WINCHESTER City Council is tendering a new contract for phone payments for its car parks. 

RingGo has been the provider of phone payments for Winchester's car parks, but its contract runs out on November 22. 

At the cabinet member for climate emergency decision day on Tuesday, July 16, Cllr Kelsie Learney approved that tenders should be sought for a four-year contract, with the option of one additional year. 

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Cllr Learney also approved a change in the chargeable hours at The Brooks car park from 8am - 7pm to 8am – 6pm to match the recently changed opening times of the shopping centre. Also people using the Winchester Sport and Leisure Park car park, who are users of paid leisure activities, will get three hours of free parking instead of four. 

A total of 63 per cent of parking payments were made by phone last year. 

Cllr Caroline Horrill, leader of the Conservative group on the city council, asked if the controversial parking charges in the city centre would be reviewed. 

Cllr Learney said: “We do have charges under regular review. Improving air quality and reducing congestion is a big part of what we are doing.

“Providing an excellent customer experience is a priority for our parking services. However phone payments are an option, not a requirement. Not everyone has a smart phone.”