Fife Council considers mobile phone parking payment plans

Plans to enable drivers in Fife to pay for their parking by mobile phone are being explored by Fife Council.

It says a study has been commissioned that could see drivers paying parking charges by sending a text message or through a downloadable app.

The news emerged in a report prepared for councillors in Dunfermline as part of an update for a £1 million regeneration of the town centre. However, it is likely that Kirkcaldy would also be a destination for the system, if it is adopted.

Area services manager Joe McGuinness said: “Fife Council has recently commissioned transportation services to carry out a study into car parking in its widest sense but with Dunfermline and Kirkcaldy being the primary focus.

“Options on payment methods will be considered as part of this exercise.

“The technology now exists that would allow people to pay for parking via mobile phones, but there will be obvious set-up costs to consider before any decision can be taken.”

Similar systems are in use across Scotland, including in Dundee.