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richmond eco news

Solar powered parking meters for Richmond's streets
Not so bright: Richmond's old style parking meter
Not so bright: Richmond's old style parking meter

Even parking can be made more environmentally friendly it seems with the announcement that Richmond's streets are to see solar powered meters.

Richmond Council has backed the introduction of the new-style parking meters which will replace all existing equipment.

According to the council the meters, due to be brought in between 2008-09, have improved card payment facilitates and meet requirements under the Disability Discrimination Act.

Each meter will be linked to a network meaning information from each machine can be downloaded everyday warning managers of any faults.

The scheme will cost £1.6m but the council says savings will be made in the cost of electricity and roads and pavements will not have to be dug up to install power cables.

Councillor David Trigg, cabinet member for traffic, transport and parking, said: "The existing equipment is nearing the end of its life with an increasing numbers of faults occurring.

“These new solar-powered machines represent a real high-tech boost for parking in the borough and also benefit the environment."
Councillor David Trigg

"These new solar-powered machines represent a real high-tech boost for parking in the borough and also benefit the environment.

"It will be a more efficient and effective system, with credit and debit card payments available for the first time for both on and off-street machines, making things that much easier for people who want to pay by that method.

"The scheme has been thoroughly tested, improved security will help deter vandalism and theft, faults to the machines will be detected much earlier, and it will also save the council money.

"It is anticipated that the new machines will be phased in over the coming year, starting next month."

8:20am Thursday 17th April 2008

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Posted by: ric, kingston on 8:43am Thu 17 Apr 08
oh i see. they have solar power technology on parking meters now. great.

how about doing the simple things like actually giving you change?

Posted by: Jock, London on 4:51pm Thu 17 Apr 08
ric wrote:
oh i see. they have solar power technology on parking meters now. great. how about doing the simple things like actually giving you change?
Brilliant! Boxes full of change, lining the streets. Every dodgepot in the area would be drawn to them like moths to a flame!
Posted by: ric, kingston on 8:41am Fri 18 Apr 08
so where do you think the money goes that you put in it?

if it gave change it would actually have LESS money the machine.



Posted by: Paul, Teddington on 9:09am Fri 18 Apr 08
They currently have money IN them but no way of getting any of it OUT (except offically by the council).
Any machines that accept coins and give change will be robbed by ne'er-do-wells. They put in a dummy coin, say £2, for £0.20 of parking (they have no car of course!) and get £1.80 out in real money.
Posted by: ric, kingston on 10:52am Fri 18 Apr 08
i never thought of that.

great excuse i guess.

although again with all this new technology. you'd think the machine would be able to tell a real coin from a fake.

my snack machine at work does.
Posted by: andy, twickenham on 1:09pm Fri 18 Apr 08
Just wondered if they are going to make the parking attendants solar powered as well? Whoops, sorry, forgot they are human and not robots ;)
Posted by: Jill, London on 4:47pm Sat 19 Apr 08
The vindictively anti-motorist Liberal Council is more concerned about renewing parking metres than attending to road - and pavement - resurfacing. As usual they have their priorities all wrong!
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