Theatregoers at a Frank Skinner gig in Folkestone, Kent, were left frustrated after a new parking system caused chaos at the Leas Cliff Hall. The Folkestone and Hythe District Council recently implemented an automatic number-plate recognition system, resulting in the removal of three hours of free parking at the Sandgate Road car park. As a result, charges now apply until 9pm every evening. However, attendees argue that the current set-up is problematic and more ticket machines need to be installed to avoid accidents. Natasha Kerrigan, who attended the gig, expressed her frustration at having to wait in a long queue for an hour, describing the situation as unnecessary chaos.
To avoid such issues, the council recommends signing up for an online Autobill account on their website. However, many audience members were unaware of the new rules and were caught off guard. Kerrigan believes that the system needs to be changed quickly to prevent any incidents from occurring. She also mentioned that attempting to access the Autobill app was difficult due to poor reception caused by the concrete structure of the car park.
In response to the complaints, the council acknowledged the delays caused by queues at the payment terminals after evening events. They have ordered two additional mini touchscreen payment terminals, which will be installed later this month. Additionally, they are making improvements to the ANPR software, including allowing blue badge holders to register in advance. The council also encourages motorists to register for Autobill, an automatic parking payment system that eliminates the need to visit a payment machine before leaving the car park.
