New car park ticket machines

NEW ticket machines are planned for the busiest car parks across north Norfolk to make things easier for drivers and cut down on coin thefts.

Half the district's 44 machines would be removed and replaced by new ones, possibly also offering swipe card cashless parking this autumn, if the project gets approved. They would be sited in Cromer, Sheringham, Mundesley, Holt and Wells, but not the biggest towns

of North Walsham or Fakenham, nor the more rural car parks which have also been targeted by thieves.

And, hard on the heels of mocking national headlines and television coverage

about a low-level machine off Sheringham seafront, the new ticketing gadgets would be disabled-friendly.

A 3ft tall machine on the Chequers car park drew criticism after people had to get on their hands and knees to put money in the slot 18in above the ground. It is among those due to be replaced under the planned refit.

North Norfolk District Council cabinet will on Tuesday be asked to back spending plans of �92,000 for basic machines and lighting, or �135,000 if they choose chip and pin ones enabling debit and credit card use.

A report says the current machines, installed over the past 20 years, need replacing because of poor security

and anti-theft measures, the cost of regular repair and maintenance, limited storage space for coins, and inability to provide management information.

Thefts from 14 machines took place between September and October last year, from car parks at Cromer, East Runton, Happisburgh, Holt, Mundesley, Overstrand, Sheringham, Stalham and Wells.

The council spends about �15,000 a year on repairs to machines following, theft, vandalism and breakdowns, and it is hoped upgrades would reduce that figure.

Car parks manager Keith Johnson said car parks at North Walsham and Fakenham were not included because they were not well used since the opening of free local supermarket parking.