BRADFORD Council is changing the supplier of its telephone parking payment supplier to RingGo, following a competitive tender process.

The new service does not charge a fee for using it and brings it into line with cash payments. It is hoped this will encourage more motorists to pay to park by phone.

The quickest and easiest way to use RingGo is to download the app from either the iPhone app store or Google play store. Motorists register a few details, and when they want to park and pay they enter:

• the vehicle registration

• the four or five digit RingGo location code where their vehicle is parked

• the time they wish to park for

If motorists don’t have a smartphone, they can call the RingGo voice response service on 01274 454000 and pay for parking that way.

A Council spokesman said: "As well as providing safer, touch free parking, RingGo provides handy text receipts and reminders showing details of the parking session booked and reminding the motorist when their parking is due to run out. These optional text messages are charged at 10p each."

Bradford Council Civil Enforcement Officers use handheld devices to check vehicle registration numbers to ensure that motorists have paid.

Councillor Alex Ross-Shaw, Bradford Council’s Executive Member for Regeneration, Planning and Transport said: “We’re delighted to be partnering with RingGo for our cashless parking offer in Bradford district. Using RingGo to pay by app or phone will make parking in council-run car parks and parking bays quicker and easier.

“During this pandemic, we are keen to support and maintain social distancing as much as possible, and minimise the need for touching shared surfaces, such as pay and display machine key pads. This helps protect our residents and visitors, as well as Council staff.”

As part of the launch of RingGo, new signage is being rolled out across the district, featuring elements of the international BMW/Daimler owned PARK NOW group of which RingGo is a part.

Bradford is one of the first Councils in the country to benefit from these designs.