Innovative Access Permit launched to make car parking easier for older people
Residents in St Albans District aged 70 or over can apply for a brand new Access Permit to make car parking easier.
St Albans City and District Council has introduced the permit to help people who have difficulty with digital payment methods such as a mobile phone app.
The decision to provide it, taken after feedback that car park permits had a wider purpose than just value for money, is aimed at ensuring that these residents do not feel digitally excluded.
Costing £190 a year, the permit is valid for one visit a day for up to three hours at off-street car parks in St Albans and Harpenden run by the Council.
That includes car parks at Drover’s Way, Russell Avenue, the Civic Centre, Westminster Lodge and Verulamium, in St Albans, and Amenbury Lane and Bowers Way East and West, in Harpenden.
To be eligible for the permit, you need to be aged 70 or above and be a resident of the District.
Councillor Helen Campbell, Lead for Car Parking, said:
There is no statutory duty placed on us to provide such a permit and I am not aware of any Councils that do, so this is quite an innovation.
We are an inclusive Council, responsive to the needs of all our community, and the permit is a demonstration of that.
Many of our older citizens are more than happy to pay by contactless cards or apps, but there are some who struggle with these modern methods.
The Access Permit will help by providing them with a more traditional way of paying. The price of £190 per year is designed to reflect a fair price for an average driver over a year’s use.
Anyone eligible for the Access Permit can apply here: https://www.stalbans.gov.uk/access-permit-council-car-parks.
Those who have difficulty making an online application, or need further information and advice about applying, please contact the Council’s customer service team on 01727 866100.
You can find more details about the Council’s car parks here: https://www.stalbans.gov.uk/car-parks-and-street-pay-and-display
Photo: Westminster Lodge car park.
Contact for the media: John McJannet, Principal Communications Officer: 01727-819533; john.mcjannet@stalbans.gov.uk.