Following the lead of Ealing Council in ditching Serco's RingGo service

Hounslow Council is to switch its cashless parking service from RingGo (Serco) to the mobile parking platform PayByPhone from 16 December 2019.

This is the day after the contract expires with Serco which has been the council's service provider for a range of services from CCTV to parking enforcement since 2013.

The Council is following the lead of Ealing Council which switched providers to PayByPhone last April.

Hounslow Council has been steadily removing over 300 Pay and Display across the borough as cashless parking is introduced. The Council says that while this will mean a change for motorists, the increase in using cashless parking across London, coupled with a forthcoming publicity campaign should lead to 85% of users being pre-registered by the date of introduction.

The new scheme will also eventually feature Digital Resident Visitor Parking, allowing residents to book visitor parking “on demand” via their smart phone as an alternative to the paper Visitor Vouchers that are currently used. Digital Business Visitor parking will also be a feature.

Last Tuesday's ( 3 September ) meeting of Hounslow cabinet gave the go ahead to award the contract for the provision of Parking Enforcement & Support Services to the new provider for an initial period of five years. This can be extended for a further five years.

The Council says any additional revenue will be used on the provision of concessionary fares for older and disabled persons and freedom passes, or for improvements in traffic and transport safety issues.

Hounslow intends to use the Ealing Framework to enter into direct contract with the new service provider to avoid the joint contract or management experienced on the recent triborough WLA parking contract.

The Council says the new providers offered a number of extra features including:

a) A robust mobilisation plan
b)New real time GPS tracking of all enforcement staff to improve operational effectiveness and increase lone worker safety.
c) Flexible pricing for key services expected to reduce during the lifetime of the contract which allows the council to realise savings faster.
d) Low emission vehicles supporting the councils Declaration of a Climate Change Emergency and Air Quality Action Plan.
e) Flexible options to migrate additional Back Office services to the contractors should the council chose to do so.
f) Options to tackle untaxed cars via the contractor.
g) Specific measures to tackle Blue Badge fraud and misuse.
h) Options to draw down on a Cycle Hire Scheme options in the future should
the council chose to do so.

September 6, 2019