MOTORISTS could soon be able to pay for parking in York with their mobile phone.

Council leader Steve Galloway said today officers had identified a simple and cheap system, allowing drivers to use their mobile to pay parking fees by credit or debit card.

But he said the authority would be urged to delay its introduction until it has had chance to discuss issues raised with retailers.

Coun Galloway said the council executive had agreed in March to investigate what alternative methods could be introduced to make paying for parking easier and more convenient.

"Officers were asked to look at payment by credit/debit cards, pay on exit and payment by mobile phones," he said.

A system called Verrus, which already operated in other cities, including Southampton, had been identified as the best.

Coun Galloway said paying by mobile phone would give several advantages.

Motorists would not need to visit the pay and display machine and they could also be reminded on their mobile that their fee was about to run out. Drivers could then - if they so wished - add further payment for parking from wherever they were in the city.

He stressed customers would still be able to use the traditional pay and display option if they wanted.

"We feel that the mobile phone option is a really good initiative and indications show that not only will it give positive benefits to our car park customers, but can also be introduced quickly," said Coun Galloway.

However, he felt the issue should first be discussed with the city's retail sector. "I will therefore be proposing at the executive meeting that any decision is deferred until after discussions on the system at the meeting of the retail strategy group, which is due to take place at the end of September."

The council may also trial payments for parking in ten-minute bands, offering more flexibility than the current hourly rate, with tariffs varied by car park, time of the day, week or month.

Coun Galloway revealed that a switch to a pay on exit system for parking fees could not yet be introduced, because the authority had not yet resolved problems of how to cater for Minster badge and disabled blue badge holders.

"Pay on exit would also require new machines and it would be foolish to purchase any new machines until the credit/debit card payment issue is resolved," he said.

Nor was it currently possible to introduce payment by credit or debit card at the car park ticket machines, because of a delay in reaching agreement with the banks and card processors.

Paying by numbers...

SO how would motorists go about paying by mobile phone?

A council report says the Verrus system is designed to be used by casual one-off visitors, with no need to pre-register.

Drivers would simply pull into the car park and look for a sign giving the telephone number for Verrus.

On calling it, they will then be asked to enter their mobile number, which then acts as their account number. They will also have to enter their credit card number and the registration number of their vehicle, and the duration they wish to park for. Less information would need to be given on subsequent visits, as the system will then recognise the mobile phone number.

Motorists will pay a service charge each time of 20p for a tariff of £2 or more, and of 10p for a tariff of less than £2.

Parking attendants will log on to the Verrus website to check if vehicles not displaying a Pay & Display ticket in their windscreen have paid via a mobile. If they have not, the attendants will issue a penalty charge notice.

Updated: 10:19 Tuesday, September 20, 2005