For years, people living in controlled parking zones in Reading could give their visitors temporary permission to park by issuing them scratchcard visitor permits.
This would effectively spare the family member or friend from getting a parking ticket in residential streets where Reading Borough Council has introduced parking restrictions.
This will soon change, with residents giving visitors temporary permission to park by giving them a digital visitor permit through their vehicle registration number.
These visits will be managed via an online account.
Each permit pack will equal 120 hours, and residents will be able to book visits in minimum blocks of one hour, allowing more flexibility in how the time is used.
Under the previous scratchcard system, visitor parking could only be booked for half a day at a time, resulting in many wasted hours.
The change has been made after two trials in Lower Caversham, taking place in 2023 and 2024.
Households that do not have access to an online account will still be able to apply for physical visitor permits by email or post.
The digital visitor permits will go live on Wednesday, November 12.
All new applications for visitor permits will be supplied with digital versions.
However, all existing paper permits will remain valid until the last date printed on them.
John Ennis lead councillor for transport, said: “Digital visitor permits offer residents much more flexibility when it comes to booking parking for their visitors.
“Parking can be booked by the hour which means householders will no longer have to waste half-day permits on short visits, which account for a majority of cases.
“Bookings can be made and managed instantly online and there is no need for physical permits to be displayed in vehicles.”
Those guilty of overstaying their allotted parking time or other breaches will be issued a penalty charge notice (PCN) fine by parking warden contractors and also the council’s CCTV enforcement car.
Cllr Ennis (Labour, Southcote) said: “The digital scheme cuts down on printing and postal costs while civil enforcement officers can still instantly check parked vehicles on their handheld devices, backed up by spotter vehicles which can check the number plates of parked cars.
“We know residents remain keen on enforcement against unauthorised cars which may be parking in their neighbourhood and taking up limited spaces. I can assure residents that will continue.
“Residents should continue to use their existing paper permits which remain valid until the last date printed on them, and physical permits will still be available for residents who do not have access to an online account.”
