Cashless parking payments to continue in Rugby

The decision, made at Cabinet on Monday 29 June, means residents and visitors will continue to have a choice of ways to pay for parking, including cash, card, mobile app, telephone, text message and PayPoint outlets.

The council introduced app-based parking payments as a trial in 2022. Since then, use of the RingGo service has grown significantly.

Cashless payments now account for 61 per cent of parking transactions in the council’s car parks, compared with 25 per cent by cash and 14 per cent by card.

The current contract for the cashless parking provider ends on 25 July 2026. Cabinet has agreed to go ahead with a new contract due to run for an initial two years, with two optional one-year extensions.

Cash and card payment options will be retained, so the cashless service will continue to sit alongside other ways to pay.

Cllr Claire Edwards, Rugby Borough Council portfolio holder for communities, housing and safety, said: “Many residents and visitors now choose to pay for parking by app, phone, text message or PayPoint, so it is important we keep those options available.

“But this is about choice. Cash and card payments will remain in place for people who prefer to use them.

“Continuing the cashless payment service helps make parking in Rugby’s car parks simple and accessible, while making sure the council responds to the way people are choosing to pay.”

The contract will include safeguards covering areas such as service availability, customer support, complaints, refunds, data protection, cyber security, business continuity and future transition arrangements.