Croydon’s pay and display parking machines are set to become cashless.

The current pay and display parking machines operate on the 3G mobile network, which will shutdown this year.

From Thursday, March 7, some pay and display machines will no longer be able to accept cash, as this function will be turned off in some areas of Croydon.

From March 31, no pay and display machine throughout the whole of Croydon will accept cash.

However, many will still accept card payment until the 3G network is shutdown.

It is anticipated that all pay and display machines will be shutdown by the end of June 2024, when the use of RingGo, Paypoint, and phone parking will replace them fully across the borough.

Residents and visitors will still be able to benefit from the Council’s free parking offer in district centres allowing them to easily visit local shops and businesses.

Four parking trials were held in preparation of the planned 3G network shutdown, so that the Council could understand all of the potential issues, and address concerns.

Learning from these trials, the council said it was clear that drivers options available for cash payments, so the council has developed a Paypoint option, where people can visit any shop that offers Paypoint and book a free parking session, or a paid session, with cash or card.

The other way to pay to park is via the RingGo parking app, available to download for free on both Apple and Android devices.

The Council does not make any additional charge for use of RingGo.

Jason Perry, Executive Mayor of Croydon said: “We launched these trials when we learned the network providers would be shutting off the 3G network, because it was so important to hear feedback and learn of the potential issues that could arise.

"We know that these types of changes can be challenging, so we have listened and made adjustments that will make the process easier.

“We had a lot of response to our trials and have taken steps to address a vast majority of concerns, with options for ‘Paypoint’ and the ability to phone ‘RingGo’ to book a session added to our payment options.”