Faulty parking machines are losing Dorset Council income
It's claimed dozens are out of action across the county
It's claimed dozens of parking machines across Dorset are currently out of action - with the council missing out on income.
60 parking machines in Dorset are going to be replaced in the next six months - with at least 200 more after that.
The authority says due to the age and condition of current machines, a decision's been made to replace them across the area.
There are also concerns that in many places there isn't good enough phone signal for people to use the Just Park that the Council's partnered with to pay for a space, or customers don't have smart phones to access it.
Dorset Council hasn't revealed how much money is being lost, how many machines are currently not working, or what they will cost to replace.
But they have issued a statement:
“We do currently have a number of machines that are not working for all payment types, or are requiring a high level of maintenance to keep them operational. Due to the age and condition of our current machines a decision has been made to replace them across the area.
“Replacement machines will be simple to use and allow customer to pay with either cash or card. The role out of the machines will start shortly and it is expected to take 18 months to fully complete. The machines that we have to repair most often will be replaced first, prioritising the busiest areas.
“We have seen a large move towards app payment and card payment in the last few years. To ensure that this can be achieved easily we will be looking at signal quality in the car parks, improving this with boosters when required.
“Our aim is to make paying for parking a quick and easy process, removing any frustration or uncertain.”