Parkmobile Provides New Electronic Parking Permits in Camden

Camden Council is giving residents who are due to renew their parking permit after 1 December 2005 the choice of applying online and receiving a new electronic card.

The new electronic cards offer better protection against fraud and will significantly cut down on misuse. If the permit is stolen, all its owner has to do is call the council to cancel the card instantly, making it worthless to a thief.

Residents will find that applying for or renewing a permit online is much quicker and far more convenient. Permits only need to be issued once, and can be renewed via your own personal web page, plus you can make payments or changes at any time as it is a 24 hour service. You get an automatic email notification when the permit is due to run out and you can track and trace the progress of your application online, dealing directly with the officer handling it. If you change your car, your details can also be updated on the system without needing to get a new card.

The new cards should be displayed in the car window, as with a paper permit, with the Camden logo and bar code on display. Parking attendants can scan the card with special computerised equipment to check that it is valid.

Cllr John Thane, Executive Member for Environment, Camden Council, says: “Camden Council is at the forefront of local authorities using this new electronic permit technology. It will help make life easier for our residents and improve the Parking service we offer them. We have permits for our Controlled Parking Zones to fairly share out our limited parking space for everyone’s benefit, and these new electronic permits will offer residents in these areas more choice and convenience. We hope it will also reassure drivers that their permits are more secure and less likely to be stolen.”

The scheme is being rolled out gradually, so anyone who does not have Internet access or who prefers to apply in person can still do so at the Environment Local parking shop. From December, Camden Council will be writing to all residents whose permit is due for renewal within the next 40 days, and sending them a leaflet that explains how the new system works and how they register their details.

The new scheme will also be advertised on posters in council buildings, leaflets and in the local press.

To register for your new electronic parking permit or find out more, please visit Camden Council’s website www.camden.gov.uk/parking. You can also contact Parking Solutions on 020 7974 4646 with any questions.

About The System

The technology behind the new electronic permits is called the Electronic Permit Management System (EPMS) and is sourced from a company called Parkmobile. See www.parkmobile.co.uk

The Parkmobile Group is Europe’s largest and most successful provider of innovative and fully integrated parking services covering all parking modes including electronic permits, cashless payments for casual on street parking, and off street car parking as well as seamless integration with congestion charging.

Each of the Group’s subsidiaries operate under the brand name ‘Parkmobile‘. The Group has a significant presence in the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, France and Spain. During 2004 Parkmobile will introduce its services in other European countries and, in the second half of 2004, will also promote its services outside Europe where many organisations have already expressed their interest

Parkmobile was founded in 2002 and is solely owned by Net Ventures, a private investment company, based in the Netherlands, with interests all over the world.