Locals have hit out at the city council after errors in parking machines across Dundee prevented them from accepting card payments — and not for the first time.
The local authority has admitted that 110 meters — which were introduced to the city centre in 2013 at a cost of £245,000 — have a network error, which will not be fixed until the end of this month.
The machines have had long-standing problems with accepting card payments, with the council blaming an “intermittent fault” the last time the issue was raised in May.
It’s led to criticism from motorists who say they don’t always have change available to pay the meters.
Linda Arnot, owner of the Bears and Buddies Workshop on Union Street, said: “It puts off a lot of customers when the machines don’t work.
“A lot of people come in here just because we have on-street parking close by and, as we are a children’s shop, it is safer for them to park right outside and bring their children in.
“But when the machines are playing up, people have to park elsewhere, often in the Overgate, and don’t come back here, so it really affects our business.
“Everybody relies on cards these days so this facility being out of order just drives people away.”
Grant Avery, owner of Avery & Co, a restaurant in South Tay Street, said: “I would say that 50% of the time the card facility in the parking machines near us doesn’t work, which can be very frustrating.
“Just the other day, we had a customer come in looking for change because of it and he was absolutely soaked to the bone because he had been trying for so long to get it to work.
“It’s difficult to gauge whether it directly affects the business, but I suppose it could do if people choose to park somewhere else.”
Steve Percy, chairman of campaign group the People’s Parking Protest, said: “This sort of technology always seems to crash at some point.
“People will be saying ‘what do I do if I can’t use my card?’
“A lot of people don’t carry cash any more — they tend to use their credit card for everything.
“It’s become a way of life for many people.
“When they were installed people probably thought ‘that’s a good idea, I always carry my card with me’.
“But they won’t be happy if they can’t use it.”
A Dundee City Council spokeswoman apologised for the situation. She said: “We are aware of a network coverage issue and we will be installing new network cards at the end of the month.
“We could like to apologise to our customers for any inconvenience caused.
“Alternative methods of payment are available at parking meters.”