MOBILE phones could ease Hereford’s parking problems, with the city testing ‘text to pay’ for motorists.

Text pay was pitched to Herefordshire Council’s environment scrutiny committee this week.

Members heard a system could be set up using a credit/debit card, pre-registered via a website to a specific mobile number.

Using standard SMS text, the user of an on-street parking space or car park would then send details like location, duration of stay and vehicle registration number, with the charge coming off their card.

The system could also send a reminder text when the parking charge was due to run out, giving the user the option of extending their payment and saving them a dash to feed the meter.

Wardens would have up-to-the minute hand-held machines detailing what spaces had been paid for by which car.

Councillor Mark Hubbard, who headed the review group responsible for the report, said research suggested the system would not cost a fortune to set up.

The alternative, said Coun Hubbard, was some way of paying for parking through a phone providers’ charging system, but the high fees taken by companies all but ruled this out.

Cost also put paid to any chance of streamlining smart card payment, with technology still at development stage.

The system, members heard, had particular application to Hereford city centre with discount and free-parking reward schemes for behaviour that reduced congestion or emissions, particularly linked to any new park and ride facilities. In turn, those opting for parking on-street every day could be penalised by increased charges.

Other options included in the report include an improved residents’ parking scheme, and ringfencing future income from parking for investment in ecofriendly travel options.

The report now goes to the cabinets of Hereford City Council and Herefordshire Council for consideration.