North Yorkshire Police mobile safety (speed) camera routes 18 to 24 April 2012

North Yorkshire Police will be carrying out mobile safety camera enforcement on the following roads between Wednesday 18 April and Tuesday 24 April 2012.

•A64 between Barton-le-Willows and Jinnah
•A64 between Barton Hill and Whitwell Hill
•A64 east-bound carriageway Bowbridge Farm Tadcaster
•A64 west-bound Carriageway, Bowbridge Farm, Tadcaster
•Ryecroft Avenue, Acomb, York
•Temple Lane, Copmanthorpe, York
•A1036 Tadcaster Road, York
•A1237 Monks Cross, York
•Strensall Road, Huntington, York
•Millfield Lane, Poppleton, York
•Beckfield Lane, York
•Green lane, Acomb, York
(more…)

Smartphone parking payments coming to York?

We have advocated for some time the use of technology to make paying for car parking in the city as easy as possible.

One result was the introduction of payments by mobile phone and subsequently by text.

We hoped to see the introduction of “Touch in, Touch out” systems using the new enabled bank charge cards but is seems that there may be an intermediate step before this becomes possible.

Enter mobile wireless technology which was launched last week in Tunbridge Wells.

Users swipe their Smartphone and enter a 3 digit code. Like payment by phone, there is no ticket issued. The registration numbers of vehicles, whose owners have paid using the system, are displayed on a hand held device by each parking warden.

The system does away with the barrier operated exit arrangements which are so costly to install and maintain at “pay on exit” car parks. Users are automatically offered the opportunity to extend their stay to avoid incurring a parking fine.

The new system can be used with any “near field communication” enabled smart phone. Users have to first download an “app” into their phone.

It is expected that the option will expand to include York before the end of the year.

More here: tinyurl.com/pay-by-phone

Market switch

Council media explanation

As predicted on this site several weeks ago –albeit with tongue firmly in cheek – the Council have decided to move the market onto Parliament Street. The move will only take place on Mondays with the action justified by the need to repair its usual Newgate base.

That is as maybe, but any refurbishment costs should be clearly identified. The budget however remains unclear. The long term future of the market needs to be made clear before limited funds are committed.
There are many more stalls accommodated on Newgate than could fit onto Parliament Street.

Monday is the quietest day at the market with many unused stalls, so if Newgate needs to be cleared than that would be the best day to select.

The underlying worry is that there is no long term strategy in place for Parliament Street. Recently the old toilet block was knocked down but apparently without the council having any idea what – if anything – to put on the now vacant site.

The view that the Council Leadership simply don’t know what they are doing is once again reinforced. It’s another decision taken in private, with no public consultation.