MOTORISTS using car parks in Basingstoke and Deane will now be able to pay via a cashless app.

The free RingGo app is available at Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council-run car parks, which means that motorists can pay for their parking straight from their mobile phone.

No convenience fee is charged for those choosing the free hour in the borough council’s short stay car parks, and drivers can use RingGo to pay to extend beyond this time if they wish.

People using the app don’t need to remember to ‘stop’ their parking session as the service operates like pay and display parking, with a choice at the outset of how long the user wishes to stay.

Yesterday (November 5), staff from Basingstoke based RingGo - the ‘RingGo Stars’ – were on hand in the town centre car parks to explain how the service operates and assist motorists in downloading the free smartphone app.

Peter O’Driscoll, UK country manager for RingGo and Parkmobile, said: “We are extremely pleased that Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council offers RingGo cashless parking. We believe that offering a single solution will increase usage both in the town centre and at the busy train station.

“We know from experience elsewhere that usage grows when local authorities move to the UK’s most popular cashless service, simply because more drivers have used it before and already have the app on their phone. RingGo was born in Basingstoke so it’s great for us to finally be available right across the borough.”

Cabinet member for communities and community safety at the borough council, Cllr Simon Bound, said: “Phone parking is a quick and easy way to pay for parking, especially in this day and age when so few people carry coins.

“It complements the existing quick and simple style payment options we have introduced in our car parks including check in and check out parking.

“Using the app, motorists can now park and shop in the town centre while making the most of the free parking period, but know they can also top up their parking wherever they are. This means less stress and hassle if they are delayed or simply want to stay that little bit longer.”