Published on: Monday, 15 April 2019
Last updated: Tuesday, 16 April 2019
Greater Anglia and NCP, the UK’s largest parking retailer and operator, have rolled out Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) technology across 20 rail station car parks, giving customers greater control over how and when they pay for their parking.
The ticketless ANPR technology is making it easier for customers to pay for parking, as it increases the variety of payment options available, and help to improve security.
Customers at 20 stations can now pay for their parking online anytime up until midnight the day after their visit on the Great Anglia Parking Portal (gaparking.co.uk).
They are to date, Audley End, Billericay, Bishop’s Stortford, Broxbourne, Cambridge, Cheshunt, Colchester, Diss, Harlow Town, Hatfield Peverel, Ingatestone, Ipswich, Kelvedon, Manningtree, Marks Tey, Rayleigh, Shenfield, Wickford, Witham and Whittlesford.
They can even pre-register their car and payment details online, allowing automatic payment to make parking completely hassle-free.
Blue badge holders will continue to park for free, provided they register with NCP either online or by phone up within 24 hours of leaving the car park. They can do this online, by phone or by post and register more than one car if required.
The programme will also see all on-site payment kiosks replaced, enabling payment by cash, card, Google wallet and Apple Pay. Alternatively, customers can choose to pay using their mobile phone at the time of parking.
This is part of an on-going programme to make commuters’ parking simpler – by removing the need for cash and by offering choice when it comes to electronic payment methods.
Furthermore, each upgraded car park will also be able to provide customers with real time occupancy data via the Greater Anglia website and Great Anglia Parking Portal.
This will allow all customers to view current availability at the car park ahead of their visit, as well as expected occupancy for any given time or day of the week based on historical trend data.
NCP’s Contract Manager, Mark Kraft, said: “NCP has enjoyed a successful partnership with Greater Anglia for 12 years now as we collectively strive to deliver a leading product and service within the industry.
“We understand that for the majority of customers using these sites, parking is just a small part of their journey and we want to make this a seamless an experience as possible.
“This is why we are significantly expanding the methods of payments, giving customers the ability to pay for their parking in a way and at a time that is most convenient for them.”
Simone Bailey, Greater Anglia Asset Management Director, said: “We know customers who drive to stations want to be able to park as quickly and easily as possible, which is why we’re committed to improving parking across the Greater Anglia network, making life a little easier for our customers.”
Car park users can still also pay online, using Dash or text, by phone, or at the pay machines.
The upgrade is part of Greater Anglia’s wider plans to improve car parking at its stations, investing £20 million in creating over 1,700 extra car parking spaces and improving CCTV, signage and lighting across the network over the next seven years.
Notes to Editors
What is ANPR?
Automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) is used widely throughout the transport and parking industries to allow the control and monitoring of traffic and customers for the purposes of charging, monitoring and enforcement.
In simple terms a camera identifies a customer when they enter the car park and when they leave allowing the customer to pay by various options and ensuring it captures all customers entering and leaving the site.
Payment options
Auto Pay accounts will be available, eliminating the need to visit the payments kiosks
Cash, card, Google wallet and Apple pay payment available at the kiosk located outside the station simply by selecting their registration on their return to the station
Post Payment is available on-line - payment can be made anytime up until midnight the following day
Pay by Dash for daily, weekly , monthly or annual Season tickets
If the customer exits the car park or the short stay area within 20mins their stay will not be recorded and no parking charge made
Blue Badge Users
Blue badge holders continue to park for free provided they register with NCP following the instructions below:
Register first at www.gaparking.co.uk/bluebadge
(or within 24 hours of leaving the car park)
Alternatively, call 0345 0507 080 for further instructions.