YOU will soon be able to pay for parking across the Winchester district without leaving your car.

The city council is set to use RingGo as its telephone parking operator from November 23.

Motorists will be able to pay through the RingGo app, which is easy to use and there are no additional charges.

Cllr Martin Tod, cabinet member for service quality and innovation, said: “We’re really pleased to be moving to RingGo phone parking for all our car parks. It’s letting us scrap the 30p 'convenience charge' for paying with a phone – and also means that, for the first time, visitors to Bishops Waltham, Alresford and Wickham can pay with a phone if they don’t have any cash. 

"Our priority is to provide residents and visitors with the option for a quick, safe and completely contactless payment via the RingGo app or a quick phone call – and it won’t cost anything extra.”

Motorists who have not yet registered need to provide a few details to use the service.

This can be done either by downloading the free app from the App Store or Google Play Store.

Alternatively, they can visit the company's website and register, or call 01962 650600 at the time they wish to park.

Peter O’Driscoll, managing director at RingGo, said: “RingGo has been offered in Winchester’s park and ride sites since 2013, and by many neighbouring councils for several years, so we are delighted to be extending that reach to car parks across the district.

"Usage of RingGo has increased tremendously over recent months as people have sought an alternative to touching shared buttons on machines. Winchester City Council’s action today, in removing the differential between cash and cashless payments, will only help this process further."