Woman wins month's free parking in Westminster (15/01/2008)

A woman has won three month's free parking in central London after making the millionth Pay by Phone parking transaction.

Rochelle Katz, 47, scooped almost £3,000 worth of free parking along with an Apple iPhone when she parked using the Pay by Phone system in Westminster this week.

Currently almost 200,000 motorists have registered with the cashless scheme which was introduced last year and now operates in bays in central London.

Once a driver has registered, either online or at the roadside, they can then start their parking quickly and simply with a phone call or text. Their details are then available online via a parking attendants' hand-held computer.

Ms Katz, an interior designer from Kensington, said:

"I love to use the Pay by Phone parking system because is it so convenient. There is no need to have to run back to the car to top of the meter or to put more money into a Pay and Display machine.

"I wish there was Pay by Phone parking everywhere in London - I use it all the time. Most people have a mobile so is the perfect way to park."

The system reached the milestone as the system is extended to cover other parts of the city including Knightsbridge, Belgravia and Pimlico this weekend (January 12/13th).

Meters and Pay and Display machines will continue to stay in use in these new areas with the Pay by Phone system being offered as an additional service for the moment.

Signs have been put up over the weekend to tell motorists the service is now in up and running.

Around 100 new Chip and Pin pay and display machines have been installed adding to the council's cashless parking service.

Approximately 5,000 transactions have taken place on the machines per week and more machines are planned with the number reaching 330 card only machines in Westminster by the end of March.

Westminster has also this week confirmed that Verrus, the company which currently provides the technology used for the trial Pay by Phone system have been selected as the supplier for the full system rollout.

Councillor Danny Chalkley, Cabinet Member for Parking, said:

"We are continually trying to improve the service we provide for customers and we are pleased to be able to roll out the service to more areas of the borough.

"Drivers in these new areas will be able to try out the service while also having the back-up of traditional methods of payment if required for a limited period.

"We are committed to reviewing and improving the Pay by Phone parking and hope that this will not only encourage more people to use the service but also make it easier for existing customers."

ENDS

Notes to Editors:

Ms Katz's car registration details will be logged into the council's system so that Parking Attendants will know not to give her a parking ticket for not paying.

The wards which will be covered by Pay by Phone parking from this weekend are Churchill, Knightsbridge, Belgravia, Tachbrook and Warwick.

The new extension of the service will bring an extra 549 Pay by Phone parking spaces to Westminster bringing the total to 3,152.

Pay by Phone parking is part of Westminster's cashless parking scheme which also includes Chip and Pin pay and display machines.