Thieves cause £36,000 worth of damage to Wakefield parking machines in just two years

Thieves targeting car parking machines across Wakefield have caused more than £36,000 worth of damage over the last two years.
All of Wakefield's council-run parking machines were bought second hand from London boroughs in the late 2000s.All of Wakefield's council-run parking machines were bought second hand from London boroughs in the late 2000s.
All of Wakefield's council-run parking machines were bought second hand from London boroughs in the late 2000s.

The bill, which equates to nearly £50 a day and was footed by the taxpayer, covers the cost of repairing or replacing meters.

The figures were revealed as Wakefield Council confirmed plans to switch to more modern parking pay machines which allow phone and contactless payments. Coins will still be accepted.

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The current machines, which will now be phased out, were bought second hand from councils in London in 2008 and do not accept card payments unless they're done through an app called Ringo, which charges more than cash transactions.

Councillor Matthew Morley said the move would be good for local businesses and drivers.Councillor Matthew Morley said the move would be good for local businesses and drivers.
Councillor Matthew Morley said the move would be good for local businesses and drivers.

The council said the £700,000 investment in new meters, all of which will be solar powered, would bring facilities up to date and reduce the risk of money being pinched.

Speaking at a Cabinet meeting on Tuesday, portfolio holder for parking Matthew Morley said: "We are seeing more and more people are using non-cash ways to pay for parking now.

"The one thing I think puts people off using car parks, isn't actually the cost in one respect, it's the convenience of having to pay for it.

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"More people are going cashless now. This will give people the opp to use your phone, your watch, your debit card, coins and the app..

"I think this will support businesses in our town and city centres as well."

Parking in all council-run car parks is currently free until March 31.

Local Democracy Reporting Service