Aberdeen City Council has implemented a new virtual parking permit system.
It said that residents and businesses who need a permit will no longer receive paper versions, but digital ones linked to vehicle registrations.
A council spokesperson said: “This is a significant improvement as the council continues to transform public services.
“These changes will allow the council to offer greater convenience to residents and visitors alike by ensuring that they can easily manage their parking needs in a way that suits them best. The changes also reduce reliance on paper as residents and businesses will no longer need to display a paper parking ticket or permit in their vehicle window.”
The council said the change affects all controlled parking zones in the city is aimed at making things more convenient for residents and promoting sustainability. Drivers with a paper parking permit should still display it in their vehicle’s window until the expiry date.
Those without online access can use self-serve computers in Marischal College, a local library, or can ask a trusted person such as a family member or friend to apply for a virtual permit on their behalf.
Video guides have been created and are available online to support using the new system.
Summer 2025 target
It is anticipated that all paper permits will be replaced by the virtual permits by the end of summer 2025.
The project will also include an investment in 100 new virtual parking meters and the removal of old meters that have exceeded their serviceable life. The new meters will allow users to continue to pay in cash, providing a virtual parking ticket that is assigned to the vehicle registration removing the need to display a ticket on the vehicle.
They will mostly be placed within the city centre and parking areas near to Aberdeen Royal Infirmary, with automatic reporting of faults.
Drivers will also have a greater selection of how they pay for parking. From August 2024, both PayByPhone and RingGo cashless parking services will be available for use in the city.
They will also be able to pay for their parking at over 100 PayPoint locations in Aberdeen accepting cash.
ANPR element
City wardens will be able to identify virtual permits, cashless parking and virtual parking meter tickets using a registration number plate scanner, and will have access to automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) vehicles to help identify illegal parking.
Later this year city wardens will be deployed on electric bikes so they can respond to any vehicle detected by ANPR as being illegally parked. This will enable them to focus on other issues which affect the city, including antisocial behaviour, littering, fly tipping and dog fouling.
