Reading Borough Council is rolling out a new digital visitor parking permit scheme following a 15-month trial aimed at modernising the way residents manage parking for their visitors. The system allows residents to book permits by the hour and manage all bookings online, offering greater flexibility than the previous paper-based approach.
Digital visitor permits will now be issued to all new applicants, while existing paper permits remain valid until they expire. Lead councillor for climate strategy and transport, John Ennis, said: “Digital visitor permits offer residents much more flexibility when it comes to booking parking for their visitors.”
The digital system was first introduced for residents’ permits across Reading in November 2023, with a trial for visitor permits starting in Lower Caversham in March 2024. The trial showed that most visitor parking sessions were short, with more than 42% lasting just one or two hours, highlighting the limitations of the previous scratch card system which could only be booked for half a day at a time.
Under the new scheme, each permit pack provides 120 hours, and residents can book visits in minimum blocks of one hour. Households will receive two free packs, totalling 240 hours, and can purchase up to five additional packs per year, adding another 600 hours at £26 per pack. To book a permit, residents log into their account, select the number of hours, set the start time and date, and enter the visitor’s vehicle registration.
Mr Ennis emphasised the convenience of the system, noting that “householders will no longer have to waste half-day permits on short visits.” He also highlighted the environmental and operational benefits: “The digital scheme cuts down on printing and postal costs while civil enforcement officers can still instantly check parked vehicles on their handheld devices.”
The scheme represents a major step in modernising parking management in Reading, making it easier and more efficient for residents to manage visitor parking while reducing waste and administrative costs.
