Car park permit issued for people who dislike apps

Helen Campbell said the new car park permit was being introduced as a response to the "needs of all our community"

A new parking permit is being introduced to help people over the age of 70 who have difficulty using digital payment methods such as mobile phone apps.

Residents of the St Albans district can apply for an Access Permit which costs £190 a year and is valid for one visit a day for up to three hours at 15 off-street car parks.

The car parks included in the scheme are at Drover's Way, Russell Avenue, the Civic Centre, Westminster Lodge and Verulamium in St Albans, and Amenbury Lane in Harpenden.

"There is no statutory duty placed on us to provide such a permit, and I am not aware of any councils that do, so this is quite an innovation," said Helen Campbell, councillor for car parks at St Albans City & District Council.

"Many of our older citizens are more than happy to pay by contactless cards or apps, but there are some who struggle with these modern methods.

"The Access Permit will help by providing them with a more traditional way of paying.

"The price of £190 per year is designed to reflect a fair price for an average driver over a year's use."

Verulamium car park in St Albans is one of the car parks included in the scheme