Motorists parking in Lyme Regis Town Council car parks no longer need coins to pay for their parking – they can now use their mobile phone and a debit or credit card instead.  Pay by phone parking service, RingGo, is being introduced to the Woodmead and Cabanya car parks from Wednesday 25th August 2010, offering residents and visitors an alternative to paying for their parking by cash.

To use the service, motorists park, and then call the local number 01297 570470, shown on the pay and display machine.  They are asked for their vehicle registration number and location - a four digit code shown on the signs.  Once they say how long they want to park, payment is taken from their debit or credit card. 

The first time someone uses the service, they need to give full payment card details, but thereafter only have to provide their three digit security code, as the state-of-the-art technology identifies the mobile phone that is being used and retrieves the previously provided information. 

Using RingGo costs a flat rate of 20 pence on top of the standard car parking fee.  No parking ticket is needed as Civil Enforcement Officers check which vehicles have paid via an internet connected mobile phone, which links directly into the RingGo database. 

An additional benefit of RingGo is that you can extend your stay if you are running late, without returning to your car.  Motorists just dial up the RingGo number again and the service asks you how much longer you want to stay.  An optional text message, to remind customers that their parking is due to run out, is also available to help motorists avoid a parking fine.

Deputy Town Clerk, Simon Ratcliff, says of the new service “We are very pleased to launch RingGo in our car parks.  We want people to enjoy their visit to Lyme Regis, and we don’t want problems with paying for parking to spoil their enjoyment.  With so many payments now made by credit/debit card, we think residents and visitors will appreciate being able to pay by phone, rather than saving up coins to cover their parking costs.”

“Another great benefit of RingGo is that you can get a reminder when your parking is running out and extend if you wish.  If someone is on the beach, or in the shops, the last thing we want is for them to leave just because their parking is running out.  Now they can call up RingGo and stay for as long as they want.”

While motorists can register and use the service when they are in the car park, they can also register in advance on the secure website www.myRingGo.co.uk.  Receipts for parking are also available.

View maps of Lyme Regis Town Council car parks and charges for parking.

Please click here to view water meter readings for chalets and caravans at Monmouth Beach, Ware Cliff and Bowling Green.