A car park in West Sussex will say goodbye to its hugely unpopular number plate recognition feature on its car park machines.
Situated in all long-term car parks in the town of East Grinstead, the number plate recognition facility required drivers to enter the last three digits of their number plates into the machine.
Following a three-month public consultation, Mid Sussex District Council announced that it would be removing the facility on the machines, much to the delight of local motorists and district and town councillors.
“The parking machines are ghastly,” explained district councillor Chris Jerrey.
“They should have been taken away and shot. It was like a 1990s mobile phone, and you had to spend ages shuttling back and forward.
“When these machines came in, there was uproar.
“There were always massive queues and sometimes people had to wait for 20 minutes.
“It’s a good decision by Mid Sussex but it’s too late.”
Motorists originally had to enter the last three digits of their registration into the machines in short term car parks, but this was soon revoked.
Even town councillor Ginnie Waddingham has experienced difficulties in using the machines.
“I can’t be the only person that’s happened to, with so many funerals held at St Swithun’s,” she revealed.
“They are so hard, especially at a time when you don’t need it. It is bonkers.”
Councillor Christine Mainstone was equally relieved to hear the news.
“After all this time people are still having problems using them,” she said.
“It’s ridiculous, the car parks are always empty anyway, so it’s brilliant news.
“We’re chuffed to bits.”
Councillor Pru Moore explained that a more user friendly system would be introduced as soon as possible.
“The vehicle registration system was introduced to try and help the smooth running of our car parks and to make life easier for the customers who park with us,” Councillor Moore said.
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