Spalding motorists' misery as new digital car parking machine fails to work

There was frustration for motorists this morning trying to park at Spalding's bus station car park in Winfrey Avenue due to a new digital ticket machine.

Shoppers, commuters, and people trying to catch a bus, were left scratching their heads when the machine failed to work.

While the new machine accepts both cash and now card payments, there was no instruction on how to use the machine and it seemed to differ to the new machines installed in Vine Street, Victoria Street and Herring Lane.

And when our reporter tried to park her car by using the contactless card option, the machine was unresponsive.

A spokesperson for South Holland District Council said: “We’re sorry that people have had issues with the bus station ticket machine this morning. We are in contact with the contractors to get this rectified as quickly as possible. There may be other machines that have to be deactivated until the issues are resolved.

“The replacement of ticket machines was part of our public consultation process earlier in the year which we hope will offer residents a greater flexibility in terms of payment options. We’ll be publishing ‘how to’ guides on our social media channels and website for those residents unfamiliar with card payment machines.”

South Holland District Council's cabinet recently met to discuss increasing car parking charges across the town. This could see the cost to park all day at Winfrey Avenue and The Vista eventually going up to £5 for the day from the current charge of £1.30. For Vine Street it could be £2.50 for four hours parking (current cost £1.30) and Herring Lane £2.50 for four hours (current cost £1.30).

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