Parking Permits go virtual.

Havering Council is to introduce a new virtual parking permit system across the borough, after it was agreed by Cabinet last night.

The new virtual permits are electronic and can be identified by officers using a registration number plate scanner.

This will stop fines being issued when permits fall to the floor of the car or when owners forget to display them.

The online system will be managed by parking industry specialists Chipside Limited, on behalf of the Council.

Residents will no longer need to order and display paper permits. Virtual permits will be active from the moment they are paid for. This includes being able to activate visitor permits via an app, online or over the phone.

There will still be an option to have paper permits for visitors, but residents will  be able to activate visitor permits using the new system.

It means that customers will no longer have to wait for their permits or visitor vouchers in the post.

Applications for parking permits will be all online from Spring 2021. It is expected that all permits will be replaced by the virtual system by the end of Spring 2022.

The new system is more secure, more reliable and enables residents to take control of their own permits and visitor permits in their own time at their leisure.

It is part of the Council’s corporate plan for digital improvements to enhance the experience of self-service for residents and customers.

There will be support available for people who are unable to apply themselves or don’t have access to the internet.

Councillor Osman Dervish, Havering’s Cabinet Member for Environment said: “The new system will be simpler and easier than the old paper-based permits.

“By moving away from paper based permits to virtual permits, it will enable us to provide a better, less costly and more environmental-friendly service

“We currently issue around 100,000 paper permits every year. By changing to virtual permits, we’re not only making it easier for residents to remove the need to display a permit, but also cut the risk of parking permit fraud.”