A NEW scheme which enables motorists to pay for parking from their mobile phone has now been introduced by the district council.

But the PayByPhone service comes at a cost – it will add 20p to the parking rate to cover administration costs with additional texts and services costing an extra 10p per item.

The cashless payment option, which was revealed by the Herts Advertiser in February, applies to controlled parking spaces in and around St Albans and the council-run civic centre and Westminster Lodge car parks. Cash payment will still be an available option.

Cllr Beric Read, the council’s portfolio holder for community engagement and localism, commented that the service was, “part of a wider strategy to improve customer service in relation to our parking services”.

Notices detailing how to pay are in place where the cashless parking option is available.