PARKING meters on streets and road around parts of North London, especially Wood Green and Haringey, no longer accept coins. According to the new system, those who want to leave their vehicles in open streets and roads will need to pay for parking fees either by phone or by downloading apps to their smart phones for payment. We here at Londra Gazete, looked into the effects of this decisions and our finding show and over whelming number of business owners in Wood Green and Haringey are now worried about the risk of losing customers due to the new practice.
GETTING HARDER THAN EASIER
Many traders say they cannot understand why such a cancellation is taking place, that customers have not entered this street because of a serious parking problem already on the street, and now that such a payment problem has made it more difficult for them to have customers. A business owner who wishes to stay anonymous said “We see at least two or three people nervous at the start of the park meter. Some of them come into our shop, but their mind is constantly on their car. There are people who do not use a phone. Some may not want to carry a phone next to them while using the car. It is not possible to understand the meaning of directing people to this. Instead of making the system easier, they’re making things more difficult for people. In the end, people have habits that have been on this system for years. You cannot decide this in one day and cut it like a knife. This should be a process. The number could be reduced. Or people could be made a little more conscious about this. When people have a problem with paying parking, they will either go to the internet or seek different solutions. The decision taken in this regard is wrong and needs to be corrected.”
PEOPLE SEE THE APPLICATION USELESS
A business manager based in Haringey has been working in food sector for many years and who wish to stay anonymous told our journalist his thoughts about this subject: “Parking fees are already very high. I find this obstacle really meaningless. We have many customers over the age of 50 years. It is impossible for them to pay by phone. They have to use a bus when they come here due to having problems paying for parking. These people are going to do their weekly shopping’s, they will have lots of bags to carry. It is very hard for them to use public transport for this matter. Everyone should be sensitive in this regard. As far as I’m concerned, park vending machines must be returned to the old system.”
“NO MORE NEED FOR COINS”
When we asked people who parked their vehicles at the roadside their thoughts about the new practice, we got mixed answers. Some of them have told us that this change is good, that parking meters are unnecessary, they can simply pay parking fees through the phone and mobile application which makes things much easier.
Koray Bizim who car was parked in a parking bay on the side of the road and gave us his thoughts regarding this matter. He said “I think the application is very accurate a good idea. This new system saved us from having to need coins. The system is simple and useful. You can easily pay by phone and mobile application. Many of our people who have been in London for 20 years and who have not learned English rightly will not want it. But if they learn English they will realise how easy its going to make life for them.
