Metric Parking: Chesterfield Embrace Pay by Space Parking

Chesterfield is the first local authority in the country to introduce the pay by space system from Metric.

The North Derbyshire Authority has installed ten Metric pay and display parking machines for a space system which has gained its popularity in the United States.

The software was originally developed for the US market and has been adopted by Chesterfield for two popular areas of the town centre.

Richard Boultbee, Metrics Field Sales Manager, said pay by space had the biggest single growth in the parking market in the States and Metric had originally developed the system to meet their market requirements.

He said: The majority of the United States will be pay by space for parking and we are here to develop their market requirements. Security of vehicles has also been found to be a benefit from the use of this system.

He said the system didnt require a ticket to be displayed in a car windscreen. The ticket had a unique serial number which was registered in the system.

Chesterfield Borough Council is introducing the system as and when replacement of machines is required. This also helps car park users to gradually become familiar with the system. At some point in the future motorists may be able to top up time on their ticket at the closest machine to them in the town.

Enforcement of this system can be achieved wirelessly via a handheld GRPS terminal. Metric provide their own Skeye Pad for this purpose which could be mounted in the enforcement officers vehicle.

Each parking space is visually shown on plan on the unit screen indicating green for paid spaces and a red light when the parking time has expired.

The car parks in Chesterfield already converted to this new system use Metric Auras and Accents and benefit from being networked via Metrics ASLAN Back Office system.

The machines have been well received by the motoring public in Chesterfield and the space system has increased enforcement efficiency.

Said Frank Taylor, Chesterfield Borough Councils Manager Parking Services: We have introduced pay by space parking primarily because it will save patrol time.

Once our attendants are fully familiar with the system they will find enforcement much easier than in the past.

The first two zones to be selected for the space system are located in the St. Marys Gate and Queens Park areas of Chesterfield.

It is envisaged that this system will be extended to other parking areas of the town centre so that parkers will be able to extend their parking time without having to return to their parking area.