Tynedale keeps northumberland a Metric County

From April 1 the new Northumberland Super Council will take over responsibility for all pay and display parking machines.

All local authorities within the geographical county that have pay and display are exclusively using Metric machines with Tynedale the latest council to have the new Aura.

They are in the process of swapping a dozen old Metric Auto-Slots for solar powered Auras in various car parks in the town of Hexham.

Metric won Tynedales tender at the end of last year to remove the Auto-Slots, which are 15 years old, and replace them with Auras in a civil works project that has now been completed and commissioned in readiness to go live on April 1 when the new Northumberland Unitary Council comes into force.

The Councils Property Services Officer Guy Wickham said they had chosen solar powered Auras for their ease of installation and lower running costs as well as their capability of being moved in the future.

One of the machines will be used to supply a 24 hour ticket for 4 whilst the others will allow various parking stays from half an hour at a cost of 40p.

Guy Wickham said Metrics support over the years the council has operated Auto-Slots had been excellent. He added: We have same day service in the event of breakdown or vandalism.