewer tickets will be used.”
WPS also installed Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR), for security and monitoring of flow of traffic through the car park. A reporting function gives the council’s operators systems data. Elaine Smith says that the flexibility of the system is such that local discounts can be applied in the future: “We have the option to add technology into local stores where visitors can tap their card and, based on spend, will receive an automatic discount on their parking fee.”
WPS reports that its engineers worked closely with the seaside council to ensure that the car park remained open while the new systems were being installed. Richmond Gardens has 935 spaces (including 12 disabled spaces) over five floors.
